PLC Lifecycle Status by Maker: 2027 Guide
Before you pick a PLC platform for a new machine, or decide how long an existing one can run, check where its product line sits in the maker's lifecycle. In 2027 the pattern across the major makers is the same: a current family for new designs, an older family that is discontinued or being phased out, and a gap of years in between where spares and support still exist. This guide shows how each maker labels those stages and gives dated examples read on the makers' own pages. It is reviewed each November.
How do the makers label a PLC's lifecycle?
| Maker | How the stage is shown | What to read |
|---|---|---|
| Rockwell Automation | Four statuses on the lifecycle status page: Active, Active Mature, End of Life, Discontinued | Active Mature means the product is still fully supported but a newer product or family exists, and the maker encourages migration. End of Life and Discontinued carry dates. |
| Siemens | Product lifecycle codes: PM400 (discontinuation announced), PM410 (product cancellation), PM490 (end of production and sales) | The dates for each code, and the successor named on the migration page. |
| Schneider Electric | Discontinued date, end-of-service date and recommended replacement on each product page | All three, for your exact reference. |
| Mitsubishi Electric | Legacy-product pages with introduction, discontinuation and repair-period years per series | Whether the repair period has ended, and the successor named. |
The terms are not interchangeable. "Discontinued" at one maker means the part is no longer sold; the support that follows is a separate date. Read the maker's own definition before you compare two makers.
Which PLC lines are discontinued or being phased out?
These examples come from the makers' own pages as read in November 2026. Dates can differ by catalog number and by region, so confirm the exact reference.
| Line | Dated milestone | Successor named by the maker |
|---|---|---|
| Siemens SIMATIC S7-300 with ET 200M I/O | Discontinued October 1, 2025; end of production and sales (PM490) scheduled for October 1, 2033 | S7-1500 with ET 200MP or ET 200SP |
| Siemens SIMATIC S7-1200, first generation (G1) | Phase-out announced November 1, 2026; orderable as new until October 31, 2027; spare parts planned until about 2036 | S7-1200 G2 |
| Schneider Modicon Quantum (example 140CPU65260) | Discontinued December 31, 2018; end of service December 31, 2027 | Modicon M580 (BMEP584040 for this processor) |
| Schneider Modicon Premium (example TSXP574634M) | Discontinued December 2, 2020; end of service December 31, 2026 | Modicon M580 (BMEP583020 for this processor) |
| Mitsubishi FX2N / FX2NC | Discontinued 2012; repair period ended 2019 | FX5U / FX5UC |
| Mitsubishi A and AnS series racks | Discontinued 2006 (A) and 2014 (AnS) | iQ-R series |
Each of these is covered in its own article: S7-300 to S7-1500 migration basics, Modicon Quantum and Premium discontinued and obsolete Mitsubishi FX and A series PLCs. For Rockwell, status is set per catalog number, so look up the controller's page instead of relying on a family name; Allen-Bradley lifecycle status explained shows how to read it.
What does "current" really guarantee?
Less than it sounds. A current line is sold today, but the maker can still announce a phase-out for part of it, as the first-generation S7-1200 shows: a controller that was the current small PLC is now on a dated path to a second generation. A current line does give you the longest runway, but treat it as years, not decades, and ask what the maker publishes about spare parts after the sales end.
How do you check a PLC before you buy or commit?
- Get the full catalog number from the label, including every suffix, series letter and firmware or hardware revision marking.
- Look it up on the maker's own product page and note the status, any dates and the named successor. The lifecycle status lookup is a quick first pass, not a substitute for the maker's page.
- Check the whole rack, not only the CPU. Power supplies, communication modules and I/O often have different dates from the processor.
- Check the software. Programming software versions support specific controllers, and a new controller may need a newer package and a converted program.
- Record the dates in an obsolescence watch list and set a yearly review.
What if the line you run is already discontinued?
A discontinued PLC keeps running; the date changes how you buy, not how it works. You can hold spares, buy from new surplus or repaired stock, or plan a migration. What to do when a PLC module is discontinued goes through the options in order, and industrial parts going obsolete in 2026 and 2027 lists other dated notices. A successor is rarely a drop-in match, so check mounting, wiring, communications and software against the maker's migration documents, and have a qualified controls engineer do the changeover.
How do you choose a platform for a new machine?
Lifecycle is one input, not the whole answer. The platform also has to fit the plant's existing controllers, the maintenance team's skills, the network the machine will join and the software the plant already licenses. Allen-Bradley vs Siemens PLC platforms and how to choose a machine controller cover those questions. Use lifecycle to rule out a line that is already on a phase-out path, then decide on the rest.
Questions people ask about PLC lifecycle
Can I still get spare parts for a discontinued PLC?
Often yes, for a time. The maker's notice says what support continues, and new surplus, used and repaired parts may still be available after the maker stops selling.
Is an Active Mature product a bad choice?
Rockwell describes Active Mature as fully supported with a newer product or family available. It is a signal to plan a migration, not to stop using the product.
Should I wait for the next generation before buying?
Only if the maker has published it and its availability suits your project. Do not plan around a successor the maker has not announced.
Where do I find the successor for my controller?
On the maker's own product or migration page for the exact catalog number. The page names the maker's recommendation; a third party cannot confirm it for you.
Further reading on this site: industrial parts going obsolete in 2026 and 2027; Allen-Bradley lifecycle status explained; Allen-Bradley vs Siemens PLC platforms; S7-300 to S7-1500 migration basics; Modicon Quantum and Premium discontinued; obsolete Mitsubishi FX and A series PLCs; how to choose a machine controller; what to do when a PLC module is discontinued; lifecycle status lookup; obsolescence watch list for critical spares; request a quote.
Need a spare for an older controller, or the part a maker names as its successor? Request a quote with the full catalog number from the label and the quantity, and we will source against that exact number.
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