Abstract: In the wake of the upgrade of upstream and downstream equipment,COMFLEX-1 linkage system is no longer up to the requirements of production in terms of throughput and performance.The system was upgraded as following:enlarging buffer area adapting to higher throughput;changing the way of cigarettes elevation from a mass flow of varied cross section to a mass flow of circular uniform cross section;upgrading the pneumatic system with valve-island;and upgrading the electrical system with frequency conversion control and PROFIBUS.The application range of upgraded COMFLEX-1 was expanded, the capacity and automation of the system were improved,and the running of the system was stabler and more reliable.