Beckhoff Automation vs. B&R

Industrial automation is evolving fast—manufacturers need high-performance, flexible, and cost-effective control systems. Two leading players—Beckhoff and B&R (ABB)—deliver innovative hardware and software, with a shared focus on open standards and Industry 4.0.

1. Company Overview

Beckhoff Automation

• Headquarters: Verl, Germany- Founded: 1980- Core Focus: PC-based control, EtherCAT, open automation systems

• Notable Innovation: PC-based PLCs and EtherCAT- Market Reputation: Known for innovation and championing open automation standards.

B&R Industrial Automation

• Headquarters: Eggelsberg, Austria- Founded: 1979 (Acquired by ABB in 2017)- Core Focus: Machine and factory automation, integrated motion control, robotics, and process automation

• Notable Innovation: mapp Technology, ACOPOStrak transport system, POWERLINK fieldbus- Market Reputation: Highly regarded in packaging, food & beverage, and motion-centric applications.

2. Recent Developments & Strategic Moves

Beckhoff

• TwinCAT PLC++ runtime launched – up to 2× faster execution of IEC 61131-3 code.- AX1000/AF1000 drive families – high-performance, cost-optimized servo and inverter systems.

• Upgraded IPCs with Intel CPUs & Windows 11 LTSC – 50% more power per core.- New EtherCAT I/O terminals EL14xx/EL24xx – higher channel density.

• Extended infrastructure – acquired 15 ha near Verl for future factory expansion.

• MX-System is a groundbreaking platform designed for control cabinet–free automation

  
  

B&R (ABB Division)

• Latest Automation PC (April 2025) – powerful modular IPC.- Automation Studio 6.3 – launched June 30, 2025, with open beta for Automation Studio Code.

• AI-powered IIoT apps – predictive maintenance & anomaly detection.

• Smart factory at Eggelsberg – AMRs & AS/RS boosting throughput by 35%.

• Acquisitions – Meshmind (AI) and Codian Robotics (delta robots).

• B&R has partnered with Microsoft to integrate Azure OpenAI–powered Automation Studio Copilot for natural-language PLC coding

  
  

3. Hardware Comparison

• Beckhoff:

  • Industrial PCs with TwinCAT software (PC-based PLCs)

  • EtherCAT-based motion, modular I/O terminals

  • ATRO modular robotics, C-series IPCs

    
    

• B&R:

  • Standalone PLCs

  • Automation PCs and Panel PCs as PC-based PLCs

  • ACOPOS motion systems, X20 I/O series

  • Integrated ABB & Codian robotics

4. Software Ecosystem

Beckhoff (TwinCAT)

TwinCAT 3 merges PLC, motion, robotics, and CNC in one platform, based on Microsoft Visual Studio. Open architecture ideal for AI, cloud, and edge integration. Supports MQTT, Modbus, OPC UA, and EtherNet/IP.

B&R (Automation Studio & mapp Technology)

Automation Studio integrates PLC, HMI, motion, and safety applications. mapp Technology accelerates commissioning with reusable software modules. Supports OPC UA, MQTT, Modbus and EtherNet/IP. Increasingly growing AI features with vision and machine maintenance.

5. Networking & Protocols (Including Speed)

• EtherCAT (Beckhoff): 100 μs–1 ms cycle times; high-speed deterministic.

• POWERLINK (B&R): 400 μs–1 ms; motion-centric synchronization.

• EtherNet/IP (Rockwell): 2–10 ms typical; great for Rockwell integration.

6. Market Position & Use Cases

Beckhoff

Best suited for high-speed, data-intensive applications such as semiconductors, CNC machining, and advanced test systems. Its strength lies in IoT/IIoT connectivity, PC-based automation, and open architectures, making it ideal for integrators seeking flexibility and edge-to-cloud scalability.

B&R

Focused on turnkey motion-centric solutions for industries like packaging, food & beverage, and pharmaceuticals. With strong expertise in robotics, transport systems, and integrated OEM solutions, B&R excels in delivering complete, synchronized machine automation with minimal engineering effort.

7. Decision Guide

Choose Beckhoff if you need ultra-fast, open, customizable systems.Choose B&R if you need motion-centric, turnkey machine solutions with robotics integration.

Conclusion

Both Beckhoff and B&R offer powerful automation platforms, but follow distinct approaches:

• Beckhoff – A flexible, innovation-driven platform with a broad range of hardware options, advancing PLC++ and continuously refining the EtherCAT standard for high-speed, open automation.

• B&R – The preferred choice for OEMs, excelling in motion-centric applications with seamlessly integrated robotics and growing AI-enabled engineering tools.