Safety PLC Market Analyzed

Results of a new study conducted by Venture Development Corp. (VDC), Natick, Mass., reveal that Alpharetta, Ga.-based Siemens Energy & Automation Inc. has the leading North American market share for programmable safety systems (safety programmable logic controllers, or PLCs). VDC reports Siemens has a 33.3 percent market share for safety PLC shipments in North America. Following closely was Pilz Automation Safety L.P., Canton, Mich., at just over 32 percent. Milwaukee-based Rockwell Automation Inc.’s share was just over 20 percent, with no one else registering more than 5 percent.

J.B. Titus, manager of Business Development and Standards for Siemens Safety Integrated, says the number one market share ranking follows a three-year development strategy. He says the Siemens’ strategy produced state-of-the art safety technology engineering. As a result, market demand for programmable safety systems, as well as acceptance of safety bus networks, has increased.

VDC analyst Jim Taylor, author of the study, notes that the safety PLC market is very new and total sales are still relatively small. Pilz and Siemens have been in the market for some time, while Rockwell Automation is a somewhat late entrant, according to Taylor. VDC projects rapidly growing sales over the next five years in this market.