The Role of CODESYS in EtherCAT Success and Domestic PLC Growth

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Industrial Control Technology Sharing Platform

The core factor behind the success of EtherCAT is its open-source nature, with global PLC manufacturers contributing to its development. In this process, CODESYS plays a crucial role in the success of Beckhoff’s EtherCAT. Just like a high-performance engine needs a chassis, EtherCAT also requires a software platform like CODESYS to thrive. Without such support, relying solely on EtherCAT’s IGH master for specialized machines would make it difficult to build an EtherCAT ecosystem.

As the saying goes, “A thousand-mile horse is common, but a Bole (horse expert) is rare.” Thanks to the support of CODESYS, the EtherCAT ecosystem is expanding globally at an astonishing speed. The integration of CODESYS allows both PLC manufacturers and users to easily implement EtherCAT, making CODESYS and EtherCAT a mutually beneficial alliance in the industrial field. They face common strategic competitors like Siemens’ TIA Portal and PROFINET.

CODESYS Excels in Ecosystem

It is a development environment used by hundreds of PLC manufacturers worldwide, with more joining every day. Engineers familiar with CODESYS can easily adapt to the development methods of many global PLC brands, such as Schneider, Omron, Panasonic, Beckhoff, Mitsubishi, ABB, Rexroth, Inovance, Delta, Lenze, and more. The ecosystem of CODESYS is growing rapidly.

The Role of CODESYS in EtherCAT Success and Domestic PLC Growth

Global Mainstream EtherCAT Masters Rely on CODESYS

Beckhoff’s TWINCAT, Omron’s NJ series, Schneider’s M series, Inovance’s AM series, and many others are all based on CODESYS. To be honest, there are products using the EtherCAT open-source protocol stack, but they are not as user-friendly.

Using the EtherCAT IGH and SOEM open-source protocol stacks imposes high technical requirements on PLC manufacturers, and the biggest pitfall is that users find them difficult to use. This is one reason why domestic PLCs have struggled to gain traction. From the perspective of user habits, customers are likely to accept products that mimic Siemens or Mitsubishi software more readily. Thus, domestic PLC development software is often modeled after Mitsubishi and Siemens.

The Existence of EtherCAT is Always Bidirectional

EtherCAT consists of a master and slave system. For EtherCAT slaves, the application is straightforward; users simply plug in the network cable. The main station handles the complexity, and its performance dictates the user’s experience with EtherCAT. This is why it is said that the success of EtherCAT is largely due to CODESYS, which has become synonymous with EtherCAT.

In recent years, the success of domestic PLCs can be attributed to CODESYS, as it fundamentally provides domestic PLC manufacturers with the competitive edge to compete with international brands. Especially in the past few years,

Domestic CODESYS + EtherCAT is All the Rage

Domestic overall bus solutions are shining in industries such as 3C, lithium battery, and photovoltaics.

In recent years, domestic PLCs are no longer just engaged in price wars, because price wars are no longer sustainable.

Deep Industry + Solutions

Deep industry + solutions is the direction for the next round of market expansion for domestic brands. Domestic PLCs are constantly moving towards segmented industries. In the past, domestic brands may have focused on large industries, but with increasing influence and intensifying competition in recent years, CODESYS and EtherCAT solutions are continually entering new value-driven industries. Nevertheless, the mainstream market is still dominated by foreign brands like Siemens, Mitsubishi, and Omron, which further indicates that the PLC market is worth exploring.

Author

Industrial Personnel,

Engaged in chip manufacturing research and related work.

December 2023

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