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Engineering Industry Reports and Surveys
News Release from: IMS Research
Edited by the Engineeringtalk Editorial
Team on 13 March 2002
Smart relays to boom
The market for intelligent (smart) relays is forecast to more than double in size over the next few years.
The market for intelligent (smart) relays, a new sub-PLC class of electronic controller, is forecast to more than double in size over the next few years, as engineers replace relays, counters and timers in simple control systems These products are increasingly being used in machine control applications, such as packaging and sorting, where engineers are upgrading the performance of their machines without resorting to over-specified PLCs
This article was originally published on Engineeringtalk on 28 Sep 2004 at 8.00am (UK)
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According to Simon Harris, IMS Senior Analyst and principal study author: "Intelligent relays represent a real alternative to those engineers who are unfamiliar with PLC programming, but want the advantages associated with electronic controllers, such as reduced wiring, faster installation and smaller control panels".
Intelligent relays have been available for over five years, but it is only in the last year or two that the market has really taken off.
Machine builders are currently the main users, but IMS believes that the largest potential market for these products is building automation applications such as lighting, access and environmental controls.
IMS forecasts that the European market for intelligent relays in this application alone will exceed 250,000 units within the next two years.
Siemens dominates the PLC market and has also taken an early lead in the European intelligent relay market with is Logo! family.
Moeller's Easy was the second best selling intelligent relay in Europe in 2001, followed by Schneider's Zelio.
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