PLCstä

PLCstä is a family of modular programmable logic controllers designed for industrial automation. Emerged in the early 2020s from a collaboration among automation vendors, system integrators, and researchers, PLCstä emphasizes open interfaces, configurability, and scalability. The system centers on a compact control core with interchangeable I/O and fieldbus modules, allowing configurations from small machines to large production lines.

Hardware and interface: Each PLCstä system consists of a CPU module, power supply, and a set of I/O and fieldbus modules that can be hot-swapped. It supports common industrial networks (Ethernet TCP/IP, Modbus TCP, PROFINET, EtherCAT) and optional safety I/O for fail-safe operations. The platform uses a real-time kernel to provide deterministic scan cycles, typically in the sub-millisecond to few-millisecond range depending on configuration.

Software and programming: PLCstä adheres to IEC 61131-3 languages, including ladder logic, function block diagram, and structured text. It ships with a web-based configuration tool and a cross-platform development environment; there is also an open software development kit for third-party extensions. Simulation and offline testing are supported prior to deployment.

Standards and security: The platform emphasizes interoperability and safety, supporting standard PLC programming practices and self-diagnostic capabilities. Security features include secure boot, signed firmware, role-based access control, and encrypted communications over supported networks.

Applications and market: PLCstä is used in manufacturing, packaging, process control, water treatment, and building automation where modularity and ease of integration are valued. Its open module concept aims to reduce vendor lock-in and simplify upgrades.

Variants and ecosystem: Product lines include PLCstä Base, Pro, and Nano, differing in CPU power, I/O capacity, and network options. The ecosystem encourages third-party I/O modules and software plug-ins to extend functionality.