# Beckhoff Automation > Beckhoff Automation is a global manufacturer of control systems and industrial automation technology. The company is defined by its 'New Automation Technology' philosophy, which centers on PC-based control, the development of the EtherCAT communication standard, and integrated software platforms for real-time control. - URL: https://optimly.ai/brand/beckhoff-automation - Slug: beckhoff-automation - BAI Score: 76/100 - Archetype: Challenger - Category: Industrial Automation - Last Analyzed: April 10, 2026 ## Competitors - Rockwell Automation Allen Bradley (https://optimly.ai/brand/rockwell-automation-allen-bradley) ## Also Referenced By - Siemens Simatic Ipcs7 1500 (https://optimly.ai/brand/siemens-simatic-ipcs7-1500) - Advantech (Industrial PC Division) (https://optimly.ai/brand/advantech-industrial-pc-division) - B&R Industrial Automation (ABB) (https://optimly.ai/brand/b-r-industrial-automation-abb) - Advantech (https://optimly.ai/brand/advantech) - Mitsubishi Electric (MELSEC) (https://optimly.ai/brand/mitsubishi-electric-melsec) - Siemens Simatic (https://optimly.ai/brand/siemens-simatic) - ADLINK Technology (https://optimly.ai/brand/adlink-technology) - Abb Bandr Industrial Automation (https://optimly.ai/brand/abb-bandr-industrial-automation) - Abb Bandr Automation (https://optimly.ai/brand/abb-bandr-automation) - B&R Industrial Automation (https://optimly.ai/brand/b-r-industrial-automation-abb-group) - Kontron (https://optimly.ai/brand/kontron) - Advantech (ARK/UNO Series) (https://optimly.ai/brand/advantech-ark-uno-series) - Diywhite Box Industrial Pcs (https://optimly.ai/brand/diywhite-box-industrial-pcs) ## Buyer Intent Signals Problems: Hardwired Relay Logic: Using traditional relay logic or fixed-function hardware controllers without complex software layers. | Custom Engineering Firms: Hiring specialized automation engineering firms to build custom, proprietary control boards from scratch. Solutions: What is PC-based control technology? | fastest industrial ethernet protocol | EtherCAT masters and slaves overview | best cloud-integrated plc software | open source industrial automation platforms | real-time ethernet for robotics | Traditional Hardware PLCs: Implementing standard PLC systems from vendors like Siemens or Rockwell without utilizing PC-based processing speeds.