PLC Brands Comparison
If you are reading this post, you probably know what PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) is. If you don’t, please check out the post What is PLC?
There is enormous competition between the leading PLC manufacturers around the world. In this article, we tried to gather all the data necessary to understand the PLC industry players.
| Manufacturer | PLC Series | Software | Country | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
ControlLogix CompactLogix MicroLogix SLC500 PLC5 Micro800 |
Studio5000
RSLogix500
RSLogix5 CCW |
USA |
97 |
|
|
S7-1200/1500 S7-400/300 S5 LOGO |
TIA Portal Step7 Step5 LOGO! Soft Comfort |
Germany |
94 |
|
|
M340/M580 Quantum Momentum Series 800 |
Ecostruxure Control Expert (Unity Pro) Concept Modsoft |
France |
92 |
|
|
Rx3i /Rx7i Series 90-70 / 90-30 VersaMax |
Proficy Machine Edition VersaPro |
USA |
86 |
|
|
CP Compact CJ Modular CS Rack |
CX-One CX programmer |
Japan |
79 |
|
|
AC010 AC500 |
Automation Builder |
Switzerland |
77 |
|
|
X20 X90 |
Automation Studio 4 |
Switzerland |
81 |
|
|
MELSEC iQ-F Compact MELSEC iQ-R MELSEC-F Compact MELSEC-L Standard MELSEC-Q |
MELSOFT Gx Works3 |
Japan |
80 |
|
|
Productivity Series Do more Series DirectLogic Series CLICK Series Productivity Open (Arduino compatible) |
Productivity Suite Do-more Designer DirectSOFT CLICK C++ |
Japan |
||
|
C60 Ultra-compact Industrial PC X61-69 Control cabinet Industrial PC C70 Ultra-compact Industrial PC |
TwinCAT 3 |
Germany |
||
|
ILC-CML ILC-XM ILC-VPB |
ctrlX AUTOMATION ctrlX CORE plus |
Germany |
||
|
Type 1 Light V200 Micro V100 V1000/2000/3000 (Legacy) |
nV-Tool |
Japan |
||
|
AXC-F Axioline F RFC Remote Field AXC Axiocontrol ILC Inline PLC |
PLCnext Engineer PC Worx |
Germany |
||
|
FA-M3V Stardom FCN-500 |
WideField3 Logic Designer |
Japan |
||
|
PFC200 Advanced PFC200 PFC100 |
WAGO-I/O-PRO V2.3 ( CODESYS) e!COCKPIT (CODESYS) |
Germany |
||
|
FP7 FP2SH FPΣ FP-XH FP0R FP0H |
Control FPWIN Pro |
Japan |
||
|
DVP AS Compact AH |
ISP Soft |
Taiwan |
||
|
XN300 XC152 XC300 EasyE4 Nano |
easySoft 7 XSoft CODESYS |
USA |
||
|
Micrex-SX Series PLC System |
SX-Programmer |
Japan |
||
|
Micro-EH Compact EH-150 Modular EHV Modular H-Series High-Performance PLC |
Control Editor PRO-H |
Japan |
||
|
ControlEdge MasterLogic ML200 MasterLogic ML50 |
ControlEdge builder SoftMaster |
USA |
||
|
FC6A MicroSmart Plus FC6A MicroSmart FT1A SmartAXIS |
WindLDR |
Japan |
||
|
CR Ecomat CR Classic CR Smart CR Basic |
CODESYS |
Germany |
||
|
KV-8000 KV-5000/3000/7000 KV-Nano |
KV Studio KV Builder |
Japan |
||
|
UniStream Vision Samba Jazz M90 |
UniLogic VisiLogic
U90 Ladder |
Israel |
||
|
groov EPIC |
PAC Control CODESYS Red Node |
USA |
||
|
XGT (XGK, XGI, XGR) XGB Master-K GM |
XG5000
KGLWIN GMWIN |
Korea |
||
|
MAXI MEGA MINI All Arduino Based |
Arduino IDE PlatformIO OpenPLC Visual Studio LabVIEW Matlab Scilab And more |
Austria |
||
|
LX5V LX5S LX3V |
Wecon PLC Editor |
China |
||
|
K6 MK KW KS K5,K2 |
Kinco Builder |
China |
||
|
FBs B1 / B1z / HB1 Series |
WinProladder |
Taiwan |
||
|
Mini PLC PL-100 Smart Relay Genie-Nx |
PL-Soft Pro |
India |
Rockwell Automation
Rockwell Automation is a global company based in America. The company focuses on various solutions for industrial automation, and in this field, they are the biggest in the world and undoubtedly the biggest in the USA.
Founded in 1903 as the Compression Rheostat Company, Allen-Bradley is now a significant brand name for the Rockwell Automation company.
Rockwell Automation manufactures PLCs, human-machine interfaces, sensors, and other equipment designed to automate factory systems.
In addition to equipment, industrial control services offered by the company include global short-circuit current ratings, line-to-load power solutions, and procurement specifications.
Company headquarters are located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with the famous Allen-Bradley Clock Tower serving as an important city landmark; it is officially considered to be the largest four-sided clock in the entire Western hemisphere.
The current market cap for the company is estimated to be 29.32 billion US dollars.
The industrial control systems market is estimated to be valued at USD 168.53 billion by 2026, leaving plenty of room for competition for Rockwell Automation.
Apart from PLCs, the company also manufactures:
- Instrumentation
- VFDs
- Motors
- Actuators
- Human Machine Interface (HMI)
- Switches, relays and timers, etc
- Industrial Networking
- Safety Components
- Motor Control Centers
- Software
PLC Series with supported programming software :
| PLC Series | Software | App Range | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
|
ControlLogix |
Studio5000 |
Large |
Rockwell's flag ship PLC, Modular and scalable |
|
CompactLogix |
Studio5000 |
Small to Medium |
High Quality and affordable |
|
Micrologix1100/1400 |
RSLogix500 |
Small |
Satisfies almost all small apps and also very affordable |
|
Micro800 |
CCW - connected components workbench |
Small |
Like ML1100/1400 it satisfies almost all small apps and also very affordable, free designer software |
|
SLC500 |
RSLogix500 |
Medium |
Legacy - Been replaced by CompactLogix/ControlLogix |
|
PLC5 |
RSLogix5 |
Large |
Legacy - Been replaced by CompactLogix/ControlLogix |
About the PLC manufacturer:
- Global company – 5 – Distributed around the world
- Company’s focus in the field of industrial control – 5 – Fully focused
- Company’s Innovation – 5 – New products and technologies every time
- Quantity of installations – 5 – Wide network of distributors and integrators
- Convenient and understandable website – 5 – Well organized
- Online technical material and support – 5 – Huge knowledgeable online
- Brand strength – 5 – Especially in the USA
Hardware:
- Hardware quality – 5 – High Quality
- Hardware Robustness – 5 – Suitable for all industries and environments
- Hardware prices – 4 – Depends on the hardware chosen but can be expensive
- Variety of complementary products – 5 – In-house and with partners like Prosoft
- Very small applications – 5 – With Micro800/ Micro1400
- Small applications – 5 – With Micro800/ Micro1400
- Medium applications – 5 – With CompactLogix / ControlLogix
- Large applications – 5 – With ControlLogix
- Connectivity and compatibility with third-party systems, Scada, MES – 5 – High connectivity to the Factory-talk package include FTView SCADA. Support OPC DA for third-party systems
- Supported communication protocols – 5 – With build-in Ethernet-IP and ModbusTcp and the help of partners like Prosoft, it’s possible to connect to every network or protocol
Software:
- High-level and intuitive software – 5 – Stodio5000 is a high quality and intuitive software
- Software price – 3 – The CCW is free but Studio500 is expensive
- Support for all controllers programming languages – 5 – All Supported
Siemens
Siemens is a group of German companies that stands out as Europe’s most important industrial conglomerate.
Siemens is headquartered in three German cities: Erlangen, Munich, and Berlin. They are currently present all over the world through 190 branches.
Siemens works mainly in four areas: industry, health, infrastructure, and the energy sector.
This German company has more than 400,000 employees worldwide and has revenues of more than 120 billion dollars.
Siemens offers multiple services: financial, construction, and general business services. The German company provides various products related to lighting, transportation, medical equipment, nuclear reactors, water technologies, and many more.
The industrial control field has major importance compared to the company’s total activity. Siemens manages various monitoring devices and software systems to control operations and automate them in areas where they can be applied.
The German company continues to innovate the industry, setting trends through the latest technology to improve the quality of life.
PLC Series with supported programming software:
| PLC Series | Software | App Range | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
|
S7-1500 |
TIA Portal |
Medium to Large |
Modular and scalable |
|
S7-1200 |
TIA Portal |
Small to Medium |
Satisfies almost all small apps and also very affordable |
|
S7-400/300 |
Step7 |
Medium to Large |
Legacy - Been replaced by S7-1500 |
|
S5 |
Step5 |
Medium to Large |
Legacy - Been replaced by S7-1500 |
|
LOGO |
LOGO! Soft Comfort |
Small |
For very small applications, affordable. |
About the PLC manufacturer:
- Global company – 5 – Distributed around the world
- Company’s focus in the field of industrial control – 3 – Industrial automation and control is only one field of this huge corporation
- Company’s Innovation – 5 – New products and technologies every time
- Quantity of installations – 5 – Wide network of distributors and integrators
- Convenient and understandable website – 5 – Well organized
- Online technical material and support – 5 – Huge knowledgeable online
- Brand strength – 5 – Especially in the Europe
Hardware:
- Hardware quality – 5 – High Quality
- Hardware Robustness – 5 – Suitable for all industries and environments
- Hardware prices – 4 – Depends on the hardware chosen but can be expensive
- Variety of complementary products – 5 – In-house and with partners
- Very small applications – 5 – With S7-1200
- Small applications – 5 – With S7-1200
- Medium applications – 5 – With S7-1200/1500
- Large applications – 5 – With S7-1500
- Connectivity and compatibility with third-party systems, Scada, MES – 5 – High connectivity to the Wincc SCADA. Support OPC DA/UA for third-party systems
- Supported communication protocols – 5 – With build-in Profinet and ModbusTcp
Software:
- High-level and intuitive software – 4 – TIA Portal is a high quality software but can be less intuitive
- Software price – 3 – expensive
- Support for all controllers programming languages – 5 – All Supported
Schneider Electric
Schneider Electric started in french in 1891, today Schneider Electric is a global company with more than 166K employees in 115+ locations worldwide.
In 2021 their revenue was ~30B$ from mainly two markets:
- Automation and control
- Energy management
PLC Series with supported programming software:
| PLC Series | Software | App Range | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Modicon M580 |
Ecostruxure Control Expert |
Medium to Large |
Modular and scalable |
|
Modicon M340 |
Ecostruxure Control Expert |
Small to Medium |
Satisfies almost all small apps |
|
Modicon Quantum |
Unity |
Medium to Large |
Mature - Been replaced by M580 |
|
Modicon Momentum |
Unity / Concept |
Small |
Legacy - Been replaced by M340 |
|
Modicon Seris 800 |
Modsoft |
Medium to Large |
Legacy - Been replaced by M580 or Quantum |
About the PLC manufacturer:
- Global company – 5 – Distributed around the world
- Company’s focus in the field of industrial control – 5 – Almost fully focus
- Company’s Innovation – 5 – New products and technologies every time
- Quantity of installations – 5 – Wide network of distributors and integrators
- Convenient and understandable website – 5 – Well organized
- Online technical material and support – 5 – Huge knowledgeable online
- Brand strength – 4 – Especially in the Europe
Hardware:
- Hardware quality – 5 – High Quality
- Hardware Robustness – 5 – Suitable for all industries and environments
- Hardware prices – 4 – Depends on the hardware chosen but can be expensive
- Variety of complementary products – 5 – In-house and with partners
- Very small applications – 5 – With M340
- Small applications – 5 – With M340
- Medium applications – 5 – With M340/580
- Large applications – 4 – With M580
- Connectivity and compatibility with third-party systems, Scada, MES – 4 – Support OPC DA/UA for third-party systems
- Supported communication protocols – 4 – With build-in ModbusTcp
Software:
- High-level and intuitive software – 4 – Ecostruxure Control Expert (or Unity Pro) is a high-quality software and intuitive
- Software price – 3 – expensive
- Support for all controllers programming languages – 5 – All Supported
Emerson (General Electric)
General Electric Intelligent Platforms was acquired by Emerson in 2019 and was subsequently renamed Emerson Machine Automation Solutions.
Emerson Electric is a Fortune 500 company headquartered in Ferguson, Missouri. It is currently valued at 53.22 billion USD, with its new automation segment accounting for much of that market cap.
Emerson Machine Automation Solutions offers a wide range of industrial control field products and services, including programmable automation controllers, software for automation and control, industrial Ethernet switches, industrial PCs, and industrial web panels.
The company specializes in supporting power plant operations, including traditional oil and gas, as well as more renewable energy sources like solar panel operations.
With the industrial automation market looking to be valued at as much as 168.53 billion USD by 2026, Emerson hopes to significantly grow its newly acquired property within the field.
Emerson Machine Automation Solutions is the latest offering in industrial control from Emerson, based on an original product by General Electric.
The company’s business range from :
- Aviation
- Financial solutions
- Healthcare
- Power
- Renewable energy
- Digital – Industrial Automation.
PLC Series with supported programming software:
| PLC Series | Software | App Range | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Rx7i |
Proficy Machine Edition |
Medium to Large |
Modular and scalable |
|
Rx3i |
Proficy Machine Edition |
Small to Medium |
Modular and scalable |
|
VersaMax Micro |
Proficy Machine Edition, VersaPro |
Small to Medium |
For small applications |
|
Series 90-70 |
Logicmaster 90-70, VersaPro |
Medium to Large |
Legacy - Been replaced by Rx3i/Rx7i |
|
Series 90-30 |
VersaPro |
Medium |
Legacy - Been replaced by Rx3i/Rx7i |
About the PLC manufacturer:
- Global company – 5 – Distributed around the world
- Company’s focus in the field of industrial control – 3 – Industrial automation and control is only one field of this huge corporation
- Company’s Innovation – 4 – New products from time to time
- Quantity of installations – 4 – Wide network of distributors and integrators
- Convenient and understandable website – 4 – Well organized
- Online technical material and support – 5 – online knowledgeable
- Brand strength – 4 – Especially in the USA
Hardware:
- Hardware quality – 5 – High Quality
- Hardware Robustness – 5 – Suitable for all industries and environments
- Hardware prices – 4 – Depends on the hardware chosen but can be expensive
- Variety of complementary products – 4 – In-house and with partners
- Very small applications – 5 – With VersaMax Micro
- Small applications – 5 – With VersaMax Micro
- Medium applications – 5 – With Rx3i
- Large applications – 4 – With Rx7i
- Connectivity and compatibility with third-party systems, Scada, MES – 4 – High connectivity to the Cimplicity SCADA. Support OPC DA/UA for third-party systems
- Supported communication protocols – 4 – With build-in ModbusTcp
Software:
- High-level and intuitive software – 4 –
Proficy Machine Edition is a quality software but less intuitive
- Software price – 3 – expensive
- Support for all controllers programming languages – 5 – All Supported
Omron
Omron Headquarters is in Japan, with 30K employees in 120 locations worldwide.
The company mainly focuses on industrial automation and the healthcare and social systems businesses.
PLC Series with supported programming software:
| PLC Series | Software | App Range | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
|
CP Compact (CPM1A, CPM2A, CP1E, CP1L, CP1H) |
CX programmer |
Small |
for very small applications |
|
CJ Modular (CJ2M, CJ2H, CJ1M, CJ1G/CJ1H) |
CX programmer |
Small to Medium |
Modular and scalable |
|
CS Rack (CS1H/CS1G, CS1D) |
CX programmer |
Medium |
|
About the PLC manufacturer:
- Global company – 5 – Distributed around the world
- Company’s focus in the field of industrial control – 5 – Almost Fully
- Company’s Innovation – 2 – No new products
- Quantity of installations – 3
- Convenient and understandable website – 4 – Well organized
- Online technical material and support – 3 – online knowledgeable
- Brand strength – 3
Hardware:
- Hardware quality – 4 – High Quality
- Hardware Robustness – 5 – Suitable for all industries and environments
- Hardware prices – 4 – Depends on the hardware chosen
- Variety of complementary products – 3
- Very small applications – 5 – With CP Micro
- Small applications – 5 – With CP Micro
- Medium applications – 5 – With CP Micro and CJ Modular
- Large applications – 3 – With CS Rack
- Connectivity and compatibility with third-party systems, Scada, MES – 4 – Support OPC DA/UA for third-party systems
- Supported communication protocols – 4 – With build-in EthernetIP
Software:
- High-level and intuitive software – 3 –
CX Programmer is a good software but less quality from the others top brands
- Software price – 4 – expensive
- Support for all controllers programming languages – 5 – All Supported
ABB Automation
Although ABB Automation is an excellent brand in the automation world, they are less invested in PLCs and develop only a few PLC models.
They acquire R&B and their line of PLCs (next section).
ABB also manufactures:
- Control Room Solutions
- Drives
- Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure
- Industrial Software
- Low Voltage Products and Systems
- Measurement and Analytics
- Medium Voltage Products
- Metallurgy Products
- Motors and Generators
- PLC Automation
- Power Converters and Inverters
PLC Series with supported programming software:
| PLC Series | Software | App Range | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
|
AC500 |
Automation Builder |
Small to Medium |
Modular and scalable |
About the PLC manufacturer:
- Global company – 5 – Distributed around the world
- Company’s focus in the field of industrial control – 5 – Almost Fully
- Company’s Innovation – 2 – No new products in the PLC category
- Quantity of installations – 3
- Convenient and understandable website – 4 – Well organized
- Online technical material and support – 3 – online knowledgeable
- Brand strength – 4
Hardware:
- Hardware quality – 4 – High Quality
- Hardware Robustness – 5 – Suitable for all industries and environments
- Hardware prices – 4 – Relatively cheap
- Variety of complementary products – 3
- Very small applications – 5
- Small applications – 5
- Medium applications – 4
- Large applications – 2
- Connectivity and compatibility with third-party systems, Scada, MES – 3 – Support OPC DA/UA for third-party systems
- Supported communication protocols – 3 – With build-in EthernetIP
Software:
- High-level and intuitive software – 3 –
Automation Builder is a good software but less quality from the others top brands
- Software price – 5 – free
- Support for all controllers programming languages – 5 – All Supported
B&R Automation (ABB)
B&R Automation was founded in 1979 as an Austrian company. The company headquarters is located in Eggelsberg and has a presence in over 70 countries. They focus mainly on automation and control.
In 2017, B&R Automation was bought out by the huge ABB Group, which has headquarters in Sweden and Switzerland.
ABB is also active in the robotics industry, which it has started to apply to its newly acquired automation property B&R Automation.
PLC Series with supported programming software:
| PLC Series | Software | App Range | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
|
X20 Compact-S |
Automation Studio 4 |
Small |
Modular and scalable |
|
X20 Embedded |
Automation Studio 4 |
Small to Medium |
Modular and scalable |
|
X20 PLC |
Automation Studio 4 |
Medium |
Modular and scalable |
|
X90 Mobile |
Automation Studio 4 |
Small to Medium |
For mobile applications |
About the PLC manufacturer:
- Global company – 4 – 70 countries
- Company’s focus in the field of industrial control – 5 – Almost Fully
- Company’s Innovation – 4
- Quantity of installations – 3
- Convenient and understandable website – 4 – Well organized
- Online technical material and support – 3 – online knowledgeable
- Brand strength – 3
Hardware:
- Hardware quality – 4 – High Quality
- Hardware Robustness – 5 – Suitable for all industries and environments
- Hardware prices – 4 – Relatively cheap
- Variety of complementary products – 3
- Very small applications – 5
- Small applications – 5
- Medium applications – 5
- Large applications – 3
- Connectivity and compatibility with third-party systems, Scada, MES – 4 – Support OPC DA/UA for third-party systems
- Supported communication protocols – 4 – With build-in EthernetIP
Software:
- High-level and intuitive software – 4 – Automation Studio is a good software
- Software price – 4
- Support for all controllers programming languages – 5 – All Supported and C++
Mitsubishi Electric
Mitsubishi Electric is a Japanese based corporation with locations across the globe. They have 145,696 employees and a market cap of $21.93 billion.
The company was founded in 1921, with their first product being an electric fan that became an instant success with customers. Since then, Mitsubishi Electric has continued to innovate in the fields of electronics, automation, and motor vehicles.
The company continues to play an important role in industrial control with their manufacturing of automation PLCs and panels that are used worldwide for industrial manufacturing.
PLC Series with supported programming software:
| PLC Series | Software | App Range | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
|
MELSEC iQ-R |
MELSOFT GXWorks3 |
Medium to Large |
|
|
MELSEC iQ-F |
MELSOFT GXWorks3 |
Small |
|
|
MELSEC-Q |
MELSOFT GXWorks3 |
Medium to Large |
|
|
MELSEC-L |
MELSOFT GXWorks3 |
Small to Medium |
|
|
MELSEC-F |
MELSOFT GXWorks3 |
Small |
|
About the PLC manufacturer:
- Global company – 5
- Company’s focus in the field of industrial control – 3
- Company’s Innovation – 4
- Quantity of installations – 3
- Convenient and understandable website – 4
- Online technical material and support – 4
- Brand strength – 4
Hardware:
- Hardware quality – 4
- Hardware Robustness – 5
- Hardware prices – 4
- Variety of complementary products – 3
- Very small applications – 5
- Small applications – 5
- Medium applications – 5
- Large applications – 3
- Connectivity and compatibility with third-party systems, Scada, MES – 3
- Supported communication protocols – 3
Software:
- High-level and intuitive software – 4
- Software price – 4
- Support for all controllers programming languages – 5
Automation Direct / Koyo
Automation Direct, Koyo is a corporation that provides industrial automation electronics.
The company is situated in Japan these days too. They do their best to branch out all around the world.
The company has a new model which allow them to penetrate the USA market.
PLC Series with supported programming software:
- Productivity Series PLCs (Stackable Micro, Micro Modular, and Modular)
- Do more Series PLCs (Micro Modular & Stackable)
- DirectLogic Series PLCs (Micro to Small, Brick & Modular)
- CLICK Series PLCs (Stackable Micro Brick)
- Productivity Open PLC (Audrino compatible)
| PLC Series | Software | App Range | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Productivity Series |
Productivity Suite |
Medium to Large |
|
|
Do more Series |
Do-more Designer |
Small |
|
|
DirectLogic Series |
DirectSOFT |
Medium to Large |
|
|
CLICK Series |
CLICK |
Small to Medium |
|
|
Productivity Open |
C++ |
Small |
Arduino compatible |
Beckhoff
Beckhoff Automation is a German industrial control and automation manufacturing company with around 800 employees.
In the 2021 fiscal year, the company made record sales of over 1. 18 billion Euros.
The corporation was founded by Hans Beckhoff in 1980 and is headquartered in Verl, Germany.
Although not as old as some of its competitors, Beckhoff Automation has proven to be a major player in the world of automation and industrial controls.
In 1986 they developed the first PC-based machine control system, which outperformed and replaced other conventional systems from manufacturers like Siemens.
The company continues to grow and provide top-of-the-line automation products worldwide for sectors in the automotive industry, sheet metal processing, building automation, processing and packaging, the tire industry, and wind turbines.
PLC Series with supported programming software:
- C60 Ultra-compact Industrial PC
- X61-69 Control cabinet Industrial PC
- C70 Ultra-compact Industrial PC
PLC software:
TwinCAT 3
Bosch Rexroth
An engineering firm based out of Germany, Bosch Rexroth is the product of a merger that occurred in 2001 between two companies. The merging parties were the Automation Technology Business Unit from Robert Bosch and Mannesmann Rexroth.
The company has a global support network, including physical locations in eighty countries.
Bosch Rexroth employs over 31,000 people, and the company made a sales revenue of 6.2 billion Euros in 2021.
Roughly half of the physical stores and warehouses are located in Germany, with the remainder evenly distributed throughout other continents.
Automation systems provided include electric drives and controls, industrial hydraulics, linear motion technology, and production assistants (APAS). The global industrial field control market is valued at USD 191.89 billion as of 2021.
PLC Series with supported programming software:
- ILC-CML
- ILC-XM
- ILC-VPB
Toshiba Electronics
Toshiba electronics is widely known as a significant Japanese electronic device and computer manufacturer. Its headquarters is located in Tokyo, Japan.
Toshiba is considered an excellent manufacturing company because of its advanced electrical and electronic products, power systems, and industrial and social infrastructure systems.
Aside from its HD TVs and laptops, it also manufactures industrial products, process control, and infrastructure solutions. It focuses mainly on highly functional materials, and while going forward, it is expanding its power semiconductor business.
From the most recent record in 2021, it has a total number of 117,300 employees from around the globe.
PLC Series with supported programming software:
- Type 1 Light
- V200 Micro
- V100
- V2000 (Legacy)
Phoenix Contact
Phoenix Contact is a German manufacturer specializing in industrial controls and automation. They are located in Blomberg, Germany, and employ 20,300 workers.
Their annual sales revenue for 2021 was $3.1 billion (2.97 billion Euros). The company was founded in 1923 in Essen, Germany as an electrical parts manufacturer.
In 1928 they developed the first modular terminal block. In the early 1980s, the company began to branch out to foreign markets, including Sweden and the United States. Around that same time, they developed their electronics systems to be protected against surge voltages.
The company, since its inception, continues to expand significantly and is a large producer of products in industrial manufacturing, infrastructure such as building automation, and the automotive industry.
Phoenix Contact plays an integral role in developing industrial controls and automation by providing products such as circuit breakers, marking and labeling presses, terminal blocks, surge protectors, relay modules, and PLCs.
PLC Series with supported programming software:
- AXC-F Axioline F
- RFC Remote Field
- AXC Axiocontrol
- ILC Inline PLC
Yokogawa
Yokogawa Electric is a Japanese corporation specializing in industrial automation controls for manufacturing.
They have a market cap of $4.57 billion and employ over 19,000 people worldwide.
The company, headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, goes back to 1915, when it developed and produced electric meters. In the 1930s, they began researching and manufacturing aircraft instruments and later produced electronic recorders. In the 1960s, they entered into the industrial analyzer market and established an office in Europe.
They also became one of the first manufacturers to bring a distributed process control system to the market. They currently have multiple global locations, including Bahrain, India, Singapore, and the United States.
Yokogawa Electric continues to innovate in the fields of industrial controls and automation with state-of-the-art products such as programmable logic controllers, process controllers, temperature controllers, panel indicators, and software configuration tools.
PLC Series with supported programming software:
- FA-M3 Vitesse
- Stardom FCN-500
WAGO
WAGO, introduced in the year 1950, is one of the global manufacturing companies of electronic products at present.
The high efficiency of WAGO devices is one of the main reasons that keep it the top-selected product for developing automotive and elevator equipment. Apart from the above-specified applications, you can also select WAGO as a key component for developing PLCs, IIoT, and marine engineering products.
PLC Series with supported programming software:
- PFC200 Advanced
- PFC200
- PFC100
Panasonic
Panasonic is a Japanese electronics company founded in 1918 in Osaka, Japan. They currently have 240k employees worldwide, and its market cap is $19.39 billion as of 2021.
The company has been one the premier leaders in consumer electronics for decades, and its products include VHS camcorders, CD players, microwaves, and digital televisions.
The company has also played a significant role in manufacturing. They have produced industrial manufacturing technology and equipment, including capacitors, clean room equipment, fans, power supplies, and cable assemblies, just to name a few.
Panasonic has been a critical player in the field of industrial controls, as well. Their products for industrial control automation include relay outputs, temperature controllers, safety relays, electronic counters, and various other control panel components.
PLC Series with supported programming software:
- FP7 High-Performance Modular PLC
- FP2 PLC Modular high-speed
- FP-Sigma Compact Modular
- FP-X Compact Multi-Functional
- FP0R Ultra Compact
Eaton (Cutler-Hammer)
Eaton Corporation has its headquarters in Dublin, Ireland. However, it was founded in the United States by Viggo Torbensen and Joseph Oriel Eaton the Second.
It is a joint Irish-American company dedicated to power management. One of its most notable acquisitions was Cutler-Hammer in 1978, a power control and automation company with a long history.
Cutler-Hammer was incorporated by Edward West Hammer and Harry Henderson Cutler in 1893, developing the world’s original patented automatic motor starter in 1900.
Eaton Corporation currently employs over 86k people and saw a global revenue worth 19.63 billion USD in 2021.
PLC Series with supported programming software:
- XC Modular
- XC Compact
- EasyE4 Nano
Fuji Electric
Fuji Electric is a Japanese corporation that started manufacturing electrical equipment in 1924. The company, headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, has a market cap of $6.4 billion and employs 27k workers.
In addition to its Japanese roots, the company branched out to the United States in 1970 with the creation of Fuji Electric Corp. of America (FECOA) and now has numerous locations across the U.S.
The company began its journey into manufacturing by producing electric motors, turbines, fans, and magnetic switches, in addition to numerous other manufacturing equipment.
They continue to lead the way in innovation with products in the fields of power generation, food and beverage, transit systems, semiconductors, and power supplies. Industrial instrumentation and controls play a significant role in the company’s output.
They produce devices such as flow meters, temperature controllers, pressure transmitters, overload relays, and gas analyzers, all of which are essential in industrial manufacturing plants.
PLC Series with supported programming software:
- Micrex-SX Series PLC System
Hitachi
Hitachi is a Japanese corporation that produces various products for multiple sectors, including green energy, digital and automotive systems, industrial services, and medical equipment.
The company was founded in 1910 and is currently headquartered in Chiyoda, Japan. They have a market cap of $48.16 billion and have over 350k employees.
Hitachi began as a venture for a mining company and was responsible for building Japan’s first 4-kilowatt induction motor over a century ago. Since then, the Hitachi corporation has become one of the world’s foremost producers of manufacturing technologies, digital systems such as telecommunications, semiconductor manufacturing equipment, and advanced industrial products.
Their role in industrial controls remains a large part of their overall mission as a company. They continue to produce vital products for the manufacturing sector, such as air compressors, programmable logic controllers, fans and blowers, and low-noise sorting systems for production plant assembly lines.
PLC Series with supported programming software:
- Micro-EH Compact
- EH-150 Modular
- EHV Modular
- H-Series High-Performance PLC
Honeywell
Honeywell is an American corporation headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina. It is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of electrical and wiring products, control panels, sensors, aerospace technologies, and industrial automation equipment.
They have a market cap of $155.4 billion and employ around 100k workers. The company was founded in 1885, became the Honeywell Heating Specialty Co. in 1906, and has a long legacy of creating industrial and mechanical products.
The Honeywell company continues to innovate to this day in a wide array of fields, including aerospace and defense, as well as providing industrial control technology for the manufacturing sector.
With everything from automation systems to software and control systems, the company plays a vital role in industrial controls worldwide and will continue to do so in the foreseeable future.
PLC Series with supported programming software:
- ControlEdge
- MasterLogic ML200
- MasterLogic ML50
Idec Corporation
DEC Corporation is a manufacturer of Automation and Control products. The company was founded in Osaka, Japan, in 1945.
IDEC is known for its various electro-mechanical control products such as relays, timers, and switches.
The company also manufactures automation products, such as
- Programmable logic controller (PLCs)
- Human Machine Interface (HMI)
- power supplies
- sensors
- switches
- bar code readers
Software for PLC programming is free with the purchase of related products and can be downloaded for time-limited use.
PLC Series with supported programming software:
- FC6A MicroSmart Plus
- FC6A MicroSmart
- FT1A SmartAXIS
IFM Electronic
IFM Electronics, one of the leading global companies, has contributed immensely to the manufacturing of electronic systems. Introducing sensors with advanced technologies has already given a wide range of applications in the health field. At present, the magnetic sensors and pressure sensors of IFM Electronics have attained worldwide recognition.
The influence of IFM Electronics in image processing is another application that has made the company famous. RFID image sensing with IFB Electronics assures high-quality images with excellent accuracy.
PLC Series with supported programming software:
- CR Ecomat
- CR Classic
- CR Smart
- CR Basic
Unitronics company originated in Israel at the year 1989. Today Unitronics is a global manufacturer of industrial automation products, mainly programmable logic controllers, server management, control and automatic operation of processes, machines, production lines, and other automated applications.
PLC Series with supported programming software:
- UniStream
- Vision
- Samba
- Jazz
- M90
Opto22
Opto 22 was founded in 1974 in Temecula, California.
Opto 22 specializes in hardware and software products for industrial automation, remote monitoring, and data acquisition and also developed the first computer-based plug-in I/O modules.
PLC Series with supported programming software:
- groov EPIC
PLC Software:
- PAC Control
- CODESYS
- Red Node
LS Electric (LSIS)
LS Electric is part of LS Group, a South Korean conglomerate with about 100 subsidiaries in 25 countries. The main focus of the company is electrical equipment and automation system. The Koo family owns the company, the founding family of LG Group.
LS Group was split off from LG Group in 2003. In 2010, LS Group had about $25.2 billion in revenue worldwide
PLC Series with supported programming software:
- XGT, XGK, XGI, XGR
- XGB
- Master-K
- GM
Kinco
Kinco Automation is a Chinese company founded in 1943 that specializes in producing and selling industrial controls.
The company is located in Shanghai, China, with over a $448 million market cap. They employ an estimated 563 employees as of 2021 reporting.
The company provides various cost-effective industrial controls and automation solutions internationally for companies in Germany, India, Turkey, and Italy.
Kinco Automation is continually innovating new products in their several R&D centers throughout China; They are also partnered with a company in the United States, Anaheim Automation, Inc., to bring their products to a North American market.
The company produces industrial control products such as AC servos, Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC), Human Machine Interfaces (HMI), Variable Frequency Drives (VFD), as well as other components and accessories.
Their products are used in many sectors, including textile manufacturing, healthcare equipment, packaging, and electronics manufacturing.
PLC Series with supported programming software:
Fatek
Fatek Automation is a Taiwanese company specializing in industrial controls and automation. The company was founded in 1992 by a group of engineers who wished to create user-friendly automated control products, specifically the design and manufacturing of Programmable Logic Controllers.
Headquartered in New Taipei City, Taiwan, the company has an estimated number of employees of around 200.
Although a relatively young company when compared to some of its competitors, Fatek has become recognized in the industry as a reliable and respected manufacturer of industrial control products.
The company produces a wide array of products, including Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC), Human Machine Interfaces (HMI), Supervisory Control and Data Application (SCADA) software, Open Platform Communications (OPC) servers, power supplies, and servos.
PLC Series with supported programming software:
