Industrial automation
Major PLC, Drive and Motor Manufacturers Around the World
An overview of the global companies that make PLCs, drives and motors, what each is mainly known for, and how to choose a brand for a new machine or a retrofit. EKA CNC can quote for compatible parts.
Here is a list of major companies that manufacture PLCs, drives and motors for industrial automation. The order is not a ranking.
- ABB
- Siemens
- Fanuc
- Rockwell Automation
- Honeywell
- Panasonic
- Mitsubishi Electric
- Schneider Electric
- Omron
- Bosch Rexroth
- Eaton
- Delta Electronics
- Yaskawa
- Yokogawa Electric
- Toshiba
- Keyence
What Each Manufacturer Is Mainly Known For
Most of these companies make far more than PLCs and drives. The table gives their main relevance to machine builders and maintenance teams.
| Company | Main automation products |
|---|---|
| ABB | AC drives, motors, PLCs, robots |
| Siemens | PLCs, drives, motors, CNC controls |
| Fanuc | CNC controls, servo motors and amplifiers, robots |
| Rockwell Automation | Allen-Bradley PLCs, drives, servo systems |
| Honeywell | Process control and building automation |
| Panasonic | Servo motors and drives, PLCs, sensors |
| Mitsubishi Electric | PLCs, inverters, servo systems, CNC controls |
| Schneider Electric | Modicon PLCs, drives, switchgear |
| Omron | PLCs, servo systems, sensors, safety products |
| Bosch Rexroth | Servo drives, motion control, hydraulics |
| Eaton | Drives, switchgear, small controllers |
| Delta Electronics | PLCs, VFDs, servo motors and drives, HMIs |
| Yaskawa | Servo systems, inverters, robots |
| Yokogawa Electric | Process control systems and instruments |
| Toshiba | Inverters, motors, industrial controllers |
| Keyence | PLCs, sensors, vision and measurement |
How to Choose a Brand for Your Machine
For a new machine or a retrofit, the right brand is usually the one you can support for the next 10 to 15 years in your plant, not the one with the most features. Consider:
- Installed base: using the same brand as your other machines reduces spares stock and training.
- Local support and spares: check that drives, motors and CPU modules are easy to source in India and that service engineers are available.
- Product life cycle: choose a current series rather than one that is near end of life.
- Software and licences: programming software, cables and licence costs differ widely between brands.
- Communication: confirm the PLC, drive and HMI share a common protocol such as Modbus, EtherNet/IP, PROFINET or EtherCAT.
- Mechanical fit: for motors, compare flange size, shaft diameter and encoder type with what is fitted today.
- Spare parts strategy: decide early whether you will stock spares yourself or rely on a supplier for new, surplus or exchange units.
Our retrofit checklist covers these points in more detail.
Brands You Can Source Through EKA CNC
EKA CNC supplies industrial automation products and CNC spares from Chennai. Brands seen in our catalogue include Delta (PLCs, VFDs, servo motors and drives, HMIs), Panasonic servo drives, Fuji, Hengstler and Kübler encoders, Leuze sensors, Mindman pneumatics and CNC Electric switchgear. We also supply Fanuc-compatible spares for CNC machines.
For other brands in the list above, send us the exact part number. We can often source new, surplus or used units, or suggest a compatible alternative when a part is obsolete. Brand names are used here only to describe products and compatibility. EKA CNC is not affiliated with these manufacturers.
Send your part number through Request a Quote or use Find a Part for obsolete items.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a drive from one brand with a servo motor from another?
Generally no. A servo drive is matched to its motor's encoder protocol, pole count and parameters, so mixing brands rarely works. AC induction motors are more flexible and can usually run on any suitably rated VFD. For servo systems, replace the motor and drive as a matched pair if the original is unavailable.
Which PLC brand is easiest to support in India?
Brands with a large installed base and local distribution, such as Siemens, Mitsubishi, Delta, Allen-Bradley, Schneider and Omron, are widely supported in India. The right choice also depends on what your other machines use and on your engineers' familiarity with the programming software.
What should I do if my PLC or drive model is discontinued?
First check whether surplus or reconditioned units are available, which keeps the machine running without reprogramming. For a long-term fix, plan a migration to the manufacturer's current series or a retrofit. Send the part number to our find-a-part team to check availability.
Does EKA CNC supply all the brands in this list?
No. The list is general information. EKA CNC's catalogue includes Delta, Panasonic, Fuji, Hengstler, Kübler, Leuze, Mindman and CNC Electric products, plus Fanuc-compatible CNC spares. For other brands, send the part number and we will tell you what we can source.
Your next step
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Send the part number or a photo of the nameplate. We reply with availability, compatible options and a quotation.
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