Industries are creating a new era – the Era of Automation. The world is rapidly evolving and automation is stirring up the attention of industrial capitalists.
The integration of the automation technologies has been fostering efficiency, precision, and higher scalability. Automation started its journey in automation industry with the PLC programming. Eventually it creeped into every niche that is possible.
Unveiling the numerous groundbreaking opportunities, industries like Production and Manufacturing, Healthcare, Finance, Supply chain and Logistics, Agriculture, Food and beverages, Retails, Transportation, etc are quickly adopting this technological advancement.
Read this blog to gain insights on various aspects of PLC programming. Also we focused upon its futuristic approach on various industries.
Components Of Industrial Automation
The application of the automation involves functioning of multiple smaller components in a series.
All these components are based on software programming that continues to work without human intervention.
The main components that comprise the technology is the Programmable logic controllers (PLC). Along with it attached are the sensors, machines, and other software systems.
Each of them works together seamlessly to provide high quality, cost and time saving products with greater ROI.
Evolution of PLCs
PLC is not an invention of one fine morning!
Years after years various researches on industrial demands on operations evolved the concept of PLC.
To be very precise, PLC programming replaced the electronic circuits that were used in PCBs and ICs. Though they used logic gates for the logic, yet issues like troubleshooting and higher costs in replacement discouraged its application.
Hence PLC replaced them with more benefits and applying logic gates in more advanced forms.
The Concept of PLC
Full form of PLC is- Programmable Logic Gates. It is comprised of two parts- PLC hardware and PLC Software.
The hardware part is the interconnection of the control system and the machine that the industry requires.
PLC Software need to be developed that would deploy the industrial processes. Various programming languages are used in PLC programming. They are the Ladder Logics, Function Block diagram, Structured texts, Sequential function charts, and instruction list.
How to Introduce PLC programming?
Every industry has different needs, so PLC programming must be customized. Any businesses who want to introduce automation can opt for either hiring a PLC programmers or outsourcing. Hiring experts would help you to meet the programming requirements for your automation process to work at best.
The programmers make use of small computers with microprocessors that establish communication between end users and several components of the machine.
Now these programmable controllers used as chips are being manufactured by various brand. Siemens is the competitive brand in industrial automation niche, manufacturing PLCs and other related automation equipment. Some others brand names are- Allen Brandley PLC controllers, Schieder Electric PLC controllers, Omron, Honeywell, Hitachi, GE Fanuc, Mitsubishi, etc.
The Future Scope of PLC
The global PLC market has shown a greater rise in its adoption all throughout the globe. Industries like automobile, food and beverage, oil and gas would be adopting the automaton more and more.
As per the current position, North America especially Canada, United states and Mexico has created a prominent footprint in its trajectory growth.
Besides Europe (Italy, France, Russia) and Asia-pacific countries (like China, Japan, India, etc) would mark a forecasted growth in upcoming years by 2031.
The Asia-pacific region would be contributing the highest as most of the manufacturing industry belong to these regions.
Trends of the PLC Market
To shape up the growth in forecasted period of 2021-2031, PLC is taking up the Technology 4.0 version. It is including IoT(Internet of things), cloud computing and also the robotics. All these implementations are being taken up to overcome the current hurdles of PLCs.
More advanced features like wireless PLCsystems, remote monitoring, real-time data analysis can be introduced. Also, PLC manufacturersare focussing more on the cybersecurity hurdles. It would ensure protection against potential cyber security threats.
All these would encourage more industries to grow up smart factories and meet up the rising production demand of the world.
Opportunities from the PLC Market
A new trend of hybrid PLC is expected to change the entire automationscenario. It is a combination of the traditional PLCs with the PCs based controllers.
Thus, this hybrid mode would encourage the industries workingwith traditional PLC to change to the latest technology.
It has been reported that hybrid PLC would be highly adopted by the Pharmaceuticals fields, Transportation and retail industries.
Along with the above one, emergence of the open-source PLC systems would be witnessed. It would assure better flexibility with the greater customization ability from end-users.
With the current growth path, cloud-based PLC system has been integrated by industries like Supply chain and logistics and retails.
What About Your Industry?
When industrial assessment has given rise to automation demand in your industry, it’s time for research.
Research works starts with adequate planning and documentation. Explore companies who are providing the best automaton software, particularly in your niche. They must be offering features that would participate in your industrial growth. Also, check out software for easy modifications and ease handling of industrial challenges.
Industrial automation software options include:
- SCADA- collection and analysis of data from control systems.
- PLC- configuration of the industrial machinery with control logics.
- HMI- software interface between the system and human operator.
- MES- co-ordination of the production process in manufacturing units.
Whatever software your industry demands for, make sure you opt for user friendly and compatible one. Never skip the step of testing the system and then validate the process.
Conclusion
The industrial automation is growing really bigger with time. Organizations must have skilled and updated employees who will handle all these latest technologies.
Outsourcing PLC programming can be a beneficial option for businesses. This would help them to focus on other core areas where as trained and skilled programmers would look after the complex automation programming.
But make sure you choose a reliable and experienced PLC manufacturer to elevate your industrial experience to a new level.
