Can PLC Software from Different Brands Be Interchanged? This Article Has All the Answers!

2025-08-26

Can PLC Software from Different Brands Be Interchanged? This Article Has All the Answers!

Is PLC software from different manufacturers interchangeable? In this article, we delve into the issue and provide a comprehensive answer.

PLC software from major brands is certainly not interchangeable. Each manufacturer develops its own unique features to attract users and does not offer its painstakingly developed software for free use by others.

Large manufacturers typically do not allow other companies' hardware to be compatible with their software. Even different series of PLCs from the same manufacturer, such as Siemens, are often incompatible with each other.

Despite differences in software, there are similarities in the programs developed by various manufacturers. Most support the IEC standard PLC languages. The international standard IEC 61131-3 defines five PLC programming languages:

Instruction List (IL)

Structured Text (ST)

Ladder Diagram (LD)

Function Block Diagram (FBD)

Sequential Function Chart (SFC)

This enables engineers to easily understand the basic programs of different PLCs. The IEC has made a significant contribution to PLC development.

IEC - compliant programs can be relatively easily ported between different software platforms. For text - based ST programs, copying (or exporting) from one programming software and pasting into another, followed by minor syntax modifications, may suffice to run the program. For graphical programs like LD and FBD, direct copying is not possible, but redrawing them in the target software can achieve similar functionality, which is also a form of porting.

In the field of industrial control, understanding PLC principles and mastering the IEC - standard PLC languages allows engineers to work with PLCs from various manufacturers with ease. Familiarizing oneself with the characteristics of different software platforms is key. After all, PLC programs are designed to serve control purposes, and this fundamental goal remains unchanged.