It seems every time you turn around there is some new software package that does something…anything. I am impressed with the amazing ideas in the automation world. The fact that some guy can crunch a bunch of code together and make something perform a task at the right time, the right way, and even control it remotely from thousands of miles away when needed blows my mind.

The traditional methods of PLC conveyor controls are still still in play today. However, it seems that PC based controls are becoming more and more common.  A simple PC is able to easily house all the needed hardware to drive everything from simple diverts all the way to checkweighers, interfacing to WMS, ERP, and much more. Even more impressive is seeing an entire operation controlled by this single box sitting in the middle of the floow controlling sortation, driving picking decisions, and continuously logging, reporting, sending data to other systems, etc.

What is next? What will the next great invention bring? Software itself depends on hardware. PC’s are inexpensive and extremely flexible. Will it ever be replaced? Something to consider.

Leave a Reply