Greenfield projects pick PLCs from capability matrices. Brownfield sites inherit racks, spares cupboards, and staff who know one programming environment. A platform that looks stronger on paper can still be a poor fit if local support and spares are thin. We help clients score options against how the plant actually runs.
Criteria that matter on the floor
- Local integrator depth and response time, not global market share.
- IO module availability for your existing field wiring and cabinet space.
- Migration path for HMI, drives, and safety devices already installed.
- Backup, compare, and online edit policies your change control can live with.
When standardising across sites
Corporate engineering often wants one vendor globally. Victorian sites still need Victorian spares and Victorian labour rates in the model. We document per-site exceptions with capital timing rather than forcing a forklift upgrade during peak season.
Summary
Platform choice is a risk decision. We align it with spare strategy, training plans, and the next three shutdown windows—not only feature lists.