Selector tool
PLC Configurator
Five inputs, a ranked shortlist, and the reasoning behind each match, including where a controller falls short of what you asked for.
4 matched controllers
Ranked by application fit, I/O headroom, protocol coverage and commercial tier.
- 1
Siemens · Modular PLC
SIMATIC S7-1500
High-performance modular controller for plant-wide process and motion control.
- Suited to discrete applications
- Covers 34 I/O points with 1182 spare
- Speaks PROFINET
- Availability
- 2-3 weeks
- Tier
- Premium tier
- Protocols
- PROFINET, PROFIBUS DP, Modbus TCP, OPC UA
- 2
ABB · Modular PLC
AC500 PM5630 Processor Module
Scalable modular PLC for process, energy and water applications with broad protocol support.
- Suited to discrete applications
- Covers 34 I/O points with 798 spare
- Speaks PROFINET
- Availability
- 2-3 weeks
- Tier
- Standard tier
- Protocols
- PROFINET, PROFIBUS DP, Modbus TCP, Modbus RTU
- 3
OMRON · Modular PLC
NJ501 Machine Automation Controller
Modular controller combining sequence, motion, robotics and vision on a single EtherCAT backbone.
- Suited to discrete applications
- Covers 34 I/O points with 574 spare
- No native PROFINET — needs a gateway
- Availability
- 4-6 weeks
- Tier
- Premium tier
- Protocols
- EtherCAT, EtherNet/IP, OPC UA, Modbus TCP
- 4
Siemens · Compact PLC
SIMATIC S7-1200
Compact controller for machine-level and small process applications, with onboard PROFINET.
- Suited to discrete applications
- Speaks PROFINET
- Onboard capacity is 26 points — needs expansion or distributed I/O for 34
- Analogue inputs below the 4 requested
- Availability
- Ex-stock
- Tier
- Value tier
- Protocols
- PROFINET, Modbus TCP, Modbus RTU, OPC UA
Side-by-side comparison
| Comparison | SIMATIC S7-1500 | AC500 PM5630 Processor Module | NJ501 Machine Automation Controller | SIMATIC S7-1200 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Siemens | ABB | OMRON | Siemens |
| Type | Modular PLC | Modular PLC | Modular PLC | Compact PLC |
| I/O capacity | 8,000+ points distributed | 8 MB | Up to 64 | 14 DI / 10 DO onboard |
| Bit instruction | 10 ns | Up to 10 local I/O modules | From 500 us | 2 AI onboard, expandable |
| Comms | PROFINET IRT, PROFIBUS, OPC UA server | 2 x Ethernet, PROFINET, Modbus | EtherCAT + EtherNet/IP | PROFINET, expandable to Modbus |
| Protocols | PROFINET, PROFIBUS DP, Modbus TCP, OPC UA, MQTT | PROFINET, PROFIBUS DP, Modbus TCP, Modbus RTU, EtherCAT, OPC UA | EtherCAT, EtherNet/IP, OPC UA, Modbus TCP | PROFINET, Modbus TCP, Modbus RTU, OPC UA |
| Availability | 2-3 weeks | 2-3 weeks | 4-6 weeks | Ex-stock |
| Commercial tier | Premium tier | Standard tier | Premium tier | Value tier |
What this tool does not know
Panel space, ambient temperature, existing spares holding, the programming skills already in the plant, and whether the site standard mandates a particular vendor. Those usually decide the final answer — which is why the output above is a shortlist, not a specification.