users can freely choose PLC hardware
users can gain technical/price advantages in PC field. Without being limited by the patented technology of a hard PLC manufacturer
users can connect with a powerful PC network with less money
users can program in a programming language they are familiar with
for PLC systems with more than several hundred I/O points, users can save investment
Introduction of existing software PLC products
At present, software PLC has been researched and developed as a key object in western countries such as Europe and America. It is understood that in Detroit Auto City, USA, most auto assembly automatic production lines and heat treatment process production lines have been changed from traditional PLC control to software PLC control. The demo version or official release version of software PLC products that can be seen in China are MULTIPROG wt32 of KW-Software Company in Germany, ISaGRAF of CJ International Company in France, Concept V2.1 of Schneider Automation Company in France and InControl7. of Wonderware Company. At present, some famous automation software companies in China (such as Beijing Yakong Automation Software Technology Co., Ltd.) are researching and developing Chinese soft PLC products with independent copyright. In addition, some automation engineering companies began to sell and promote these commercial soft PLC products as agents.
market forecast of PLC and market breakthrough of software PLC
According to relevant statistics, the sales of PLC in the world in 1987 was $2.5 billion, and it has been increasing by about 2% every year since then. Since the 199s, the average annual sales of PLC in the world is more than 5.5 billion dollars, of which China accounts for about 1%. At present, PLC has become the most popular best-selling product of industrial control in the international market, and the design of automatic control system with PLC has become the world trend.