Siemens SINAMICS S120 vs Kollmorgen AKD

Siemens SINAMICS S120 and Kollmorgen AKD represent two leading approaches to high-performance servo drive systems for industrial automation. Both platforms target multi-axis motion control but differ significantly in their ecosystem philosophy and target applications.

Design focus

SINAMICS S120 is deeply embedded in the Siemens ecosystem, designed for seamless integration with TIA Portal, SIMATIC PLCs, and the broader Siemens automation stack. It emphasizes enterprise-scale deployments where standardization on Siemens infrastructure is preferred.

Kollmorgen AKD takes a more open, modular approach with broader third-party PLC support and emphasis on performance-optimized servo control. It targets applications requiring extreme precision and dynamic response, particularly in robotics and high-speed packaging.

Architecture differences

When to choose Siemens SINAMICS S120

• Existing Siemens infrastructure (SIMATIC PLCs, TIA Portal)
• Applications requiring mixed control modes (vector + servo)
• Large-scale deployments needing centralized multi-axis control
• Projects where TIA Portal integration reduces engineering time
• Safety applications requiring extensive safety functions

When to choose Kollmorgen AKD

• High-precision servo applications (robotics, semiconductor)
• Multi-vendor environments requiring broad PLC compatibility
• Applications demanding maximum servo performance and bandwidth
• Smaller machine builders without Siemens infrastructure investment
• Systems where EtherCAT is the preferred fieldbus

Can they coexist?

Both systems can coexist in large facilities through standard industrial protocols. SINAMICS S120 supports PROFINET and can communicate with higher-level systems, while AKD's EtherCAT support enables integration into heterogeneous environments. However, mixing them on the same machine is generally not recommended due to differing engineering environments and synchronization challenges.