Allen-Bradley Controls, Drives, Visualisation, Network & Software
Allen-Bradley Automation
Designed as a resource site for the market-leading Allen-Bradley range of industrial automation products, we will keep you up to date with product developments, tips and tricks and helpful utilities to solve your problems.
The site will include the whole range of current models of controllers from Micro800 to CompactLogix and ControlLogix, as well as legacy platforms like MicroLogix, SLC500 and PLC5, which of course are still in widespread use. VSDs, Visualisation, and Networking Equipment wll also be included.
We will identify omissions in the feature list as well as inclusions – it’s the things that are not said in the brochures that are often the important bits.
Disclaimer. This site is a resource site and is not affiliated with Rockwell Automation. We are NOT Allen-Bradley, we are not a distributor of product nor of engineering nor product support services. We do not purport to represent Allen-Bradley. We are independent engineers who have used the brand for over 40 years and wish to share our experiences, good and bad. We know we have misspelt Allen-Bradley in the domain – this was done for legal reasons.
Automation Trivia
Allen-Bradley was founded in 1903 by Lynde Bradley and investor Dr. Stanton Allen in Milwaukee, Wisconsin USA. Originally named the Compression Rheostat Company, it originally focused on manufacturing rheostats and controllers. The corporate headquarters are still located in the same building!
The author of this website was privileged to be part of the Australian delegation to celebrate the centenary Automation Fair in Milwaukee in 2003.
Click here for a more comprehensive history of the Allen-Bradley company and brand.
Here are our latest product release updates, with our personal insights into the products.
The PowerFlex 527 is uniquely designed to operate exclusively with a Logix PLC controller using Kinematix instructions.
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Stratix Industrial ethernet network switches based on a Cisco engine. Fanless design and GUI for configuration of common features. But really not integrated with Rockwell equipment at all, despite having over 10 years on the market to get this product up to scratch. We don't like it.
View moreLatest developments across the range are as follows, with our assessments as applicable.
The Rockwell Automation ControlLogix 5580 (L8) series of PLCs are high-performance controllers designed for complex automation systems. They are the ideal choice for large-scale, fast-paced applications using multiple programming languages.
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The PowerFlex 527 is uniquely designed to operate exclusively with a Logix PLC controller using Kinematix instructions.
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A comparison between the FactoryTalk Optix platform, and the legacy PanelView Plus.
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Rockwell Automation’s CompactLogix PLC family are probably the first choice for projects of any significance. With almost all the functionality of the ControlLogix range, they can handle motion, safety, process and sequence controls capably.
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Launched in October 2025, the new ControlLogix 5590 L9 CPU is a stunning development providing dual network ports, expanded memory, faster processing, and embedded safety.
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Bulletin 5034 PointMax IO range is designed to replace 'standard' 1734 Point IO. Featuring HART, IO-Link and Near-Field Communications, this product is a significant upgrade.
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Since launching in 2003, the Allen-Bradley Bulletin 1606 power supply range has been the industry innovator in reliable industrial DC power supplies.
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Stratix Industrial ethernet network switches based on a Cisco engine. Fanless design and GUI for configuration of common features. But really not integrated with Rockwell equipment at all, despite having over 10 years on the market to get this product up to scratch. We don't like it.
View moreAllen-Bradley Automation Product Summary
ControlLogix
The platform has been developed steadily since launching in 1998. In 2026, the current range is the model 5590 with firmware version V38. These provide increased performance, capacity, productivity, and security to support the most demanding applications. Further, they have Integrated Motion over EtherNet/IP for high-speed motion applications (now up to 512 axes!), as well as SIL 2/PLd and SIL 3/PLe safety solutions. Read more about ControlLogix here.
CompactLogix
It is hard to keep up with developments in the little brother of the ControlLogix – the CompactLogix. The 5480 family is the latest, featuring the same engine as the 5580 ControlLogix, but featuring a Windows 10 IoT Enterprise OS running alongside the Logix control engine. With limitations in IO, connections and motion axes that confine it to mid-sized applications compared to ControlLogix, it still covers a lot of ground. Get the full CompactLogix story here.
Our personal position is now that CompactLogix is the first choice. The modular approach is just so much friendlier than trying to figure out which rack size to buy for the chassis-based ControlLogix.
PowerFlex Drives
We start our PowerFlex story with the VSD which is really a Servo Drive. While in the PowerFlex 500 series form factory, the PowerFlex 527 is actually a Servo Drive. Designed to work exclusively with the Logix platform for both development and operation, this is the drive to use for lower-cost precision in speed, torque or position. Get the details on the new PowerFlex 527 Servo Drive Here.
Network Switching
Rockwell Automation partnered with Cisco in 2012 to release the Stratix range of industrial ethernet switches. This replaced a long-standing relationship between Rockwell and Hirschmann, a German manufacturer of true industrial ethernet switches that had been developed from the ground up for use by engineers not IT wonks!
We are not impressed with this range at all, for reasons found within.
Get product details for Allen-Bradley Stratix Network Switches here.….
MicroLogix
Now regretably out of support, the economically priced and powerful MicroLogix range is still a popular selection for small applications from air conditioning, materials handling, batch operations and water treatment plants, especially for those invested in RSLogix 500.
The MicroLogix 1100 and 1400 remain available for sale, but are in Active Mature status, meaning new orders are still accepted but the products are no longer in active development.
Earlier models did not have Ethernet ports nor, equally significantly, online programming, so we wold only ever use the 1100 and 1400 range. These models have a serial port as well as the RJ45 for EtherNet/IP.
Micro800 PLC
A newer range than the MicroLogix, Micro800 is a modular platform that scales to accommodate medium sized applications such as stand-alone machines. Using Connected Components Workbench Software instead of RSLogix, this range provides advanced functions such as user-defined functions (UDFs) and user-defined function blocks (UDFBs) for coding and commissioning time economies.
Software
More than just RSLogix / Design Studio, Rockwell have a full suite of development, analysis, simulation and now AI-capable design tools.
Click here for Software product details..
SoftLogix
Now in Mature Active stage, the model 5800 SoftLogix controller never really caught on and is going the way of the Boeing 747!
Get product details for Softlogix here..