With the rapid development of Industry 4.0 and smart manufacturing, the application of Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) has penetrated into various manufacturing fields. Among them, Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) play a core role. This article mainly introduces the mainstream PLC brands, protocols, and model lists in IIoT applications.
| Brands | Protocols | Interfaces | PLC Models |
| SIEMENSSiemens | Tips: | / | All series of products sold by Siemens support S7 protocol communication, and it is recommended to use S7 protocol for communication. |
| S7 | Ethernet port | S7-S200smart, S7-S200 series, S7-S300 series, S7-S400 series, S7-S1200 series, S7-S1500 series | |
| PPI | Serial port | S7-200 series | |
| MELSECMitsubishi | Tips: | / | Mitsubishi primarily adopts the MC protocol for communication, and the FX5 series, FX3 series, Q series, etc. have been tested |
| EtherNet/IP | Ethernet port | FX5-ENET/IP series, RJ71EIP91 series, QJ71EIP71 series | |
| MC-1E/MC-3E | Ethernet port | FX5 series, RJ71EN71 series, RnENCPU series, LJ71E71 series, QJ71E71 series, QnUCPU series, FX3 series | |
| MODBUS TCP | Ethernet port | FX5 series, RJ71EN71 series, RnENCPU series, LJ71E71 series, QJ71E71 series | |
| MC-3C | Serial port | FX5 series, RJ71C24 series, LJ71C24 series, QJ71C24 series | |
| MODBUS RTU | Serial port | FX5 series, RJ71C24 series, LJ71C24 series, QJ71C24 series, FX3 series | |
| FxLinks (computer link) | Serial port | FX3 series, FX2 series, FX1 series, FX0 series | |
| FxSerial (programming communication function) | Serial port | FX3 series, FX2 series, FX1 series, FX0 series | |
| OMRONOMRON | Tips: | / | Omron primarily utilizes the Fins protocol for communication |
| EtherNet/IP | Ethernet port | NX7 series, NX1 series, NX1P series, NJ series, CJ1W-EIP21 | |
| Fins | Ethernet port | CP series, CS series, CJ series, CV series | |
| HostLink | Serial port | CP series, CS series, CJ series, CV series, C series | |
| LSisLS Electric | Tips: | / | LS primarily utilizes the FEnet/Cnet protocol for communication |
| XGB FEnet | Ethernet port | XGB series (XBC/XEC U, XBL-EMTA) | |
| XGK FEnet | Ethernet port | XGT series (XGL-EFMT, XGL-EFMF, XGL-EH5T) | |
| XGB Cnet | Serial port | XGB series (XBC/XEC U, XBL-C21A, XBL-C41A) | |
| XGK Cnet | Serial port | XGT series (XGL-CH2A, XGL-C21A, XGL-C41A) | |
| AllenBrandlyRockwell | Tips: | / | Rockwell primarily uses CIP and DF1 protocols for communication |
| EtherNet/IP | Ethernet port | ControlLogix series, CompactLogix series, Micro800 series (820, 850, 870) | |
| DF1 | Serial port | SLC series (500, 5/03, 5/04, 5/05), Micro-Logix series (1000, 1100, 1200, 1500) | |
| BeckhoffBeckhoff | Tips: | / | Beckhoff mainly uses ADS protocol for communication |
| ADS | Ethernet port | CX series, TwinCAT2, TwinCAT3 | |
| InovanceInovance | Tips: | / | Inovance mainly uses MODBUS protocol for communication |
| MODBUS TCP | Ethernet port | AC series, AM series, H5U series, H3U series | |
| MODBUS RTU | Serial port | AC series, AM series, H5U series, H3U series, H1U series | |
| KeyenceKeyence | Tips: | / | Keyence primarily utilizes the KV protocol for communication |
| MC-3E | Ethernet port | KV-8000 series, KV-7000 series, KV-5500 series, KV-5000 series, | |
| KV (upper link protocol) | Ethernet port | KV-EP21V, KV-LE21V, KV-LE20V, KV-LE20A, and other Ethernet units | |
| KV (upper link protocol) | Serial port | KV-7300, KV-3000, KV-1000, KV-700, KV Nano, KV-L21V, KV-L20V | |
| PanasonicPanasonic | Tips: | / | Panasonic primarily adopts the Mewtocol protocol for communication |
| MC-3E | Ethernet port | FP7 series, FP0H series, FP-XH series | |
| Mewtocol | Ethernet port | FP7 series, FP0H series, FP-XH series | |
| Mewtocol | Serial port | FP7 series, FP0H series, FP-XH series, FP-X0 series, FP0R series | |
| DeltaDelta | Tips: | / | Delta primarily adopts the MODBUS protocol for communication |
| MODBUS TCP | Ethernet port | AH series, AS series, AX-3 series, DVP series (with built-in Ethernet port) | |
| MODBUS RTU | Serial port | AH series, AS series, AX-3 series, DVP series | |
| XinJEXinjin | Tips: | / | Xinjin primarily adopts the MODBUS protocol for communication |
| MODBUS TCP | Ethernet port | CCSD series, XA series, XS series, XG series, XL series | |
| MODBUS RTU | Serial port | CCSD series, XA series, XS series, XG series, XL series, XC series, XD series | |
| MegMeetMegmeet | Tips: | / | Megmeet primarily adopts the MODBUS protocol for communication |
| MODBUS TCP | Ethernet port | MC5100 series, MC280 series, MC200 series, MC100 series, MC80 series | |
| MODBUS RTU | Serial port | MC5100 series, MC280 series, MC200 series, MC100 series, MC80 series | |
| YaskawaYaskawa | Tips: | / | Yaskawa primarily adopts the MEMOBUS protocol for communication (supporting S7) |
| Memobus | Ethernet port | GL120/130 series, GL60 series, MP3000 series, MP2300 series, Z1000 series | |
| FatekYonghong | Tips: | / | Yonghong primarily utilizes the Fatek protocol for communication |
| Fatek | Serial port | FBs series | |
| VigorFengwei | Tips: | / | Fengwei primarily utilizes the VS proprietary protocol for communication |
| VS | Serial port | VS series | |
| FujiFuji | Tips: | / | Fuji primarily adopts the SPH/SPB protocol for communication |
| SPH | Ethernet port | SPH series | |
| SPB | Serial port | SPB series |
Conclusion: The popularization and development of the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) are inseparable from the support of Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs). Different PLC brands and models provide diverse options for various industrial applications based on the protocols and characteristics they support. When selecting a PLC, enterprises should consider not only its functionality and performance, but also its compatibility with other systems, future scalability, and overall return on investment. It is hoped that the aforementioned list can provide some reference for enterprises when selecting a suitable PLC.
Of course, with technological advancements, PLC models and protocols will continue to be updated. Enterprises need to keep abreast of the latest developments in the industry to ensure they remain at the forefront.
Leave a Reply