The Programmable Logic Controller market continues to evolve significantly as we move through 2025 and look towards 2030. Understanding market trends helps automation engineers make informed decisions about which platforms and skills to invest in. The PLC is far from obsolete, but its role within the automation ecosystem is changing in important ways.
Global PLC Market Overview
The global PLC market is valued at approximately 15 billion US dollars and is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 5 to 6 percent through 2030. The market is dominated by Siemens, Rockwell Automation (Allen Bradley), Mitsubishi Electric, Schneider Electric, and ABB, with these five vendors accounting for roughly 70 percent of global PLC sales.
In the UK specifically, Siemens holds the largest market share, followed by Rockwell Automation and Schneider Electric. However, market share varies significantly by industry sector, as discussed in our PLC comparison article.
Key Market Trends
Edge Computing Integration: Modern PLCs are increasingly incorporating edge computing capabilities. Siemens' S7-1500 with integrated edge computing, Rockwell's ControlLogix with edge analytics, and similar offerings from other vendors enable data processing at the machine level. This trend reduces reliance on cloud connectivity for time-sensitive analytics while enabling local AI inference for quality control and predictive maintenance.
Cybersecurity as Standard: The growing threat of cyberattacks on industrial systems is driving PLC manufacturers to build security features into their platforms. Secure boot, encrypted communication, role-based access control, and certificate management are becoming standard features. The NIS2 Directive and IEC 62443 standards are driving these requirements in the UK and across Europe.
Cloud Connectivity: PLC platforms now offer native cloud connectivity to platforms including Siemens MindSphere, Rockwell FactoryTalk Hub, and various third-party IoT platforms. This connectivity enables remote monitoring, fleet management, and cloud-based analytics without requiring additional gateway hardware.
Software-Defined Automation: Vendors are exploring the concept of software-defined automation, where control logic runs on standard industrial PCs rather than proprietary PLC hardware. Siemens' SIMATIC AX and Codesys-based runtime platforms represent early moves in this direction. While traditional PLCs will remain dominant for years to come, this trend bears watching.
Impact on PLC Programming
PLC programming practices are evolving alongside hardware trends. Object-oriented programming concepts are becoming mainstream, with Siemens TIA Portal's class-based function blocks and Rockwell's enhanced structured text capabilities enabling more modular and reusable code.
Version control integration is improving, with platforms supporting Git-based workflows for PLC code. This brings PLC programming closer to software development best practices, enabling collaboration, code review, and automated testing pipelines.
High-level language support is expanding, with Python being used for testing and simulation alongside traditional IEC 61131-3 languages. The ability to write PLC logic in structured text that resembles modern programming languages is attracting a new generation of engineers to the automation field.
Industry 4.0 and Digital Twins
PLCs are central to Industry 4.0 architectures, serving as the bridge between physical production systems and digital information systems. Digital twin technology relies on PLCs providing real-time operational data to simulation models, enabling virtual commissioning, predictive maintenance, and process optimisation.
The Asset Administration Shell concept from the Industry 4.0 reference architecture requires PLCs to expose standardised information about their capabilities and status. This interoperability framework is gaining traction in European manufacturing and will influence PLC development over the coming years.
What This Means for Engineers
For automation engineers, these market trends have clear implications:
- Invest in software skills: PLC programming increasingly requires understanding of software engineering concepts including version control, object-oriented design, and structured programming
- Develop cybersecurity awareness: Understanding industrial cybersecurity principles is becoming essential for all automation roles
- Learn data analytics: The ability to configure edge analytics, cloud connectivity, and data visualisation adds significant value
- Stay platform-current: Keep up with the latest versions of your primary PLC platform, as features evolve rapidly
- Maintain fundamentals: Despite the hype around new technologies, solid PLC programming, troubleshooting, and commissioning skills remain the foundation of every automation career
Forecast Summary
The PLC market will continue growing through 2030, driven by manufacturing investment, infrastructure modernisation, and the expansion of automation into new sectors. The PLC is not being replaced by edge computers or cloud platforms; rather, it is absorbing new capabilities while maintaining its core role as the reliable, real-time controller of industrial processes. Engineers who evolve their skills alongside the technology will find excellent career opportunities throughout this period and beyond.