Siemens S7-1200 vs Allen-Bradley CompactLogix: Which PLC for Your Production Line?

In the world of industrial automation, choosing the right PLC is a decision that affects production line performance for years to come. Siemens and Allen-Bradley are the two giants in this field, but which is right for your factory in Jordan? Let's compare.

System Overview

Feature	Siemens S7-1200	Allen-Bradley CompactLogix
Manufacturer	Siemens (Germany)	Rockwell Automation (USA)
Target Range	Medium to complex	Medium to very high
Programming Languages	LAD, FBD, SCL, STL	Ladder, FBD, ST
IDE	TIA Portal	Studio 5000
Memory	150 KB – 4 MB	400 KB – 20 MB
Scan Time	0.08 ms	0.03 ms

Cost in Jordan

Important note: Allen-Bradley software costs are 60–100% higher than Siemens. But in Jordan, Siemens availability and technical support are more widespread.

Availability & Support in Jordan

• Siemens: Authorized distributors in Amman, spare parts available, training courses offered.
• Allen-Bradley: Limited availability, spare parts usually imported from UAE or Saudi Arabia.

When to Choose Siemens?

• Medium-sized project requiring a cost-effective solution
• Your technical team is familiar with TIA Portal
• You need fast local support in Jordan
• Budget is limited but quality is required

When to Choose Allen-Bradley?

• Large project demanding very high performance
• Factory is part of an international group using Rockwell
• Need direct integration with other Rockwell systems
• Real-time performance is the top priority

IMC's Recommendation

In 80% of our projects in Jordan, we recommend Siemens S7-1200. Not because it's universally best, but because it's the most suitable for the local market: availability, technical support, reasonable cost, and performance that meets 95% of requirements.