PLC migration to Siemens in days, not months
TIA MCP reads the source project of another platform and builds a TIA Portal project from it: SCL and LAD blocks, data types, global DBs, I/O tags, axes as technology objects and WinCC Unified screens. Every migration comes with a report of what is done, what needs checking and how much work remains.
- source platforms
- 5
- compile errors for the sample TwinCAT project in TIA V21
- 0
- TIA Portal versions
- V17–V21
- migration report
- HTML · MD
What gets converted
The conversion works on the project's source files. The result is created directly in the open TIA Portal project, compiled and checked.
ST → SCL
Programs, function blocks, functions, actions and methods. Timers, counters, edges, pointers and strings mapped to S7-1500 equivalents.
LD → LAD, SFC → SCL
Ladder into LAD networks including parallel branches. SFC sequences as an SCL state machine with step flags and times.
Data and constants
Structures as UDTs, enumerations as constants, global variables as DBs with start values and retentivity.
I/O and hardware
Inputs and outputs as PLC tags mapped into the program. An ET 200SP station proposed from the source system's I/O cards and created in the project.
Axes and Motion Control
Axes as technology objects (speed, positioning, synchronous, cams on S7-1500T), parameters from the axis configuration, leading-axis couplings. MC_* and MC_BR_* to TIA Motion Control.
HMI to WinCC Unified
TwinCAT HMI and B&R mapp View: screens, navigation, pop-ups, user controls, colour dynamizations, HMI tags, alarms and trends.
Missing libraries
When declarations from vendor libraries are missing in the source, TIA MCP infers the interface from how the code uses them and creates placeholder types. The project compiles and the report shows what to complete.
Report and effort estimate
Status of every block, tasks converted to OBs, libraries used, CPU recommendation and the remaining hours of work – before the project starts.
Alarms and texts
Messages and text lists from the HMI and PLC as WinCC Unified alarms and TIA Portal text lists.
Supported sources
| Platform | Program | HMI | Axes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beckhoff TwinCAT 3 | ✔ ST, LD, SFC | ✔ TwinCAT HMI | ✔ NC axes and parameters |
| B&R Automation Studio | ✔ ST, LD | ✔ mapp View | ✔ mapp Motion, ACP10 |
| CODESYS and WAGO e!COCKPIT | ✔ PLCopen XML | ✖ | ◐ SoftMotion calls |
| Schneider Machine Expert / Control Expert | ✔ ST, LD, FBD (XEF) | ✖ | ◐ |
| Allen-Bradley Studio 5000 | ◐ L5X, ST and interfaces | ✖ | ✖ |
✔ supported · ◐ partly · ✖ not yet. B&R Visual Components and CODESYS Visu are proprietary formats – screens are redrawn from screenshots.
How the migration works
Analysis
Reading the source project, effort estimate and report: what converts automatically and what needs an engineer.
Conversion
SCL, LAD, data types, tags, technology objects and screens are created in the TIA Portal project.
Compile and review
Compilation in TIA, error fixing and code review. The report highlights inputs written from the HMI and other risks.
Verification
Test in PLCSIM Advanced against the behaviour of the original machine, then commissioning.
What automation won't solveThe report tells you before you start.
Automatic conversion is a starting point, not a replacement for an engineer. Manual work typically remains here:
Vendor libraries
Communication, recipes and special functions use different blocks in TIA. Placeholder types keep the project compilable; the logic has to be completed.
Motion tuning
Axis parameters are carried over, but mechanics, drive telegrams and controller optimisation are set up on the machine.
Object-oriented programming
Methods and properties are converted; interfaces and inheritance need decisions about the structure in TIA.
HMI graphics
Layout and bindings are converted; images and styling need finishing in WinCC Unified.
Migration as a tool and as a service
You can run the migration yourself with a TIA MCP PRO licence, or we can do it for you turnkey including commissioning. Send us the source project and we will prepare a report with an effort estimate.