herve.nawrocki

We changed 2 years ago the hardware PLC by software PLC on all our machines. For sure, before to replace these hardware PLC, we started a search which product could be more flexible and efficient. 2 suppliers were at the end of our search : B&R and Beckhoff. Then, we started to make some small test and it was really easy to know which was more flexible .. with Beckhoff, just few seconde to donwload the trial version and the PLC was running on our laptop. With B&R, it was little bit more difficult. Twincat from Beckhoff is really efficient PLC ! After 2 years (around 100 machines), we never get trouble at all on the PLC system. I was really afraid when we started to change our hardware PLC to software PLC but now, for nothing, I will never change it ! This Twincat PLC could be installed on their own Beckhoff computer, but also on another brand computer (B&R is different !). The communication from an application to the PLC is really easy (using Beckhoff activeX ADSOCX and all the function are including inside and it is totally free of cost). For sure, I tested OPC communication and it works perfectly but I prefer activeX process. For telemaintenance, we keep the Twincat programming software on the machine (and it is free of cost), then we can make diagnostic and update without any problem. Well, I don't know now what B&R made 2 years ago, maybe they changed a their sale strategy and their product but before, no chance comparing to Beckhoff system !