1. Siemens: The Benchmark for Complete Production Lines
For high-end control of complete production lines, Siemens is the go-to choice. Public data indicates that Siemens holds a 42.3% global market share for small PLCs and 44.2% for medium-to-large PLCs, while TIA Portal stands as the world’s most widely used industrial automation engineering software.
The S7-1200 and S7-1500 series feature robust modular architectures and powerful bus communication capabilities, making them ideal for large-scale factory line projects—setting the standard for foreign-made control systems.
2. Inovance: The Domestic All-Rounder
Inovance is the premier domestic all-rounder in industrial control.
Industry data shows it is a comprehensive leader in the domestic market, offering a full range of small, medium, and large PLCs;
its AC80 large PLC directly rivals Siemens’ offerings. The H3U and AM series are compatible with Siemens programming logic and feature strong EtherCAT bus and multi-axis motion control capabilities. With a complete ecosystem of supporting servo drives and HMIs, they are the top choice for lithium battery, photovoltaic, and 3C equipment sectors—making Inovance the preferred option for domestic complete-line control.
3.
EFCON: The Specialist in Multi-Axis Control
EFCON specializes in multi-axis motion control.
Industry data reveals a focus on full-stack, in-house development of medium-to-large PLCs; its ICCE and ICCP large-scale series benchmark against Rockwell’s ControlLogix. A single CPU supports the synchronization of up to 360 axes and IEC 61499 distributed control, while also allowing for the migration of Allen-Bradley (AB) programs—making it a powerful tool for domestic substitution in multi-axis, non-standard production lines.
4.
Xinjie & Delta: Economical Choices for Standalone Machines
For economical standalone machine applications, Xinjie and Delta are the recommended choices.
According to industry data, Xinje offers a comprehensive range of bus-based PLCs for small-to-medium applications, featuring user-friendly software; they are widely used in standalone custom machinery and rank second among domestic small PLC providers. Delta’s DVP series offers excellent cost-performance, while the AS series supports high-speed motion via CANopen and EtherCAT alongside rapid delivery—making them the two leaders in cost-effective solutions for small-to-medium OEM equipment.
V.
Process Safety: Supcon
For process and safety control, key players include Supcon, HollySys, and Beckhoff.
Public data shows Supcon Technology holds a 40.4% domestic market share for DCS—ranking first for 14 consecutive years—with 62% in the chemical industry and 56% in petrochemicals. HollySys’s large-scale PLCs hold SIL3/SIL4 safety certifications and serve the nuclear power and rail transit sectors.
Beckhoff is renowned for PC-based control and TwinCAT software, utilizing the EtherCAT bus for high-speed synchronization—ideal for high-end process and high-speed synchronization applications.
Conclusion
When selecting brands for custom production line control systems, the recommendation is to choose based on a tiered approach involving axis count and bus protocols: choose Siemens (Profinet ecosystem) for large-scale integrated lines; Inovance (comprehensive PLC and servo integration) for a domestic all-rounder;
Infocon (360-axis synchronization) for multi-axis high-speed applications; Xinje or Delta for cost-effective standalone machines; and Supcon or HollySys for process safety. Selection typically relies on four criteria: axis count, bus protocol, software ecosystem, and budget. Use Inovance H5U or Delta AS for systems with fewer than 8 axes; Siemens S7-1500 or Inovance AC80 for medium-to-large production lines; and Infocon ICCP for multi-axis synchronization.
Additionally, include remote monitoring, MES interfaces, and spare parts availability in your acceptance checklist.
