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How Smart Factories Integrate PLCs, Automation and Robotics

smart factories integrate plcs, automation and robotics

As we embark on the journey through the Fourth Industrial Revolution, the manufacturing sector continues to witness the seamless integration of PLCs (Programmable Logic Controllers), automation, and robotics, giving rise to the era of smart factories. Despite PLCs being developed almost six decades ago, their adaptability and efficiency persist alongside cutting-edge technologies.

An Overview of the Allen-Bradley Family of PLCs

the logo of Allen-Bradley by Rockwell Automation

After a general introduction to the Allen-Bradley brand name for those who are new to the field of industrial automation and control, we will take a brief look back at the founding of the Allen-Bradley company and how they have been a going concern since the early 1900s.  We will move on to examine some of the significant contributions the company has made in the development of Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) dating as far back as the 1970s and how their subsequent contributions to PLC

Latest Advancement in PLC Technology

PLC

PLCs, or Programmable Logic Controllers, have been in use in one form or another since the proliferation of modern manufacturing. In fact, PLCs have proven so vital that they have ostensibly helped to replace many of the strictly manually executed processes in thousands of plants across the globe.

The Future of PLCs

engineer working on laptop with robotic arm

Almost every building and facility relies on the automation of their mechanical and electrical systems, or the use of PLCs. In fact, PLCs are used across industries and are found in countless applications within factories, labs, and plants. Their use is only going to increase as more complex facilities undergo construction and factory floors expand.

Looking Forward: The Smart Factory Of The Future

man wearing vr glasses in front of robotic arm

The potential that smart factories have to completely transform our world cannot be understated. With advancements in artificial intelligence and computer learning, manufacturers are increasingly turning their attention to the benefits of implementing smart factories within their plants.

The Evolution of PLCS

technician working with PLC

Nowadays, with almost every service imaginable available to us on our smartphone, it’s difficult to envision what technology was like before the invention of a single controller. For factories and manufacturing plants, the invention of programmable logic controllers (or PLCs) revolutionized the industrial automation process, as its cutting-edge technology replaced a complicated system of electromagnetic relays with a singular controller.

Electromechanical Trends in the Automotive Industry

Robotics in a factory

As efficient as modern manufacturing processes have become, owning and operating a smart factory is not without its challenges. Finding ways to produce goods more quickly, with a greater degree of safety, at a higher quality, and at a lower cost are all facets of manufacturing that are urgently being iterated upon, even by industry leaders in the automotive sector.

The Technologies Transforming Industries 4.0

Woman on a tablet with robotic arm in the background

1. Fourth Industrial Revolution or Industry 4.0

The Fourth Industrial Revolution, or often referred to as Industry 4.0, is currently underway in all aspects of the global economy. Industry 4.0 represents the ongoing automation of both the traditional manufacturing processes and other industrial practices across non-manufacturing sectors of the economy.