Russia Develops New IT Solution for Boiler Plant Management
OWEN has released a new version of the software for its KTR-121 controllers, which automatically manage boiler plants. The update significantly expands the capabilities of equipment already in service without requiring changes to the control algorithms in individual sensors or devices.
OWEN is one of Russia’s leading industrial automation companies, and its engineers continually improve the company’s products and control algorithms. The latest software version, 4.1.2, is now available for the KTR-121 controller, which manages boiler plants that provide heat to apartment buildings and entire residential neighborhoods. The electronic control unit connects to sensors and actuators, including pumps, burners, valves and other equipment. It compares incoming data with preset parameters and sends commands to the boiler plant’s equipment.
The software update significantly expands the KTR-121’s capabilities. New features include automatic preheating of idle boilers to prevent equipment failures during severe cold. The controller now also monitors gas pressure continuously. Previously, the system tracked pressure only in operating equipment; it now monitors the parameter in standby boilers as well. A delay in registering faults during startup has also been introduced. This is particularly important at the beginning of the heating season, when equipment may operate outside normal conditions for a time. Heating and domestic hot water circuits can now resume operation automatically once a fault has been resolved. Engineers have also added support for RT500 temperature sensors, allowing the KTR-121 to be installed without partially replacing equipment already in place.
The software can be updated through Owen Configurator, and all settings are accessible through the company’s utilities. This is particularly important for boiler plants that operate automatically without an on-site operator. All operations can be performed remotely.
For end users, the update means more reliable heating and hot water service.
Where Boiler Plant Automation Is Headed
Russia is actively automating boiler plant control systems, creating promising opportunities for OWEN’s products in the domestic market. The company is also developing remote supervisory control systems, and the KTR-121 software already includes all the necessary communication protocols. This creates opportunities for centralized monitoring, remote fault analysis and control of distributed district heating facilities.
OWEN’s products also have significant export potential. They could be in demand in markets that need straightforward, reliable solutions for boiler plant management.
A Shift Toward Import Substitution
Over the past five years, the company has had to replace virtually all imported components used in its products, from hardware components to software. Its engineers effectively built AltaIDE, a development environment for the company’s controller family, from the ground up.
In 2024, OWEN engineers introduced the KTR-121 with OwenCloud integration for remote monitoring, positioning it as a replacement for the imported Vitotronic 100 controller. In January 2025, the controller was used to automate six boiler plants in Rostov-on-Don. In November 2025, Russia’s Ministry of Industry and Trade added the KTR-121 and several other OWEN devices to the national register of Russian-made industrial products.
What It Means for the Industry and Consumers
Although most consumers may never notice this software update, the new KTR-121 features can significantly improve boiler plant reliability, particularly at remote facilities. The controller’s continued development demonstrates how Russian manufacturers are reducing their reliance on imported technologies. It also expands the options for using domestically developed equipment to upgrade existing boiler plants and equip new facilities.
The KTR-121’s remote control capabilities allow the controllers to be integrated into a range of monitoring and supervisory control systems, including systems that use neural network technologies.
