Which Would you Rather Choose for Automation: PC or PLC?

Today, the trade-off between a programmable logic controller (PLC) and an industrial computer (PC) is one of the most commonly encountered issues when upgrading existing or implementing new control systems in the industry.

Usually, a comparative analysis of both solutions precedes making a choice. The following parameters are typically considered: the principle of operation, environmental resistance, ease of maintenance, level of hardware components’ integration, IP protection level, functional security level, programming approach, and costs of implementation.

Opinions may vary, for example, «We are installing PC because we write our software ourselves and completely control the system» or «We prefer PLC because it is more convenient for us to use IEC 61131 3 languages and complement the controller with I/O modules».

So, is it PC or PLC? Which automation option do you prefer and why?

#IoT #IIoT #industry40 #pc #automation