EandM is an authorized Siemens industrial automation distributor serving manufacturers, system integrators, and industrial facilities across the West Coast—California, Oregon, and Washington—including full support for SIMATIC PLCs, SINAMICS drives, and TIA Portal software.
Thinking about migrating to the new SIMATIC S7-1200 G2 platform but not sure what the physical or software switch actually involves?
The entire upgrade framework has been engineered to be as straightforward as possible:
- Your existing automation projects carry forward with exceptional software compatibility.
- Most fundamental S7-1200 operational profiles are natively supported on G2 architecture.
- A free integrated TIA Portal migration add-in handles the conversion heavy lifting.
S7-1200 Classic vs. Next-Gen G2 Baseline Enhancements
Processing Speed
37 ns
Up from 85 ns • 2× performance increase
Motion Control
Coordinated Axes
Full kinematics support vs single-axis legacy constraints
Diagnostics
Integrated NFC
Read active alarms instantly on a phone without laptops
PROFINET Targets
31 Nodes
Up from a max of 16 nodes on classic
Already running S7-1200 hardware nodes in your production loops? Siemens has officially announced that the S7-1200 classic lines will enter phase-out starting November 1, 2026. Transition logic handles natively using the dedicated TIA Portal migration engine.
See the S7-1200 G1 to G2 Migration Add-In in Action
Watch our step-by-step video detailing configuration target changes inside TIA Portal.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1Can I migrate my existing S7-1200 program to the G2 without rewriting it?
Yes. Once the migration add-in tool is activated within your system tree, simply right-click your existing G1 controller inside TIA Portal's main left navigation tree, select S7-1200 G2 Migration Tool, and trigger Migrate.
2What TIA Portal software edition is required?
TIA Portal V20 is required (V21 or newer is highly recommended). Next-generation G2 hardware components are not supported in V19 or older legacy software layers; a step up in software versioning is required as part of your modernization plan.
3The G2 is physically narrower. Will it fit inside existing panels?
The G2 delivers a 25% to 38% reduction in horizontal footprint width. For example, the CPU 1212C drops from 90 mm down to 70 mm wide, and the CPU 1214C drops from 110 mm down to 80 mm. While this adds space to crowded boxes, note that the G2 chassis stands slightly taller and deeper. Be sure to verify layout clearances before a layout change.
Wiring Note: The G2 drops classic screw terminals in favor of push-in clamp blocks, which can be pre-wired to quickly slide onto modules, speeding up field updates.
4Which S7-1200 classic CPUs map over directly to the G2?
Siemens has consolidated the footprint paths down into two major core blocks: Legacy CPU 1211C, 1212C, and 1212FC lines aggregate into the G2 CPU 1212C (150 kB Program / 500 kB Data). Classic CPU 1214C, 1215C, and 1217C hardware maps straight into the G2 CPU 1214C (250 kB Program / 750 kB Data).
5What happened to the onboard integrated analog I/O lines?
This is a vital point for engineers migrating away from a classic 1215C or 1217C. S7-1200 G2 CPUs do not carry onboard integrated analog channels. Analog processing moves entirely onto localized Signal Boards (SBs) that plug directly into the front faceplate of the CPU module. Ensure your target analog channels have dedicated SB configurations mapped out in your layout planning.
6Can I reuse my existing first-generation expansion signal modules?
No. First-generation S7-1200 extension cards are not physically or electrically compatible with the revised G2 backplane slot architecture. I/O modules must update alongside the CPU footprint change.
7Should I migrate systems running active fail-safe safety programs?
Evaluate your layout carefully. While G2 F-CPUs are fully available, standalone G2 fail-safe localized I/O blocks (F-DI / F-DQ) are slated for general availability rollout in Summer 2026. If you need safety handling immediately, pair a G2 CPU with decentralized remote I/O nodes like ET200SP over PROFINET to handle your safe field loops.
8Does the G2 handle native OPC UA server communications?
Yes. Using firmware profiles FW V4.1 paired with TIA Portal V21, full OPC UA Server processing handles natively inside the processor block without external interface translators.
9Is a separate safety software license needed for G2 fail-safe projects?
No. Starting with TIA Portal software layers, fail-safe safety configuration engineering for G2 is natively included inside STEP 7 Basic. A single engineering package license now covers both your standard logic and safe automation loops.
10How much faster does the G2 engine run?
Basic bit transaction times drop from 85 ns to a sharp 40 ns profile. Furthermore, networking loops move onto a dedicated communication channel on the chip, ensuring intense PROFINET traffic overhead never stretches your programmatic scan times.
11Is next-generation G2 hardware more expensive than classic lines?
Surprisingly, no. Despite carrying double the processor power, more memory scope, integrated motion tracking, and NFC tags, S7-1200 G2 lines are highly competitive—frequently launching at **lower direct price targets** than classic variants. For example, G2 CPUs can start at $375 depending on configuration.
| Model Block |
Generation |
List Price Target |
Lead Status |
| CPU 1212 Series |
G1 Classic |
$495 |
4–6 weeks lead |
| CPU 1212 Series |
G2 Next-Gen |
$395 (↓ Save $100) |
In stock |
| CPU 1214 Series |
G1 Classic |
$745 |
3–4 weeks lead |
| CPU 1214 Series |
G2 Next-Gen |
$680 (↓ Save $65) |
2–3 weeks lead |
Partner with a Siemens Platinum Distribution Team
EandM stands as a verified Platinum-tier partner—the highest operational distinction Siemens awards its technical channels. Our on-staff application specialists work hands-on with these controller networks daily. We offer certified TIA Portal training workshops, engineering layout validation, and free local phone/field support across your West Coast facilities.
Contact EandM Engineering Support