Modicon

Modicon is a brand of programmable logic controllers (PLCs) originally developed by the French company Modicon. Founded in 1968 in Grenoble, its name is often said to be an acronym for Modular Digital Controller. Modicon helped pioneer modular, scalable automation hardware and ladder-logic programming, making PLCs practical for a wide range of manufacturing and process-control tasks. The early Modicon systems separated control logic from input/output hardware, a modular approach that influenced subsequent PLC designs and industry standards.

During the 1980s and 1990s the company grew internationally as digital control systems expanded across manufacturing, energy, water management, and building automation. In 1996, Schneider Electric acquired Modicon, integrating it into its Industrial Automation business and aligning Modicon's PLC products with Schneider's broader portfolio. Since then, Modicon has continued as a product line within Schneider Electric, evolving with modern Ethernet-based platforms, safety features, and software integration with Schneider's SCADA, MES, and automation software offerings.

Today, Modicon PLCs are used worldwide for a range of applications from discrete manufacturing to process industries. The brand remains part of Schneider Electric's automation family and represents a legacy of early modular PLC design that helped shape the development of modern industrial automation.