History
Founded in 1903 by Lynde Bradley and Stanton Allen, Rockwell Automation began its journey as a Compression Rheostat company— which is an instrument that controls a current by varrying the resistance. Today it's the world's largest company dedicated to industrial automation. The following is a list of highlights in Rockwell's 111 year history, sourced straight from Rockwell's website.
1903
Lynde Bradley and Dr. Stanton Allen form the Compression Rheostat Company with an initial investment of $1,000.
1904
One of the company’s first commercially manufactured crane controllers is exhibited at the St. Louis World's Fair.
1909
Compression Rheostat Company is renamed Allen-Bradley Company.
Dr. Allen appointed president, Lynde Bradley, vice president and treasurer, and Harry Bradley, secretary and superintendent of Allen-Bradley.
1914
The first Allen-Bradley sales office is established in New York.
1915
Allen-Bradley sales reach $86,000.
1916
Dr. Stanton Allen dies.
1917
Allen-Bradley sales grow to $404,683.
1920
The "Bradleystat," a rheostat for use in automobile dashboards and radios, is first offered.
1923
The octagon logo becomes the Allen-Bradley company trademark.
1924
Bradleystat sales reach $1,161,380.
1937
Allen-Bradley employment rebounds to pre-depression levels and company sales reach nearly $4 million.
1942
Lynde Bradley dies.
1944
Eighty percent of the company's orders are war related and center on two broad lines of products: industrial controls and electrical components.
1962
Harry Bradley throws the switch to illuminate the largest four-faced clock in the world.
1965
Harry Bradley dies.
1969
Allen-Bradley U.K. Ltd., located in Bletchley England, becomes the company's first operation outside North America.
1980
Allen-Bradley enters the new decade as a global company. International operations expand rapidly throughout the 1980s.
1985
Allen-Bradley sets a new fiscal record with sales of $1 billion.
Allen-Bradley purchases Electronics Corporation of America and acquires the Photoswitch line of photoelectric sensors.
Rockwell International purchases Allen-Bradley, the North American leader in the industrial automation equipment market, for $1.651 billion, marking the largest acquisition in Wisconsin's history. (February 20, 1985)
1993
The company introduces Ethernet and TCP/IP connectivity in its Allen-Bradley® PLCs.
1994
The Allen-Bradley® line of software merges with the ICOM lines to form Rockwell Software® Inc., the world leader in development and support of software for the automation marketplace.
1997
The company launches the Logix control platform with the introduction of the Allen-Bradley ControlLogix® 5550 controller and RSLogix™ 5000 programming software.
1999
To meet the demands of 2lst Century manufacturing, the company extends connectivity and information transparency through its Integrated Architecture™ system.The company"s safety portfolio expands significantly with the acquisition of the Guardmaster® brand.
2001
The PowerFlex® family of AC drives is launched with the PowerFlex 70.
2002
Rockwell International Corporation changes its name to Rockwell Automation and continues to trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "ROK."
2003
The Allen-Bradley brand celebrates its 100th anniversary.
2004
Rockwell Automation and Intel Corporation begin working together to expand the use of Intel's new high-performance network processor technology in industrial automation applications.
2005
LISTEN. THINK. SOLVE.® becomes the centerpiece of the company"s approach to meeting customer needs.
2007
The ICS Triplex acquisition provides critical control and safety solutions for the process industries.
Rockwell Automation and Cisco Systems form alliance focused on simplifying the integration of plant floor and corporate networks to improve the flow and security of production information.
The company extends the power of collaboration through its PartnerNetwork™ program – a framework of well-managed relationships that provides customers with access to a global network of best-in-class companies.
2008
Company introduces the PlantPAx™ Process Automation System.
2010
Rockwell Automation is named to the Dow Jones Sustainability North America Index as one of the region's most sustainable companies.
2011
The company acquires industrial automation repairs and services provider LeKtroniX.
2012
For the fourth time, the Ethisphere Institute recognizes Rockwell Automation as one of the "world's most ethical companies.”
Lynde Bradley and Dr. Stanton Allen form the Compression Rheostat Company with an initial investment of $1,000.
1904
One of the company’s first commercially manufactured crane controllers is exhibited at the St. Louis World's Fair.
1909
Compression Rheostat Company is renamed Allen-Bradley Company.
Dr. Allen appointed president, Lynde Bradley, vice president and treasurer, and Harry Bradley, secretary and superintendent of Allen-Bradley.
1914
The first Allen-Bradley sales office is established in New York.
1915
Allen-Bradley sales reach $86,000.
1916
Dr. Stanton Allen dies.
1917
Allen-Bradley sales grow to $404,683.
1920
The "Bradleystat," a rheostat for use in automobile dashboards and radios, is first offered.
1923
The octagon logo becomes the Allen-Bradley company trademark.
1924
Bradleystat sales reach $1,161,380.
1937
Allen-Bradley employment rebounds to pre-depression levels and company sales reach nearly $4 million.
1942
Lynde Bradley dies.
1944
Eighty percent of the company's orders are war related and center on two broad lines of products: industrial controls and electrical components.
1962
Harry Bradley throws the switch to illuminate the largest four-faced clock in the world.
1965
Harry Bradley dies.
1969
Allen-Bradley U.K. Ltd., located in Bletchley England, becomes the company's first operation outside North America.
1980
Allen-Bradley enters the new decade as a global company. International operations expand rapidly throughout the 1980s.
1985
Allen-Bradley sets a new fiscal record with sales of $1 billion.
Allen-Bradley purchases Electronics Corporation of America and acquires the Photoswitch line of photoelectric sensors.
Rockwell International purchases Allen-Bradley, the North American leader in the industrial automation equipment market, for $1.651 billion, marking the largest acquisition in Wisconsin's history. (February 20, 1985)
1993
The company introduces Ethernet and TCP/IP connectivity in its Allen-Bradley® PLCs.
1994
The Allen-Bradley® line of software merges with the ICOM lines to form Rockwell Software® Inc., the world leader in development and support of software for the automation marketplace.
1997
The company launches the Logix control platform with the introduction of the Allen-Bradley ControlLogix® 5550 controller and RSLogix™ 5000 programming software.
1999
To meet the demands of 2lst Century manufacturing, the company extends connectivity and information transparency through its Integrated Architecture™ system.The company"s safety portfolio expands significantly with the acquisition of the Guardmaster® brand.
2001
The PowerFlex® family of AC drives is launched with the PowerFlex 70.
2002
Rockwell International Corporation changes its name to Rockwell Automation and continues to trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "ROK."
2003
The Allen-Bradley brand celebrates its 100th anniversary.
2004
Rockwell Automation and Intel Corporation begin working together to expand the use of Intel's new high-performance network processor technology in industrial automation applications.
2005
LISTEN. THINK. SOLVE.® becomes the centerpiece of the company"s approach to meeting customer needs.
2007
The ICS Triplex acquisition provides critical control and safety solutions for the process industries.
Rockwell Automation and Cisco Systems form alliance focused on simplifying the integration of plant floor and corporate networks to improve the flow and security of production information.
The company extends the power of collaboration through its PartnerNetwork™ program – a framework of well-managed relationships that provides customers with access to a global network of best-in-class companies.
2008
Company introduces the PlantPAx™ Process Automation System.
2010
Rockwell Automation is named to the Dow Jones Sustainability North America Index as one of the region's most sustainable companies.
2011
The company acquires industrial automation repairs and services provider LeKtroniX.
2012
For the fourth time, the Ethisphere Institute recognizes Rockwell Automation as one of the "world's most ethical companies.”