Introduction
Mitsubishi Electric's MELSEC PLC series is one of the most widely deployed automation platforms in Asia and globally. From the legacy A-series to the Q-series and iQ-R platform, MELSEC controllers power everything from automotive assembly lines to food processing facilities.
But as Mitsubishi transitions customers to newer platforms, many older MELSEC components have been discontinued — leaving maintenance teams scrambling for replacements.
Commonly Discontinued MELSEC Components
- MELSEC A-series — Fully discontinued. A1S, A2S, A3N CPUs and I/O modules are no longer manufactured.
- MELSEC FX0, FX1, FX2 series — Older FX compact PLCs discontinued in favor of FX5U.
- Q-series older CPUs — Q02, Q06, Q12 CPUs with older firmware revisions increasingly hard to find.
- MELSEC communication modules — AJ71QE71 and similar Ethernet/serial modules discontinued.
Key Challenges When Sourcing MELSEC Parts
MELSEC parts present unique sourcing challenges compared to Western brands:
- Limited secondary market availability outside Asia
- Firmware compatibility requirements between CPU and I/O modules
- High counterfeit risk for popular Q-series CPUs
- Long lead times from Japanese distributors for NOS stock
How NORTHLINK Sources MELSEC Components
NORTHLINK maintains sourcing relationships across Asia, Europe, and North America to locate verified MELSEC inventory. We provide condition reports, firmware version documentation, and functional test results for every unit.
Submit your MELSEC part numbers through our Request a Quote page for availability and pricing within 24 hours.