PLC is a registered trade mark of Allen-Bradley for decades since the first PLC in the world.

It is a classic American story. Two brothers with a knack for invention and business, but no money. Another, older man who knew talent when he saw it and wash willing to invest in that talent. Hard work, luck and inventive genius combined to build a global company. The partnership between Dr.Stanton Allen and Lynde and Harry Bradley resulted in an industrial giant that continues to provide some of the basic tools keep industry humming. The growth from a two-man operation in rented space in someone's factory to a global industrial giant is the story of an entire century.

History

The company was founded in 1903 as the Compression Rheostat Company by Dr. Stanton Allen and Lynde Bradley with an initial investment of $1,000. In 1910 the firm was renamed Allen-Bradley Company; for close to the next century it provided the bulk of discrete resistors used for electronics and other products. In 1952 it opened a subsidiary in Galt, Ontario, Canada, that employs over 1000 people. In 1985 a company record was set as the fiscal year ended with $1 billion in sales. In February 1985, Rockwell International purchased Allen-Bradley for $1.651 billion, which is the largest acquisition in Wisconsin history.[1] For all intents and purposes, Allen-Bradley took over Rockwell's industrial automation division.

Rockwell eventually moved its headquarters to Milwaukee. In 2002, when Rockwell split into two companies, Allen-Bradley followed the automation division into Rockwell Automation.

          Now a day, every day you face a new challenge. On the plant floor, it’s producing consistent quality faster. Reducing parts inventories. Spending less time on training and less money on maintenance. On the top floor, it’s faster time to market. More flexible production. Zero defects.

        Rockwell Automation Integrated Architecture provides seamless integration of control and communication across multiple platforms – process, motion, drives, and sequential – throughout your facility. We offer Logix Platforms and I/O systems for control, Kinetix for integrated motion, NetLinx Open Network Architecture for communications, and ViewAnyWare™ for visualization. Our PLC-5®, SLC™ 500, ControlLogix®, CompactLogix ™ and MicroLogix™ Controller , along with a wide range of world-class control components, make your operation and a model of pure efficiency – shop floor to top floor – while our FactoryTalk® technologies reduce your development time and improve your plant uptime.

Large Control Systems
      Our Large Control Systems fit your most demanding application needs. They offer modular architectures and a range of I/O and network options. These powerful control solutions deliver world-class capabilities from process to safety to motion. Designed for distributed or supervisory control applications, our large programmable automation controllers (PACs) provide exceptional reliability and performance.

Small Control Systems
      The perfect solution for your mid-range applications, our small controllers offer the features and flexibility you need without the overhead of larger systems. Choose from standard and safety-certified controllers in chassis-based, packaged and modular designs. Typical applications include complex machine control, batch processing and building automation.

Micro & Nano Control Systems
      Our micro and nano PLCs provide economical solutions to basic control needs for your simple machines ranging from relay replacement to simple control timing and logic. Compact packaging, integrated I/O and communication, and ease of use make these controllers an ideal choice for applications such as conveyor automation, security systems, and building and parking lot lighting.

Human machine interface
      Visualization and HMI solutions help you address your productivity, innovation, and globalization needs. Our portfolio provides a consistent look and feel for electronic operator interface terminals, distributed client/server HMI, and information software. Programming tools and advanced software applications include remote access and data analysis to accelerate development and improve efficiency.

Drive System
      Our Allen-Bradley® PowerFlex® variable frequency drives and Kinetix® servo drives offer solutions from simple machine control, high-speed positioning to demanding medium voltage control. These flexible portfolios deliver solutions to keep you connected to your operations and help you to be more productive.