The PLC, HMI, motion controllers, safety hardware, etc. from the same company will communicate with each other much easier than buying individual components from different companies. If you buy a PLC from one company and a VFD or HMI from another, it will need a custom interface (usually a GSD, EDS, ESI, or other forms of device descriptions) in order to pass data back and forth. Buying the major components from a single controls provider makes passing data between different controls components more convenient and reduces complexity in your controls system.
Buying from one service provider also gives you leverage on negotiating the best price for hardware, software, licenses, training, technical support, etc. Sales people like selling the whole package and will usually give you great incentives to use as much of their company’s components as possible.
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