The Evolution of Allen-Bradley PLC Product Lines

Over the past 50 years, Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) have seen tremendous advancements, particularly in hardware capabilities and programming functionality. Allen-Bradley, a prominent brand under Rockwell Automation, has been a key player in this evolution, offering a wide array of industrial automation products, including PLCs, HMIs, sensors, safety components, software, drives, motor control centers, and various Allen Bradley parts.

Allen Bradley became involved with programmable logic controllers (PLCs) by the inventor, Odo Josef Struger. Odo contributed to the ideas leading up to the invention of Allen-Bradley PLCs and is accredited with inventing the acronym “PLC”. Allen-Bradley became a major PLC manufacturer in the US during his employment.

Allen-Bradley PLC Product Lines

PLC-5 Series

The first Allen-Bradley PLC introduced to the market was the PLC-5 product family. The PLC-2 and PLC-3 were released in the 1980s and are now obsolete. These PLCs were followed by the PLC-5 and is still in use today. Initially programmed with the 6200 series software, the PLC-5 later adopted RSLogix 5, offering enhanced control capabilities.

SLC Series

In 1991, Allen-Bradley introduced the SLC500 series, a smaller and more efficient PLC designed, with a reduced instruction set. SLC was an acronym for Small Logic Controller and the first SLC500 released was an integrated package containing the CPU, power supply, and IO. Known as the Small Logic Controller, this product line includes popular Allen Bradley components like the SLC5/01, SLC5/02, and SLC5/04 models, which featured advanced communication options such as DH485, DH+, and Ethernet. These units are still sought after in the market as Allen Bradley used parts and Allen Bradley replacement parts.

MicroLogix Series

The MicroLogix series, launched in 2014, provided a cost-effective solution for those seeking Allen-Bradley PLC parts without the need for traditional rack setups. Starting with the MicroLogix 1000, this series offered various I/O combinations, making it ideal for smaller applications. Its compact design and affordable pricing continue to make MicroLogix a popular choice among Allen-Bradley parts for sale online.

ControlLogix Series

Introduced in 1997, the ControlLogix series brought high-performance capabilities to Allen-Bradley’s product lineup, featuring faster scan times, larger memory capacity, and versatile communication options like Ethernet, DeviceNet, and ControlNet. This series remains a go-to choice for those looking to buy Allen-Bradley parts for advanced motion control and integrated systems. 

CompactLogix 

The CompactLogix family was released in 2008 as a more affordable alternative to ControlLogix. Like the MircoLogix, the products do not use a rack-based solution but instead, use add-on modules to the ends of the power supply or CPU modules. CompactLogix parts are popular among those looking to buy Allen Bradley parts due to their flexibility, scalability, and ease of integration, supported by the RSLinx software for seamless communication.

Whether you are looking to sell Allen-Bradley parts, buy Allen-Bradley surplus, or find specific Allen-Bradley parts for sale, we can help you locate the exact part you need at an affordable price. Simply search for the part or contact our sales team for personalised assistance. Additionally, you can discover more about Allen-Bradley components and their impact on the industry by exploring our previous blog posts.