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Chinese PLC market is expected to usher in the new blue ocean, national brands will gradually wake up
Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs), often referred to as industrial computers, play a crucial role in the advancement of industrial automation. These devices are designed for reliable and efficient control in complex environments, making them indispensable in modern manufacturing and process industries.
Currently, large-scale PLCs are widely adopted in sectors such as metallurgy, power generation, and transportation due to their high level of safety and reliability. Meanwhile, medium-sized PLCs are gradually evolving to match the capabilities of their larger counterparts, expanding into similar application areas. On the other hand, small PLCs, although compact in size, offer excellent performance and are expected to see significant growth in the future as they become more cost-effective and user-friendly.
China's PLC market is currently experiencing fierce competition among domestic brands. In 2015, the industry faced a major downturn, with sales dropping by over $8 billion. The following year, the market continued to shrink. However, by 2017, the PLC sector, along with related software and services, reached an inflection point. It is projected that from 2017 to 2020, the global PLC market will grow at a compound annual rate of 3.6% or higher.
Looking ahead, the Asia-Pacific and U.S. markets are expected to recover the fastest, driving rapid growth. At the same time, the Chinese market is slowly emerging from a period of stagnation and is now actively participating in the global competition. Within China, the market is becoming increasingly competitive, with many players vying for market share.
Despite the growing presence of local brands, the Chinese market is still largely dominated by foreign manufacturers. European and American brands continue to hold a significant portion of the market. While domestic brands have made progress in recent years, their development remains relatively early-stage, and their overall competitiveness still lags behind established international players. For instance, Siemens holds a dominant position in the Chinese PLC market, with its products widely used across various industries, including metallurgy, chemical production, and printing. Many local companies also act as agents for Siemens, further strengthening its market presence.
Other foreign brands like Schneider, Omron, Rockwell, ABB, and GE also maintain a strong foothold in the domestic market. However, Chinese brands such as Delta, Helishi, Ancon, and Taian are gradually gaining ground and forming a more competitive landscape.
As the Internet of Things (IoT) era approaches, PLCs are set to experience new opportunities. While many people may only associate PLCs with their industrial control programming capabilities, they also have great potential in networking and integration. Over the past few years, the rise of technologies like IoT has driven significant changes in the manufacturing sector. The core idea of IoT is connectivity, and intelligent control is essential to achieving this. As a key technology for data collection and logical processing, PLCs are expected to play a central role in the next phase of industrial evolution.
In fact, many PLCs already come with communication capabilities. Their high integration, flexible configuration, and fast operation allow them to efficiently interact with other smart devices. This is one of their key strengths. If PLCs can ensure a safe and controlled environment under various conditions, their value will be significantly enhanced. One of the main challenges for both IoT and PLCs is how to achieve comprehensive control across different systems.
However, before this can be fully realized, PLCs need to improve their communication capabilities, and high costs remain a critical issue that the industry must address. For example, PLCs should support multiple fieldbuses and standard communication protocols, allowing them to connect to factory management networks when needed. Additionally, communication protocols should align with ISO/IEEE standards to promote open network communication.
Looking ahead, the application fields of PLCs are expected to expand further. Currently, machine tools represent one of the most mature applications of PLCs. However, the growth of the machine tool industry is expected to slow down in 2018. Meanwhile, the robotics industry is rising rapidly, offering new opportunities for the PLC sector. The use of robotics is likely to increase steadily in the coming years. Traditional industries like packaging machinery are also expected to see stable and positive development.
As PLC technology continues to evolve, major companies will invest more in research and development. With increased capital inflow and the advancement of smart technologies, the PLC industry is expected to move in several key directions. Large-scale PLCs are becoming more digitalized and feature-rich, with networking functions being heavily developed. They can connect to industrial computers and Ethernet, forming complete automation systems. To meet diverse market needs, PLCs are also becoming more functionally varied.
On the other hand, small PLCs are moving toward simpler designs while focusing on cost reduction. To capture a larger share of the market, companies must not only enhance functionality but also reduce costs. In any market, especially in intelligent control, cost-effective solutions are always preferred. Moreover, changing market demands are pushing for even more compact and efficient PLC designs.