Evolution of the PLC: A Historic Timeline

Interesting fact: The concept of the Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) was born on New Year’s Day in 1968.

For nearly 50 years, the PLC has been crucial to the advancement of manufacturing globally. From the earliest Modicon models to the latest Allen-Bradley components, PLCs have given manufacturers the ability to increase proficiency and market value.

“There was an explosion of automation during the 1990s as PLC and VFD technology evolved. We are about to experience an even greater wave of innovation with Internet of Things (IoT), and will be a very exciting ride for control engineers,” said EECO’s Jeff Knight, chief operating officer and enthusiastic engineer.

As we begin to delve into modernization efforts across the industrial spectrum, we thought it would be a good time to detail the incredible history of the PLC. We created this infographic to do just that.