aN \ | [" ThigiAllen-Bradley cover wrap ps been placed on & limited number of wt ‘Copies through a special arrangement with the publigne. mt ys WE SEEBRAT EA VERY SPECIAL/ o Y, WE'D LIKE TO THANK THOS 0 MADE IT POSSIBLE - con id OMERS!" _ _“The PLC is a story of teaming, partnering and exploring. Of respecting customer requirements, ideas and concepts.” In 1968, no one could have predicted the tremendous impact one customer's request would have on the future of industrial controls. Fort ately, we were one of four suppliers approached by this stomer — with the request to assist in the development of a “standard machine controller: wy visionary Having acquired Michigan-based Information Instruments Incorporated, we inherited its PDQ-II product — a strategy that put us right where we needed to be in order to explore this developing technology Bei ause the PDQ-IT proved too complex and too hard to program, we developed the PMC, or programmable matrix controller, It was smaller and easier to program, but still had room for improvement. So our engineers set about designin; \d building what would eventually become the programmable logic controller — an innovation we enthusiastically refer to today, a quarter of a century later, as the PLC® family of controllers. Over the years, our customers have helped us develop many products. They’ve encouraged us, teamed with us and rewarded us wit their business and their loyalty, Making it possible for us to r ‘h milestone after milestone. Including the recent shipment of our one millionth PLC unit — further proof that our success is undeniably a result of the successes, insights and needs of our customers. ‘The 25th niversary of the PLC controller is a celebration of listening and responding to customer needs. Ivsa story of teaming, partnering and exploring. Of respecting custon cr requirements, ideas and concepts, As you read on, you'll discover some of the many PLC-related “firsts” attributed to Allen-Bradley state-of-the-art products that would have remained undiscovered had it not be. jor continuous customer input and our ability to act on that input. Which is why we at Allei Bradley encourage you to share your ideas with us — after all, they may just set the stage for industry’s next technological breakthrough PRESIDENT AND CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER ROCKWELL AUTOMATION @8 Rockwell Automation Allen-Bradley This advertising cover wrap does not constitute an endorsement by NEWSWEEK nor Is any endorsement implied. NEWSWEEK isa registered trademark of Newsweek, IncWhether formal or casual remarks, SG customer requirements ve often spurred great ichnological breakthroughs. Simple Request That was the case in 1968, when ateam of i from the Hydra-matic Division of General Motors drafted specifications for a “standard machine controller.” Their goal?” ‘A control system that would replace all the relay panels and be programmed rather than wired. ‘The specs, along with a request to build a prototype, were given to four control builders: Allen-Bradley by way of Michigan-based ent Corp. (DEC), Century Detroit Allen-Bradley responded at the risk of competing with one of our most successful core businesses — electro-mechanical relays. However, we met our customer’s challeng ‘went from prototype to actual production, Our first effort, the PDQLII, was deemed too large, too complex, too hard to program. So we set about designing the PMC — or programmable matrix controller. While that product was smaller and easier to program, our customers requested additional improvements. Improvements that would result in what we now know as PLCs — programmable logic controllers. A Strategic Approach Since the PLC’s introduction ears ago, our customers have continued to suggest enhancements. Over the years, PLC controllers have proven to be cost-effective and efficient ways to help customers meet their jovative engineers and in five months, Allen-Bradley’s PLC Milestones th paral Introduces PLC-2 family of controls production objectives. In fact, you could say that the PLC embodies the principles of our Automation Investment Life Cycle™ model. PLC controllers and related products offer a broad range of configurations so they're to apply. They're flexible, ‘compatible and easy to integrate. eas They gather, manipulate and communicate plant floor data, providing precise machine process control while giv operators a window into the production process. Their on-board diagnostics simplify maintenance and troubleshooting, And their modular, expandable architecture creates a migration path for future expansions and upgrades, But Allen-Bradley’s programmable logic controllers, would be nothing like they are today if it weren’t for our customers. Introduces Puc controle providing First manufacturer more ‘Acquires Information with deccated First CT-based Introduces 1771 V0 processing Instruments, In, training facility program panel for PLCs product family ower a) 1970 aya 7 at at ri Introduces Remote VO Introduces frst programmable logic controller: First computer interface for programmable controllers Introduces readiite programmable controller Introduces of-tine software ‘documentation package aL) aL yi) at) ccess Isn’t So Mucha Product ~.} | ology, As It Is a Product of Listening. « An Ongoing Response While progra were still in their infancy, early users asked for assistance in nmable controllers programming, installing and maintaining their units, We responded with industry’s first full-time, fully staffed, PLC training facility When customers asked for cost- reducir with Remote I/O Systems. nstallation, we answered When customers wanted peer-to- peer capabilities between PLC controllers and computers, we developed our Data Highway™ product, industry’s first plant floor network. When users told us they needed to connect their information worlds with their plant floor worlds, we teamed with Digital Equipment Corp. and created the Pyramid Integrator™ system. And the improvements continue. Recently, when customers requested a more cost-effective Links PLCs to personal compute adaptable controllers Introduces Introduces With DEC, develop frst Data Highway, 'BM-compatile. system to integrate industy’s frst ‘programming terminal information processing lant lor network ith plant oor control Introduces integral peer-to-peer ‘communications in a slo-hased processor “—s way to interface to multiple vendor devices, we pioneered DeviceNet™ an innovative open standard device level network. And for customers secki efficient way to tie systems together, we offer our ControlNet™ high-speed, high- performance peer-to-peer network. AHistory of Success amore company: The 25th anniversary of the PLC controller; and the shipment of our one millionth unit, We attribute these and all of our successes not to the technology, but to those who make such innovations possible, the people who ask for solutions, our customers. If you have an idea you'd like to share, simply contact your local Allen-Bradley representative. As always, we'll be more than happy to lend you an ear The path to PLC success has had its ups and downs. Over the years, while we watched other suppliers drop out, leavin; stranded, we've stayed the course putting our customers’ needs front and cent their users And we're better for it Today, we're celebrating two milestones in the history of our Launches DeviceNet open standard netwark Forms Rockwell Software, nc voces Fex"™ VO products Invades BAS Wivohogie™ 1000 Introduces ControiNet high-speed high- performance network ‘Ships milionth PLC adapter technology to serve growing customer base networked Block VO Develops low-cost j Introduces sic s00™ Ethernet Rockwell ‘small and TCP/IP st al = processors ‘connectivity Allen-BradleyThere are a million reasons & why Allen-Bradley PLC° ~ processors lead the industry. ‘The reasons are, literally, alll around you, At Allen-Bradley, we've shipped more than a million controllers to our customers around the world over the past 25 years. They rely on us because we are the leader when it comes to innovating, designing and manufacturing a broad range of logic controllers. This includes our new MicroLogix™ line, compact yet full of func~ tionality to make it truly micro-perfected. But it’s more than just a numbers story. Over the years, our design engineers have led the way with programming innovations, such as on-line editing and sequential fune- tion chart programming. We brought you In fact, there are an incredible 1.8 x 10° possible the concept of remote I/O and peer-to-peer configurations with our products. One is sure to fit communication networks, and have embraced open your needs. industry standards, such as DeviceNet” and Ethernet Allen-Bradley controllers are working hard in challenging applications around the world. To discover how we can help you, just give us a call at 1-800-223-5354 ext. 0053. And we were first to join other technology leaders to bring you easy-to-integrate, multi-vendor solutions. No matter what your application, you'll find a combination of Allen-Bradley products to do the job Automation i Allen-Bradley