Overview
Allen-Bradley is a long-established American brand associated with industrial automation and control equipment. The brand is owned and marketed by Rockwell Automation and is widely recognized for programmable logic controllers (PLCs), motor control systems, and industrial components used in manufacturing and process industries.
Technical Specifications
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Brand Name | Allen-Bradley |
| Parent Company | Rockwell Automation, Inc. |
| Founded | 1903 (as Compression Rheostat Company) |
| Founders | Lynde Bradley, Dr. Stanton Allen |
| Headquarters (Parent) | Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA |
| Industry | Industrial automation, control systems |
| Core Product Lines | PLCs, HMIs, drives, motor control, sensors, safety systems |
| Markets Served | Manufacturing, oil and gas, automotive, food processing, utilities |
Description
Allen-Bradley products are designed for industrial environments requiring reliable automation and control. The brand is most closely associated with PLC platforms such as ControlLogix and CompactLogix, as well as PanelView human-machine interfaces. Its components are used in factory automation, robotics integration, and process control systems. The brand emphasizes interoperability within Rockwell Automation’s ecosystem, including software platforms like Studio 5000.
History
Allen-Bradley began in 1903 as the Compression Rheostat Company in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, producing carbon disc resistors. The company was renamed Allen-Bradley in 1909. It expanded into motor controls, relays, and industrial electronics throughout the 20th century.
In 1985, Rockwell International acquired Allen-Bradley for approximately $1.65 billion. Later, Rockwell Automation was formed as a separate entity in 2001, and Allen-Bradley became its flagship brand for industrial hardware. Today, the name remains widely used in industry, even though it operates as a product brand rather than a standalone company.