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{{Short description|American industrial automation provider}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Rockwell Automation, Inc.
| image = Milwaukee August 2024 047 (Rockwell Automation Headquarters).jpg
| image_caption = [[Rockwell Automation Headquarters and Allen-Bradley Clock Tower|Rockwell Automation Headquarters]] in Milwaukee
| type = [[Public company|Public]]
| traded_as = {{ubl|class=nowrap|{{NYSE|ROK}}|[[S&P 500]] component}}
| founded = {{Start date and age|1903}}
| hq_location = {{nowrap|[[Rockwell Automation Headquarters and Allen-Bradley Clock Tower|Rockwell Automation Headquarters]]}}<br />[[Milwaukee]], Wisconsin, U.S.
| area_served = Worldwide
| key_people = Blake Moret<br />(Chairman and CEO)
| services = {{ubl|[[Industrial automation]]|[[Digital transformation]]}}
| brands = {{hlist|[[Allen-Bradley]]|FactoryTalk|LifecycleIQ}}
| revenue = {{increase}} {{US$|8.34 billion|link=yes}} (2025)
| operating_income = {{increase}} {{US$|1.42 billion}} (2025)
| net_income = {{decrease}} {{US$|869 million}} (2025)
| assets = {{decrease}} {{US$|11.2 billion}} (2025)
| equity = {{increase}} {{US$|3.65 billion}} (2025)
| num_employees = {{circa|26,000}}
| num_employees_year = 2025
| website = {{URL|rockwellautomation.com}}
| footnotes = <ref name=10-K>{{cite web |url=https://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/1024478/000102447825000116/rok-20250930.htm |title=Rockwell Automation, Inc. Fiscal 2025 Annual Report (Form 10-K) |date=12 November 2025 |publisher=[[U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission]]}}</ref>
}}

'''Rockwell Automation, Inc.''' is an American provider of industrial [[automation]] and [[digital transformation]] technologies headquartered in [[Milwaukee]], Wisconsin. Its brands include [[Allen-Bradley]], FactoryTalk software and LifecycleIQ Services. Rockwell Automation employs approximately 27,000 people and has customers in more than 100 countries worldwide.<ref name=10-K />

==History==

===Early years===
Rockwell Automation began in 1903 as the Compression Rheostat Launch Company. It was founded by Dr. Stanton Allen and [[Lynde Bradley]] with an initial investment of $1000.<ref name="axcontrol.com">{{cite web |url=https://www.axcontrol.com/blog/2020/the-winding-history-of-rockwell-automation/17/07/ |title = The Winding History of Rockwell Automation - AX Control, Inc.| date=17 July 2020 }}</ref> In 1904, 19-year-old [[Harry Lynde Bradley|Harry Bradley]] joined his brother in the business, and the company's first patented product, a carbon disc compression-type motor controller for industrial cranes, was demonstrated at the [[Louisiana Purchase Exposition|St. Louis World's Fair]] the same year. In 1909, the company was renamed the Allen-Bradley Company.<ref name="axcontrol.com" />

Allen-Bradley expanded rapidly during [[World War I]] in response to government-contracted work. Its product line grew to include automatic starters, switches, circuit breakers, relays, and other electric equipment. After the war, the company grew its miniature [[rheostat]] business to support the burgeoning radio industry. By the middle of the 1920s, nearly 50 percent of the company's sales were attributed to the radio department. The year 1929 closed with record company sales of $3 million.

By 1932, at the start of the [[Great Depression]], the company was posting record losses. It reduced its workforce and cut wages by 50%. Throughout this period, Lynde Bradley supported an aggressive research and development approach intended to "develop the company out of the Depression." By 1937, Allen-Bradley employment had rebounded to pre-Depression levels and company sales reached an all-time high of nearly $4 million.

===Mid-late 20th century===
World War II fueled unprecedented levels of production, with 80% of the company's orders being war-related. Wartime orders were centered on two broad lines of products: industrial controls to speed production, and electrical components or radio parts used in a wide range of military equipment. Allen-Bradley expanded its facilities numerous times during the 1940s to meet wartime production needs. With Fred Loock serving as president and Harry Bradley as chairman, the company began a major $1 million, two-year expansion project in 1947. The company completed additional expansions at its Milwaukee facilities in the 1950s and 1960s, including the [[Rockwell Automation Headquarters and Allen-Bradley Clock Tower|Allen-Bradley clock tower]].

During the 1970s, the company expanded its production facilities and markets and entered the 1980s as a global company. In 1981, the company introduced a new line of [[programmable logic controller]]s.

In 1985, [[Rockwell International]] purchased Allen-Bradley for $1.651 billion; this was the largest acquisition in Wisconsin's history to date.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=196186&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=825704&highlight=|title=Rockwell Automation Celebrates the 100th Anniversary of the Allen-Bradley® Brand|date=30 January 2003|access-date=2016-02-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191213030706/http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=196186&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=825704&highlight=|archive-date=13 December 2019|url-status=dead}}</ref> For all intents and purposes, Allen-Bradley took over Rockwell's industrial automation division.

The 1990s featured continued technology development, including the company's launch of its software business. Rockwell International developed PowerFlex, a manufacturing software and technology in the 1990s.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://emke.uwm.edu/entry/allen-bradley-rockwell-automation/|title=Allen-Bradley (Rockwell Automation) {{!}} Encyclopedia of Milwaukee|website=emke.uwm.edu|language=en-US|access-date=2018-01-27}}</ref> Rockwell International also acquired a power systems business, composed of Reliance Electric and Dodge. These two brands, combined with control systems brands Allen-Bradley and Rockwell Software, were marketed as Rockwell Automation.

===21st century===
[[File:Rockwell Automation logo.svg|thumb|Previous logo]]
In 2001, Rockwell International split into two companies. The industrial automation division became Rockwell Automation, while the [[avionics]] division became [[Rockwell Collins]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.militaryaerospace.com/articles/2001/02/rockwell-to-change-name-to-rockwell-automation-after-rockwell-collins-spinoff.html|title=Rockwell to Change Name to Rockwell Automation after Rockwell Collins spinoff|date=20 February 2001|access-date=2016-02-06|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180321130343/http://www.militaryaerospace.com/articles/2001/02/rockwell-to-change-name-to-rockwell-automation-after-rockwell-collins-spinoff.html|archive-date=2018-03-21}}</ref> The split was structured so that Rockwell Automation was the legal successor of Rockwell International, while Rockwell Collins was the spin-off. Rockwell Automation retains Rockwell International's stock price history and continues to trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "ROK".

In 2007, Reliance Electric Drives and [[Dodge Bearings]] were spun off from the company.

In February 2019, Rockwell Automation and [[Schlumberger]] entered a joint venture to create Sensia, the oil and gas industry's first fully integrated automation solutions provider.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-02-20 |title=Rockwell Automation and Schlumberger announce Sensia joint venture |url=https://www.automation.com/en-us/articles/2019/rockwell-automation-and-schlumberger-announce-sens |access-date=2022-02-27 |website=Automation.com}}</ref> Rockwell was later announced as a founding member of the ISA Global Cybersecurity Alliance to help advance readiness and awareness in manufacturing.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-08-14 |title=Rockwell Automation joins ISA Global Cybersecurity Alliance as a founding member |url=https://www.automation.com/en-us/articles/2019/rockwell-automation-joins-isa-global-cybersecurity |access-date=2022-02-27 |website=Automation.com}}</ref>

Another partnership was formed in November 2019 with [[Accenture]]'s [[Accenture Industry X|Industry X]] to help deliver greater industrial supply chain optimization.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-11-19 |title=Rockwell Automation partners with Accenture to create digital solutions for industrial clients |url=https://roboticsandautomationnews.com/2019/11/19/rockwell-automation-partners-with-accenture-to-create-digital-solutions-for-industrial-clients/26789/ |access-date=2022-02-27 |website=Robotics and Automation News}}</ref> Simulation software provider [[Ansys]] and Rockwell Automation also allied to help customers design simulation-based digital twins of products, processes, and manufacturing.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-11-20 |title=Rockwell Automation and ANSYS Announce Strategic Partnership, Driving Quicker Time to Market and Operational Efficiency for Customers |url=https://www.defensedaily.com/press-releases/rockwell-automation-and-ansys-announce-strategic-partnership-driving-quicker-time-to-market-and-operational-efficiency-for-customers/ |access-date=2022-02-27 |website=Defense Daily}}</ref>

In May 2023, ''[[The Wall Street Journal]]'' reported that Rockwell Automation was under a U.S. federal investigation regarding potential access to its software by the [[Government of China|Chinese government]] through company employees in [[Dalian]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Salama |first=Vivian |date=May 10, 2023 |title=Automation Giant Faces U.S. Government Probe Over China Operations |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/automation-giant-faces-u-s-government-probe-over-china-operations-e12c831f |access-date=2023-05-12 |website=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Business operations ==
In 2021, Rockwell Automation adjusted its organizational structure into three operating segments—Intelligent Devices, Software & Control, and Lifecycle Services.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2020 proxy statement. Message from Chairman and CEO Blake Moret. |url=https://ir.rockwellautomation.com/financials/annual-reports-and-proxy/default.aspx |access-date=2022-02-27 |website=Rockwell Automation |page=4}}</ref>

Rockwell Automation has three primary areas of business operations:<ref>{{Cite web |title=Company - About us |url=https://www.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/about-us/our-brands.html |access-date=2022-02-27 |website=Rockwell Automation}}</ref>

'''Allen-Bradley'''—automated components and integrated control systems for safety, sensing, industrial, power, and motion control.

'''FactoryTalk'''—software that supports advanced industrial applications including system design, operations, plant maintenance, and analytics.

'''LifecycleIQ Services'''—services to help connect, secure, mobilize, and scale manufacturing operations.

== See also ==

* {{annotated link|Allen-Bradley}}
* {{annotated link|Allen-Bradley Clock Tower}}
* {{annotated link|Engineer In Training}}
* {{annotated link|Retro-Encabulator}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Official website}}
{{Finance links
| name = Rockwell Automation, Inc.
| symbol = ROK
| sec_cik = 1024478
| yahoo = ROK
| google = ROK:NYSE
}}
{{Rockwell International}}
{{Milwaukee Based Companies}}
{{S&P 500 companies}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Companies listed on the New York Stock Exchange]]
[[Category:Technology companies established in 1903]]
[[Category:Manufacturers of industrial automation]]
[[Category:Manufacturing companies based in Milwaukee]]
[[Category:Manufacturing execution system software]]
[[Category:1903 establishments in Wisconsin]]
[[Category:Electric motor manufacturers]]

Rockwell Automation - Revision history

RS-485: Imported from Wikipedia (overwrite)