JZGKCHINAIndustrial Control Technology Sharing Platform
CODESYS is a globally renowned open PLC programming system, similar to Siemens TIA Portal, widely used in factory automation, automotive automation, embedded automation, process automation, building automation, and other fields. This software is developed by the German CODESYS Group. CODESYS is synonymous with the IEC61131-3 standard.
However, CODESYS is not particularly unique; many PLC manufacturers worldwide have similar upper-level development software, and some are even more powerful than CODESYS. So what makes CODESYS comparable to Siemens TIA Portal?
Why do domestic and international PLC manufacturers choose to use CODESYS? Did CODESYS pay them? After all, it is no small task for PLC manufacturers to develop using CODESYS from the ground up, and the most important thing is that they have built an ecosystem. Currently, many companies worldwide use CODESYS, including foreign companies like Beckhoff, Rexroth, Eaton, ABB, Schneider, Mitsubishi, Omron, and domestic companies like Inovance, Holip, Zhongkong, Yaskawa, Delta, Advantech, etc. Counting the global manufacturers using CODESYS, there are certainly over 500.
So why is CODESYS favored by major PLC manufacturers worldwide?
First, it must be acknowledged that CODESYS 3.5 is indeed very powerful, while CODESYS 2.3 is quite basic. The simplicity of the CODESYS software is exceptionally well done; Beckhoff’s long-standing call for simplification and perfect automation has been realized by CODESYS. Functionally, Beckhoff AS and Siemens TIA Portal may be more powerful than CODESYS, but TIA Portal and AS can easily exceed dozens of gigabytes in size, while CODESYS only requires 1.5GB, and its functionality is not much inferior to that of Siemens TIA Portal. The CODESYS software operates very smoothly, supporting six programming languages including ladder diagram, function block, and structured text, with intelligent integration of various buses, easy development of motion control standards, and a plethora of algorithm models, making the software very powerful.
CODESYS integrates numerous global standard protocols such as EtherCAT, Profinet, EtherNET/IP, Canopen, and MODBUS, allowing PLC manufacturers to easily implement various bus communications through library interfaces. The collaboration between Beckhoff and CODESYS is a typical success story of global ecological cooperation, as CODESYS has greatly promoted Beckhoff’s EtherCAT in the global market, making EtherCAT a hot choice for motion control; domestic servo manufacturers without EtherCAT would feel embarrassed to claim they are large-scale manufacturers.
The two most influential buses in the global motion control market are Siemens Profinet and Beckhoff EtherCAT. Profinet is relatively closed due to Siemens’ influence, while EtherCAT is the best choice for global PLC manufacturers, aside from the giant Siemens, such as Omron, Panasonic, Schneider, Inovance, etc. This is specifically realized through the core of CODESYS, and currently, the EtherCAT master station solutions based on CODESYS are the most common in the market.
However, the core reason for CODESYS’s success is not merely its functionality and technology, as there are many software solutions worldwide that meet this criterion, with Beckhoff AS being a prime example. The greatest success of CODESYS is its ecological success, as an open ecosystem allows various stakeholders to actively expand their territories. CODESYS provides the tools and resources, enabling stakeholders across various industries to forge their own paths. The successes of ARM, EtherCAT, Android, and Linux are all examples of this. Once a user ecosystem is established, what difficulties remain? The core of technological products is the user ecosystem; once a user ecosystem is in place, is there any worry about not having a business model?
The competition between CODESYS and Siemens is akin to the battle between Android and Apple
One emphasizes brand characteristics while the other emphasizes openness and universality. While a fierce tiger is formidable, the claws of a pack of wolves are equally sharp. Siemens’s ability to stand firm against the global automation manufacturer alliance further validates the historical foundation of the Siemens industrial empire. Siemens was the first to act, but CODESYS’s latecomer advantage is very evident, and the number of PLC manufacturers joining the CODESYS ecosystem will only increase. The most important point is that the core of secondary development products for PLCs is not hardware or software, but user habits and ecosystems. 
For domestic PLC manufacturers, the empowerment from CODESYS can quickly enhance brand influence and recognition, allowing their control products and solutions to enter the mid-to-high-end market rapidly. Domestic companies like Inovance, Delta, and Holip are the best examples, first establishing a user ecosystem through CODESYS to gain market recognition. However, once the brand user ecosystem and commercial cycle reach a certain stage, they organize technical forces to replicate CODESYS software, launching a fully autonomous ecosystem closed-loop branded platform. Inovance’s EASY series is the best example; previously, the Inovance AM series was the main push, but now the market promotion of Inovance PLC mainly targets the EASY series, with CODESYS primarily used for high-end industrial control products.The choice of domestic PLC manufacturers to use CODESYS is not because they cannot develop software, but because there is no foundation for user ecosystems and habits; customers do not accept it, making everything else meaningless. Therefore, for domestic PLC manufacturers, CODESYS products are the best short-term option, as directly using Siemens S7-200 and Mitsubishi Gworks software can only be a model for small-scale companies.
First, establish the market and build the customer ecosystem, then gradually plan for the future. The technology behind PLC software is not particularly difficult; the key is the user ecosystem. CODESYS does not create market monopolies, as there are too many alternatives; in terms of market choice, users will certainly choose the most user-friendly option.
Author: An industrial professional engaged in chip manufacturing research and related work. Feel free to share your story with me, and let’s document it together.
July 2023
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