Programmable Logic Controller (PLC), a key automation component in the discrete, hybrid and process industries, will grow from $7.5 billion reported in 2005 to $10 billion in 2010. According to a study released by ARC Advisory Group, manufacturing companies are behind this increase as they invest in capital expenditures for automation equipment.
Applications for PLCs are being used in the areas of energy savings, condition monitoring, safety, collaborative manufacturing and regulatory compliance.
One of the most important trends is the increasing integration of the multi-control discipline functionality such as HMIs, motion control and PLCs. Users are focusing more on integrated system solutions to reduce total cost of ownership and no longer accept discontinuities between systems, according to Dedham, Ma.-based ARC Advisory Group.
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