Rockwell Automation, Inc. provides industrial automation and digital transformation solutions in the United States and internationally. The company operates in three segments, Intelligent Devices, Software & Control, and Lifecycle Services. Its solutions include hardware and software products, and services. The Intelligent Devices segment offers drives, motion, safety, sensing, industrial components, and configured-to-order products. The Software & Control segment provides control and visualization software and hardware, information software, digital twin and simulation software, and network and security infrastructure solutions. The Lifecycle Services segment provides consulting, professional services and solutions, and connected and maintenance services. The company sells its solutions primarily through independent distributors in relation with its direct sales force. It serves discrete end markets, including automotive, semiconductor, warehousing and logistics, and other discrete markets, as well as general industries comprising printing and publishing, marine, glass, fiber and textiles, airports, and aerospace; hybrid end markets, such as food and beverage, life sciences, household and personal care, and tire, as well as eco industrial, including water/wastewater, waste management, mass transit, and renewable energy; and process end markets comprising oil and gas, mining, metals, chemicals, pulp and paper, and others. Rockwell Automation, Inc. was founded in 1903 and is headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
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Here are 1-2 brief analogies to describe Rockwell Automation (ROK):
- Intel for factories
- Cisco for manufacturing automation
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- Controllers & I/O: Provides Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) and input/output modules that serve as the intelligent control systems for industrial processes.
- Drives & Motors: Offers variable frequency drives, servo drives, and motors used for precise speed, torque, and position control in machinery.
- Human-Machine Interface (HMI): Supplies industrial computers and visualization software (PanelView) enabling operators to monitor and interact with automated systems.
- Industrial Components: Manufactures a range of electrical control products including push buttons, sensors, circuit breakers, and safety devices.
- FactoryTalk Software Suite: Delivers a comprehensive portfolio of software for manufacturing operations management, including SCADA, MES, analytics, and asset performance management.
- Lifecycle Services: (Category: Consulting & Support) Provides expert consulting, engineering, project management, technical support, and training to design, implement, and maintain automation solutions.
- Managed Services: (Category: Operational Support & Cybersecurity) Offers remote monitoring, cybersecurity solutions, and operational support to optimize system performance and ensure business continuity.
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Rockwell Automation (ROK) sells primarily to other companies (Business-to-Business, B2B).
Due to the highly diversified nature of its global client base and competitive reasons, Rockwell Automation does not publicly disclose specific "major customers" by name that individually account for a significant portion of its revenue. Their business model involves selling industrial automation and digital transformation solutions to manufacturers across a wide array of industrial sectors, often through a network of independent distributors and system integrators.
While specific customer names are not disclosed, Rockwell Automation's customer base consists of companies operating in the following major industrial categories:
- Automotive & Tire: Manufacturers of vehicles, components, and tires.
- Food & Beverage and Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG): Companies producing food, beverages, and other consumer goods.
- Life Sciences: Pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical device manufacturers.
- Oil & Gas and Chemical: Companies involved in exploration, production, refining, and chemical processing.
- Mining & Metals: Companies engaged in mineral extraction, processing, and metal production.
- Water & Wastewater: Utilities and industrial facilities for water treatment and distribution.
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Blake Moret Chairman & Chief Executive Officer
Blake Moret joined Rockwell Automation in 1985 as a sales trainee, building his career within the company through various leadership positions, including international assignments in Europe and Canada. He previously served as Senior Vice President of Control Products and Solutions, one of the company's business segments. Moret was appointed CEO on July 1, 2016, and elected Chairman of the Board on January 1, 2018. He is dedicated to advancing the company's strategy of bringing the Connected Enterprise to life and is passionate about workforce development and fostering a diverse global team. Moret serves on the PTC, Inc. Board of Directors, the Executive Committee of the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), and is a member of the Business Roundtable.
Nicholas Gangestad Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Nicholas Gangestad joined Rockwell Automation as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer on March 1, 2021. Prior to his role at Rockwell Automation, Gangestad had a long career spanning three decades at 3M Company. At 3M, he most recently served as Chief Financial Officer, overseeing all financial aspects of the company including compliance, financial planning, treasury, and tax. Before becoming CFO at 3M in 2014, he held positions such as chief accounting officer, corporate controller, and various global financial management roles across Canada, Latin America, and Asia Pacific.
Rebecca House Senior Vice President, Chief People & Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary
Rebecca House serves as Senior Vice President, Chief People & Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary at Rockwell Automation. She is also identified as Senior Vice President, Chief Administrative and Legal Officer.
Cyril Perducat Senior Vice President & Chief Technology Officer
Cyril Perducat holds the position of Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer at Rockwell Automation.
Christopher Shepherd Senior Vice President, Software & Control
Christopher Shepherd joined Rockwell Automation with extensive experience in leading strategy definition and the end-to-end development of software solutions for manufacturing companies. Before joining Rockwell, he was president of Production Software and Smart Factory for Hexagon AB. His career also includes various senior leadership roles at PTC, where he served as executive vice president and general manager of PTC's Enterprise Software segments. Shepherd possesses strong technical expertise in design, simulation, manufacturing planning and execution, and process and quality data analytics.
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The key risks to Rockwell Automation's business include the cyclical nature of industrial capital expenditure, intense competition within the automation market, and escalating cybersecurity threats.
The most significant risk is the cyclical nature of industrial capital expenditure (CapEx) and broader economic conditions. Rockwell Automation's financial performance is closely tied to global economic cycles, as manufacturers tend to reduce or delay automation projects during economic slowdowns. This direct correlation can lead to decreased demand for Rockwell Automation's products and services, impacting its sales and profitability. For example, the company experienced a 9% decline in sales in fiscal year 2024, with expectations of continued market caution.
Another major risk is intense competition in the industrial automation market. Rockwell Automation operates in a highly competitive environment, facing significant rivals such as Siemens, ABB, and Schneider Electric, alongside numerous smaller, specialized companies. This competitive landscape can lead to pricing pressures, a constant need for innovation, and challenges in maintaining market share.
Finally, cybersecurity threats to industrial systems pose a substantial risk. As Rockwell Automation is a leader in industrial automation and digital transformation, its solutions and its customers' operational technology (OT) environments are increasingly exposed to sophisticated cyberattacks. Successful cyberattacks can result in operational disruptions, data breaches, intellectual property theft, damage to reputation, and significant financial losses. Rockwell Automation itself acknowledges and addresses these threats through its own cybersecurity offerings and advisories.
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The growing adoption of open-source software platforms for industrial control and the increasing trend towards software-defined automation running on commodity hardware.
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Rockwell Automation (ROK) is expected to drive future revenue growth over the next two to three years through several key initiatives and market trends:
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Growth in Software & Control Segment and New Product Innovations: The Software & Control segment has demonstrated significant strength, with organic sales growth of 30% in Q4 fiscal 2025. This growth is largely fueled by momentum in the Logix business and the introduction of new products such as the Logix L9 processor and Process IO product family. Furthermore, Rockwell Automation’s software offerings, including Fiix, Plex, and FactoryTalk, were highlighted as top performers, with the new FactoryTalk Design Studio featuring a co-pilot poised to boost automation system design productivity.
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Expansion in E-commerce and Warehouse Automation: The e-commerce and warehouse automation segment has shown exceptional performance, reporting sales growth of over 70% year-over-year in a recent quarter. This segment is projected to continue its strong performance with anticipated growth of approximately 10% in fiscal 2026, indicating sustained demand in this area.
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Strategic Investments in Advanced Manufacturing Technologies and Digital Transformation: Rockwell Automation is actively investing in critical growth areas, including software-defined automation, autonomous mobile robots (AMRs), and simulation tools. These investments are aimed at bolstering the company's leadership in advanced manufacturing and expanding its technological capabilities. The company is also leveraging AI and machine learning solutions to optimize resource utilization, reduce waste, and enhance cybersecurity within industrial operations.
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Increasing Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) from Software and Services: The company has seen consistent growth in its Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR), which increased 16% year-over-year in Q4 fiscal 2023 and 17% in Q3 fiscal 2024. This growth, stemming from software-as-a-service and managed services, is identified as a crucial contributor to Rockwell Automation's future growth framework, providing a more predictable and expanding revenue stream through increased customer penetration in managed services.
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Price Realization: Price realization has been a contributing factor to Rockwell Automation's financial performance. In Q4 fiscal 2025, gross margin improvement was partly driven by price realization. Similarly, approximately 350 basis points of organic growth in Q3 fiscal 2024 were attributed to price, with strong pricing also noted in Q3 fiscal 2025. This indicates that strategic pricing will continue to play a role in revenue expansion.
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Share Repurchases
- On September 5, 2024, Rockwell Automation's Board of Directors authorized an additional $1 billion for share repurchases, building on a previous $1 billion authorization from May 2, 2022.
- As of September 30, 2025, $927 million remained available under the existing share repurchase authorization.
- For the full fiscal year 2025, the company repurchased 1.5 million shares of its common stock at a cost of $419 million.
Share Issuance
- Rockwell Automation's issuance of common stock for fiscal years ending September 2020 to 2024 averaged 111 million.
- The issuance peaked in September 2020 at 214.4 million shares.
- It reached a 5-year low in September 2024 at 39.4 million shares.
Outbound Investments
- Rockwell Automation has actively pursued inorganic growth, making 17 investments and acquiring 24 companies, including RightHand Robotics and Clearpath Robotics.
- Recent notable acquisitions include Clearpath Robotics (October 2023 for $600 million) focused on productive autonomous technology, and Verve Industrial Protection (October 2022 for $183 million) for cybersecurity.
- In 2021, Rockwell significantly boosted its cloud-native smart manufacturing platform capabilities with the acquisition of Plex Systems for $2.22 billion and also acquired Fiix, Inc. in 2020, an AI-enabled CMMS company.
Capital Expenditures
- Rockwell Automation plans to invest over $2 billion in capital expenditures, plants, digital infrastructure, and talent over the next five years, primarily to increase margin and capacity in the United States.
- Capital expenditures for fiscal years ending September 2020 to 2024 averaged $139.7 million, peaking at $201.8 million in September 2024.
- Expected capital expenditures for fiscal 2026 are slated for increased investments in plant and digital infrastructure.
