Across the storage and terminal sector, much of the discussion around automation focuses on large, complex facilities. Yet globally, the majority of terminals look quite different. Bulk plants, transload facilities, and smaller regional terminals, particularly in emerging markets, operate with fewer arms, tighter budgets, and limited tolerance for downtime. These sites still require accuracy, blending capability, and safety compliance, but at a scale that does not always align with traditional automation solutions.
For these terminals, the challenge is not whether to automate, but how to do so without over‑engineering.
At the centre of many terminal operations is the batch controller, also known as a preset. This device manages the precise movement of liquid products during loading, offloading, or transfer operations. By controlling pumps, valves, and meters, the preset ensures that the right product, in the right quantity, goes to the right destination. Even for small facilities, this role is critical, particularly where blending and additive injection are required.
Historically, many batch control solutions were designed with large terminals in mind. They often assumed multiple arms, extensive I/O requirements, and complex integration needs. While these systems perform well at scale, they can be costly and unnecessarily complex for smaller operations. Installation, upgrades, and maintenance can demand resources that simply are not available at leaner sites.
The demand for a lower‑cost batch controller has grown in emerging markets, where cost efficiency and ease of deployment are just as important as performance.
In response, Toptech Systems recently introduced the Multiload II+ LITE, a compact, Zone 1‑rated preset designed specifically for 1–2 arm applications requiring blending with up to four additives.
This batch control technology follows a more modular, scalable designs. The Toptech Systems’ Multiload II+ LITE preset uses an internal I/O board that provides sufficient capacity to support most single or dual arm configurations. Additional FCMs can be added in an external enclosure as needed. This architecture allows terminals to expand their capabilities without replacing the preset itself, reducing lifecycle costs and simplifying maintenance.
By providing essential batch control and blending functionality in a smaller form factor, Multiload II+ LITE allows terminals to modernize without adopting infrastructure designed for much larger facilities. The preset was released in March 2026 and is intended for both standalone and networked environments. Multiload II+ LITE is not available for use in the U.S. or Canada.
Right‑sized, modular batch control solutions now enable facilities to improve accuracy, safety, and operational consistency while keeping costs aligned with their actual operating scale. For many smaller terminals, that balance is becoming essential to staying competitive as market demands continue to evolve.
For more information, contact Toptech Systems. To learn more about the Multiload II+LITE, visit the product page.
