Emerging Economies Drive PLC Market Growth
This study provides an in-depth analysis of the worldwide Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) market and its segments. In addition to the market analysis and forecasts, the study also covers strategic issues that influence the market.
Robust investments in manufacturing and infrastructure industries continued world-wide in 2007. Emerging economies, such as those in the BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India, and China) and Eastern Europe, helped to propel PLC market growth with increasing consumer demand from the growing middle class in those countries, adding new infrastructure within those countries to boost quality of life and a strong capital investment environment.
Due to rising demand for the Programmable Automation Controller (PAC), this study includes current size and growth forecasts for the PLC-based PAC market. PAC market growth is driven by the logical extension of PLC functionality to a multidiscipline platform.
PLC applications cut across discrete, process, and hybrid automation segments, and will experience growth across all manufacturing, as manufacturing companies recognize the need for more automation and for both producing and saving energy to cope with rapidly rising energy demands and costs globally.
Strategic Issues
Automation is increasingly more vital as manufacturers continue to face challenges to compete in the global economy. While automation remains one of the best investments a manufacturer can make, the market dynamics for suppliers also remains extremely competitive. This leads to issues for PLC suppliers to address such as:
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What are the trends in controller functionalities?
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Which applications are good targets for PLC suppliers?
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What is the effect of the PLC-based PAC market?
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Which PLC categories are growing the fastest?
- What is the regional scenario?