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PLC Programming Software Helps Commission Projects Faster

Controls engineers and engineering managers can design safer systems that cost less to build and maintain with cloud-based FactoryTalk® Design Studio™ software.
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Manufacturers get a fast return on investment with cloud-based design software

It’s your responsibility to provide industrial automation solutions that deliver additional profits (and cost savings) for your plant.

With hundreds of applications to keep moving, your engineering team is juggling dozens of projects. Plus, your engineers must manage legacy applications, navigate inconsistent coding standards and maintain established control systems – all while adopting modern engineering workflows.

And on the factory floor, issues include conflicting real-world field signals with internal PLC logic to jumping into live environments without software simulation testing. There’s a better way.

FactoryTalk® Design Studio™ delivers PLC programming software solutions that engineers are asking for… 

  • Cloud-based software that improves system design efficiency and only requires a web browser to run. No subscription updates, downloads, location limitations
  • Reduced development time and increased team collaboration through automated tools for sharing and merging changes
  • Dynamic project scaling and support for multiple controllers in a single project
  • Cloud-based safety system design, including SIL-rated safety functions, role-based access and more secure project workflows
  • AI-assisted design to help engineers move from specifications to executable designs faster

FactoryTalk Design Studio helps teams:

Build Faster

Start productive engineering sooner with a browser-based design environment that reduces software maintenance, simplifies access and helps teams move from project startup to system design more quickly.

Create Together

Improve collaboration with integrated version control, change tracking and streamlined workflows for sharing, reviewing and merging project updates across teams.

Amplify Expertise

Leverage AI-assisted workflows to help engineers move from specifications and engineering artifacts to implementation plans and executable project content faster – while engineers stay in control of every decision.

Learn more about FactoryTalk Design Studio from our webinar series

Secure PLC Design Software with Cloud & AI: FactoryTalk Design Studio
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Secure PLC Design Software with Cloud & AI: FactoryTalk Design Studio
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See how PLC programming software secures cloud-based design with built-in cybersecurity, AI safeguards, certified compliance: FactoryTalk Design Studio
Date:
Time:
Duration: 60 Minutes
Language: English
Streamlining System Design with AI Agents in FactoryTalk Design Studio
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Streamlining System Design with AI Agents in FactoryTalk Design Studio
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Explore an AI‑driven workflow in FactoryTalk Design Studio to ask complex questions, spot gaps, summarize content, and build control logic fast.
Date:
Time:
Duration: 60 Minutes
Language: English
Safety system design in the cloud with FactoryTalk Design Studio
Upcoming
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Safety system design in the cloud with FactoryTalk Design Studio
Event (Webinar)
FactoryTalk Design Studio now brings safety system design to the cloud, making it easier to implement SIL-rated safety functions in a secure environment.
Date:
Time:
Duration: 60 Minutes
Language: English
Click to Start your 90-Day Software Trial

Our cloud-based motion control and PLC programming software helps commission work faster and safer.

Design, collaborate, track, simulate, download. Zero set-up.

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See what industry leaders are saying about FactoryTalk Design Studio

  • Applied Control Engineering logo
    "We found time-saving advantage in managing geographically disparate concurrent engineering efforts."
    Gary Hida - VP and Owner
  • H2E logo
    "The code editor functionality of FactoryTalk Design Studio is one of the best and most promising features. We can develop faster in the code editor but clients who are more comfortable in the ladder editor still have that ability."
    Jacob Kubale - Project Manager
  • Flexware Innovation logo
    "The browser-based design environment makes for quick migration and handling of customer files without managing multiple Virtual Machines. What used to take days to get engineers engaged and productive on projects can now be achieved in minutes."
    Ryan Binkley - Technical Consultant
  • Cybertrol Engineering logo
    "Web based available anywhere in the world is something we are looking forward to using. It will allow new team member to begin developing quickly without doing all the heavy installs. Also being able to make a change in the code wherever an engineer is located."
    Andy Croke - Food & Beverage Core Team Lead
  • Tri Tech Automation logo
    "We are excited to leverage the multi-controller support to increase our velocity to market by allowing us to focus on generating project code in a single instance of a design environment. This should reduce the organizational challenges of managing multiple .ACD files over the course of a project lifecycle.”
    Jacob Becker - System Solution Architect
Rockwell Automation executives discuss advantages of FactoryTalk Design Studio AI plan and build agents
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“We see huge potential for boosting productivity…”

Cloud-based FactoryTalk Design Studio software is revolutionizing industrial automation system design in the manufacturing industry.

"By enabling efficient collaboration, flexibility and compatibility among engineers, it offers seamless visibility, progress tracking for projects, and provides a unified environment for integrating controllers and smart devices, making it a crucial tool for future growth.” – Tim Barthel Exec. Vice President, Cybertrol Engineering

“Overall, we see huge potential for FactoryTalk Design Studio to connect design teams, streamline development and boost productivity.” – Gary Hida, Vice President, Applied Control Engineering

Who is FactoryTalk Design Studio built for?

FactoryTalk Design Studio supports the needs of engineering teams who design, collaborate on, and evolve control systems across their lifecycle. It enables consistent, scalable workflows for OEMs, system integrators, and end‑user manufacturers. 

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Controls and automation engineers

Focused on building and modifying control systems faster while maintaining design context and quality.

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Engineering managers and technical leads

Responsible for standardization, collaboration, and scaling engineering practices without added risk.

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System integrators

Delivering customized solutions under tight timelines while balancing reuse and flexibility.

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OEM engineering teams

Creating repeatable, configurable machine designs that support long lifecycles and reduce engineering effort.

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IT / OT leaders

Supporting cloud‑based engineering environments aligned with IT policies and future‑ready workflows.

Design and develop your control applications quickly and efficiently with these features:

Streamline validation with on-demand emulation Shared and user-defined libraries Build and validate safety systems with confidence Create code to support essential safety functions Generate and troubleshoot code just by asking Use the integrated Generative AI Copilot to explain project elements Deploy your project from cloud to edge See online status of devices Manage and configure devices with ease Design your project with the ControlLogix 5590 controller
FTDS Echo as a Service GIF
Gif for FactoryTalk Design Studio Version 2.05 software displaying how  to create, manage and share reusable control objects across projects and teams to improve consistency, reduce rework and accelerate delivery. With shared and user-defined libraries in FactoryTalk Design Studio software, engineers can build from approved standards, import existing assets and confidently reuse proven designs to support scalable workflows for OEMs, system integrators and manufacturing teams.
FactoryTalk Design Studio version 2.04  safety devices gif
FactoryTalk Design Studio version 2.04  safety instructions gif
GIF demonstration of code generation
GIF demonstration of code explaination
GIF demonstration of deploy center
GIF demonstration of online monitoring
Copilot Device Management GIF
L9 and v38 Firmware Support GIF

Develop, test & validate code without waiting for hardware​

Move projects forward faster with integrated cloud-based emulation powered by FactoryTalk Logix Echo as a Service. Validate applications earlier by launching emulated controllers on demand. Then transition to physical hardware without code changes to reduce risk and streamline commissioning.

Standardize and scale control design with shared libraries

Create, manage and share reusable control objects across projects and teams to improve consistency, reduce rework and accelerate delivery. With shared and user-defined libraries in FactoryTalk Design Studio software, engineers can build from approved standards, import existing assets and confidently reuse proven designs to support scalable workflows for OEMs, system integrators and manufacturing teams.

Build safety and standard logic together in one streamlined workflow

FactoryTalk® Design Studio™ now supports the latest ControlLogix® 5590 controller and GuardLogix® safety controllers, along with compatible safety I/O, giving teams a modern foundation for developing and validating machine safety applications. Built‑in visibility and validation tools help reduce manual effort, minimize risk and support the creation of compliant, high‑performance safety architectures all within a unified, cloud‑essential environment.

Use newly added instructions to implement key safety functions

FactoryTalk® Design Studio™ now includes three new safety instructions that make it easier to implement critical machine safety functions. These instructions support pull cords, guard doors, light curtains and E-stops. This can help reduce manual coding and safety logic follow proven, compliant behavior. 

Use the Generative AI copilot to aid with project development

Use natural language prompts to model systems, generate PLC code, and resolve errors quickly.

Code explanation at your fingertips

Ever inherited code that was developed by someone else? Or just need some insight as to what the code is doing because it’s not documented? If so, say goodbye to spending hours deciphering your automation projects. Select some rungs of code, a routine, a program, or even an entire project and ask the Copilot to break down the details for you.

Deploy your project then monitor the status online

Design your project in FactoryTalk Design Studio, then deploy to FactoryTalk Logix Echo to emulate your code or download directly to a ControlLogix or CompactLogix L8 controller, then monitor your code and devices online.

Remotely monitor all the devices in your MCC

Easily establish communication to an MCC lineup to see real-time status of devices including ready, running, warning, fault and comms loss.

Transform device management with the Generative AI Copilot

Copilot can now manage devices for you - adding, removing, configuring, assigning, and unassigning on your behalf. What used to take hours can now be done in minutes. Whether you're managing 10 devices or 1,000, this capability scales effortlessly, making it ideal for large plants and distributed systems.

Build your system with the most modern controller/firmware combo

FactoryTalk Design Studio also now supports Rockwell Automation’s most advanced controller—the ControlLogix 5590. Paired with firmware version 38, it delivers high-speed processing, expanded memory, integrated safety, enhanced diagnostics, and robust security. This powerful combination enables engineers to design smarter, safer, and more scalable systems—all within a modern design environment in the cloud.

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Streamline validation with on-demand emulation
FTDS Echo as a Service GIF
Shared and user-defined libraries
Gif for FactoryTalk Design Studio Version 2.05 software displaying how  to create, manage and share reusable control objects across projects and teams to improve consistency, reduce rework and accelerate delivery. With shared and user-defined libraries in FactoryTalk Design Studio software, engineers can build from approved standards, import existing assets and confidently reuse proven designs to support scalable workflows for OEMs, system integrators and manufacturing teams.
Build and validate safety systems with confidence
FactoryTalk Design Studio version 2.04  safety devices gif
Create code to support essential safety functions
FactoryTalk Design Studio version 2.04  safety instructions gif
Generate and troubleshoot code just by asking
GIF demonstration of code generation
Use the integrated Generative AI Copilot to explain project elements
GIF demonstration of code explaination
Deploy your project from cloud to edge
GIF demonstration of deploy center
See online status of devices
GIF demonstration of online monitoring
Manage and configure devices with ease
Copilot Device Management GIF
Design your project with the ControlLogix 5590 controller
L9 and v38 Firmware Support GIF

Design smarter with AI plan & build agents​​ 

See how AI helps turn requirements into working control designs faster​

Our PLC programming software offers AI plan and build agents to help engineers move from specifications to executable designs faster and with confidence.

Engineering projects often begin with specifications, I/O lists, standards documents and other design artifacts. Translating that information into a structured automation project can be time-consuming and dependent on the availability of experienced engineers.

FactoryTalk® Design Studio™ AI Plan & Build Agents help accelerate that process by analyzing project context, identifying gaps, summarizing requirements and transforming engineering information into actionable implementation plans and project content. Engineers remain in control throughout the process, reviewing and refining recommendations before they are applied.

Watch these short videos to see AI Plan & Build Agents in action, then register for the webinar to learn more.

Accelerate your productivity with our FactoryTalk Design Studio v2.06

Cloud-based emulation, enhanced safety management, expanded device support, and IntelliCENTER® innovations that help teams develop, validate, and deploy automation systems faster

FactoryTalk Design Studio v2.06 software builds on its cloud-based foundation with integrated emulation through FactoryTalk Logix Echo as a Service, enhanced safety management, expanded device support and IntelliCENTER improvements.

These capabilities help engineering teams develop and validate sooner, reduce commissioning risk, improve engineering consistency and design more complete automation systems from a single cloud-based environment. Core capabilities include:

  • Develop, test and validate sooner: Use FactoryTalk Logix Echo as a Service to create and validate control logic in the cloud without waiting for hardware
  • Manage change with confidence: Detect unintended safety changes, roll back safety-specific modifications and reduce the effort required to maintain validated systems
  • Design more complete systems: Expand design possibilities with broader device support, third-party device integration and IntelliCENTER enhancements that improve visibility and maintenance readiness

Safety system design is evolving, and it’s moving to the cloud

FactoryTalk Design Studio extends safety system design capabilities into a modern cloud environment that makes it easier to collaborate, standardize and scale safety projects across teams and locations. Replay our webinar to explore the foundations of cloud-based safety system design, including how FactoryTalk Design Studio supports SIL-rated safety functions, role-based access and helps secure project workflows, all without requiring local software installation. Whether you’re new to cloud engineering or looking for a better way to manage safety system design, this session helps you take your first confident step.

Safety system design in the cloud with FactoryTalk Design Studio
Upcoming
On-Demand
Safety system design in the cloud with FactoryTalk Design Studio
Event (Webinar)
FactoryTalk Design Studio now brings safety system design to the cloud, making it easier to implement SIL-rated safety functions in a secure environment.
Date:
Time:
Duration: 60 Minutes
Language: English

IntelliCENTER Motor Control Center Software
IntelliCENTER Motor Control Center Software
IntelliCENTER Motor Control Center Software
Industrial motor control center software lets you see inside your MCC buckets with real-time diagnostics. Increase uptime, productivity and safety.
Product Details

Bring IntelliCENTER MCC integration to the cloud with FactoryTalk Design Studio

The integration of IntelliCENTER® MCC software into FactoryTalk Design Studio creates a unified design environment that simplifies motor control center configuration and deployment. By combining MCC insights with cloud-based Logix application design, engineers gain a centralized platform for managing control logic and MCC data. This powerful integration reduces complexity, accelerates project workflows and enhances visibility – helping teams design smarter, deploy faster and maintain operations better.


FactoryTalk Design Studio + ControlLogix 5590 controllers: A smart automation design solution

FactoryTalk Design Studio transforms how automation professionals create and deploy Logix applications. When paired with our most advanced controller, the ControlLogix® 5590 PLC, our cloud-based design environment delivers a powerful advanced automation system.

The ControlLogix 5590 programmable logic controller is purpose-built for speed, scalability and connectivity. With expanded user memory and faster scan times, it’s ready for demanding multidiscipline applications. This forward-engineered software and PLC will help elevate your operations, making them faster, smarter, and more connected.

Coming Soon to FactoryTalk Design Studio

As FactoryTalk Design Studio offerings grow, new features and functionality automatically become available to help make your team more efficient and speed your time to delivery.

Intro to motion

Introduction of motion design in the cloud will deliver core capabilities for applications like jogging, moving and gearing across systems such as smart conveyors, presses, pick‑and‑place equipment. The initial release lays the foundation for a fully featured motion offering.

FactoryTalk® Design Studio™ desktop

FactoryTalk Design Studio desktop gives engineers a powerful local development option, offering fast, responsive performance and seamless project editing when working outside the cloud.

AI‑driven workflows and usability enhancements

FactoryTalk Design Studio continues to expand AI‑driven design assistance, Copilot capabilities and overall usability with quarterly updates that improve performance, clarity and day‑to‑day engineering efficiency.

Expanded safety support

Advanced safety engineering capabilities help teams standardize safety design, accelerate validation and manage change with greater confidence through Safety Add-On Instruction, tag mapping, safety signature elements and expanded safety instructions.

PLC programming software explained: FAQs

How can I speed up PLC programming?

Engineering teams can accelerate PLC development by reducing setup time, improving collaboration, and leveraging modern engineering tools and workflows.

  • Standardize reusable code, templates and engineering practices to reduce repetitive development tasks and improve consistency across projects
  • Improve productivity by organizing projects effectively, managing changes efficiently and enabling engineers to work from a shared project environment
  • Use AI-assisted workflows to transform specifications, I/O lists and engineering requirements into implementation plans and project content faster
  • Adopt cloud-based engineering tools such as FactoryTalk® Design Studio™ to simplify project startup, improve collaboration and accelerate system design and validation
  • Get a free 90-day trial of FactoryTalk Design Studio design software here
What industrial automation software tools use AI?

FactoryTalk Design Studio is a cloud-based industrial automation software tool with AI integration:

  • FactoryTalk Design Studio Copilot uses Generative AI to process your natural language to help you create PLC code
  • FactoryTalk Design Studio software offers AI plan & build agents that help engineers move from specifications to executable designs with greater speed
  • FactoryTalk Design Studio software reduces design complexity, accelerates project workflows and enhances visibility – helping teams design smarter, safer and faster
What is a Programmable Logic Controller (PLC)?

A programmable logic controller (PLC) is a rugged industrial computer designed to automate manufacturing processes, machinery and robotic systems.

  • PLCs are built to operate in factory or industrial environments, temperatures, vibration, dust and/or high humidity
  • PLCs use programmable memory to store and execute instructions for tasks like monitoring inputs, processing logic and controlling outputs
  • PLC controllers are built to withstand harsh environments, making them ideal for industrial equipment automation
  • PLCs can be programmed using Ladder Diagram, Structured Text or Function Block Diagram, allowing flexibility in controlling complex operations
  • PLCs are widely used in automotive, manufacturing, oil and gas, energy and food processing industries to help improve safety, efficiency, quality and system reliability
What equipment uses programmable logic controllers (PLCs) in a plant?

PLCs are used for countless applications on the factory floor, including these examples:

  • Material handling: Controlling speeds and routing for automated conveyor systems and sorters
  • Industrial robotics: Coordinating precise assembly, handling, welding and painting
  • Process equipment: Regulating temperatures, mixing ratios and pressures in continuous production runs
  • Packaging lines: Controlling the timing for filling, sealing and labeling

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