What Huffman Engineering does

Huffman Engineering, Inc. (HEI) is a privately held, CSIA-certified industrial automation and control system integration firm headquartered in Lincoln, Nebraska, founded in 1987 by Howard and Wendy Huffman. The company delivers start-to-finish engineering services covering PLC programming, process automation, instrumentation and control design, HMI and SCADA development, UL508A/698A control panel fabrication in its own shops, commissioning/qualification/validation lifecycle documentation, MES integration, arc flash studies, IT/OT networking, and cybersecurity. It targets heavily regulated end markets — pharmaceuticals and life sciences, water and wastewater, food and beverage, electrical and gas utilities, manufacturing and material handling, and networking/data analytics/cybersecurity — where compliance with FDA, EPA, DOT, USDA, GAMP 5, and 21 CFR Part 11 standards is required.

The firm operates from four offices (Lincoln HQ, Omaha opened June 2024, Kearney opened June 2025, and Englewood/Denver since 2018) and serves customers across 23 U.S. states plus projects in Puerto Rico, Canada, Asia, Europe, and South America. Its technology stack rests on long-standing certifications and partnerships: CSIA (since 2005), sole-in-Nebraska Rockwell Automation Process Systems Integrator (since 1993), Gold Ignition (Inductive Automation), Fortinet cybersecurity, Wonderware/AVEVA, Schneider Electric (PLC modernization), Stratus Edge Computing, Cognex vision, and in-house UL508A/UL698A panel shops.

Huffman Engineering generates revenue through professional services engagements plus in-house control panel hardware, priced on a custom quote basis under multi-year project contracts. The firm relies on direct enterprise field sales rather than channel partners, leveraging 30+ degreed engineers, 520+ clients, and a cumulative 2,000+ project track record. It has remained founder-controlled with no external funding, no M&A, and continuous family leadership across nearly four decades.

Name

Huffman Engineering

Legal name

Huffman Engineering, Inc.

Website

https://huffmaneng.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Huffman Engineering is a privately held, CSIA-certified industrial control systems integrator founded in 1987 in Lincoln, Nebraska. It delivers PLC, SCADA, UL508A panel fabrication, validation, and IT/OT cybersecurity services to regulated pharmaceutical, water, food, and utility customers across the Midwest.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Automation & Control Systems Integration

NAICS

Switchgear and Switchboard Apparatus Manufacturing (335313), Relay and Industrial Control Manufacturing (335314)

SIC

Switchgear & Switchboard Apparatus (3613)

akta.pro primary industry

Control System Integration & Engineering Services (Design, Commissioning, Retrofits) (IMAGABAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Industrial Control Cabinets & Power Distribution (Panels, Switchgear for Automation) (IMAHAHAK), Industrial Controllers & Control Systems (PLCs, PACs, CNC Controllers) (IMAHAHAH), Instrumentation, Controls & Automation Engineering Consulting (BPAHAIAM), I&C / Controls & Automation Commissioning (DCS/PLC/SCADA) (EUAEAJAD)

Keywords

• Control systems integration
• Industrial automation services
• PLC programming
• SCADA systems
• Process automation

Headquarters

HQ city

Lincoln

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Engineering & Integration Services: Professional engineering services including design, development, implementation, support, testing, and training for industrial automation and control systems. Revenue is generated through project-based engagements with industrial customers and municipalities across regulated industries.
2. UL508A/698A Control Panel Building: Custom control panel manufacturing built in-house by experienced technicians to exacting industry standards, documented and tested before leaving the shop.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Huffman Engineering is a CSIA Certified control systems integration firm providing start-to-finish engineering services including PLC programming, process automation, I&C design, HMI design, SCADA systems, and UL508A/698A control panel design and building. The company delivers turnkey industrial automation solutions to industrial customers and municipalities in highly regulated industries across the Midwest United States.

Product overview

Huffman Engineering is a full-service industrial automation and control system integration firm offering start-to-finish engineering services. The company's portfolio centers on core services including PLC Programming, Process Automation, I&C Design and Controls, HMI Design, SCADA Systems, UL508A/698A Control Panel Design and Building, Commissioning/Qualification/Validation, and Cybersecurity Assessments. These services are delivered across specialized industry solutions including Pharmaceuticals & Life Sciences, Water & Wastewater, Food & Beverage, and Electrical & Gas Utilities. The company also provides supplementary services such as Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES), Arc Flash Studies, Legacy System Upgrades, Vision Systems, and Laboratory Systems. Huffman Engineering operates as a custom engineering firm rather than a software product company, providing bespoke automation solutions tailored to each client's regulated industry requirements.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• PLC Programming
• Process Automation
• I&C Design and Controls
• HMI Design
• UL508A and 698A Control Panel Design and Building
• SCADA Systems
• Commissioning, Qualification & Validation
• Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES)

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 2,000 projects completed across diverse industries
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• FortinetcoreTechnology or Integration · 3 April 2024Fortinet Network Security Partnership for cybersecurity solutions. Fortinet is a global leader in cybersecurity with over 50 enterprise-grade products.
• Ignition by Inductive AutomationcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2024Gold Certified Integrator with engineers qualified in Ignition version 8.0 industrial software platform for SCADA and IIoT applications.
• Control System Integrators Association (CSIA)coreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2005CSIA Certified Member since 2005, passing third-party best practices audits covering project management, quality assurance, sales management, and business practices.
• Rockwell AutomationcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 1993Rockwell Automation Process Systems Integrator - the only integrator in Nebraska to hold this certificate. Holds various certificates since 1993 and Water/Wastewater badge since 2022.
• UL SolutionscoreTechnology or IntegrationUL certified control panel manufacturing with UL508A and UL698A certifications. Oldest UL508 shop in Eastern Nebraska plus certified shop in Colorado.
• Schneider ElectriccoreTechnology or IntegrationCompleted numerous projects with Schneider Electric software including Citect. Holds PLC Modernization Solutions certification since 2020.
• AVEVA/WonderwarecoreTechnology or IntegrationWonderware Certified System Integrator Partner with projects in utilities and food and beverage industries.
• DBIA - Design Build Institute of AmericaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDBIA member supporting design-build project delivery methodology education and professional certification.
• Professional Organizations (IEEE, ISA, ASME, ISPE, PMI, AWWA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliation with professional organizations including IEEE, ISA, ASME, ISPE, PMI, AWWA providing base of knowledge and industry standards.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• MAVERICK Technologies: MAVERICK Technologies was a leading CSIA-certified control systems integrator acquired by Rockwell Automation in 2016. It competes head-to-head with Huffman Engineering in pharma, food & beverage, and discrete manufacturing using Rockwell platforms — directly comparable in services mix and target customers.
• Applied Control Engineering: Applied Control Engineering is a CSIA-certified independent control systems integrator serving manufacturing, pharma, and food & beverage clients in the Mid-Atlantic and nationally. Directly comparable as a similarly-sized independent SI with multi-vendor PLC/SCADA capabilities and regulated-industry focus.
• Hallam-ICS: Hallam-ICS is a CSIA-certified control systems integrator providing automation, MES, and validation services to regulated industries including pharma and life sciences. Highly comparable in size, service portfolio, and CSIA-certified, multi-vendor integration approach.
• Interstates: Interstates is a Midwest-based engineering and control systems integration firm headquartered in Sioux Center, Iowa, serving food & beverage, industrial, and agri-processing clients. Directly comparable geography (Midwest), industry mix, and full-service engineering-plus-panel-build model.
• Avanceon: Avanceon is a publicly-listed control systems integration and industrial automation firm serving oil & gas, power, chemicals, and F&B across the Middle East, Pakistan, and North America. Comparable in core SI services and SCADA/PLC depth, though larger and more international in scope.
• Panelmatic: Panelmatic is a custom control panel manufacturer and systems integrator serving industrial, utility, and infrastructure markets with UL-certified panel shops. Directly comparable in the UL508A/698A panel-building business line and Midwest manufacturing footprint.
• Malisko Engineering: Malisko Engineering is a CSIA-certified control systems integrator based in St. Louis, providing automation, MES, and validation services to pharma and F&B in the Midwest. Closely comparable in size, CSIA certification, and pharmaceutical/life-sciences focus.

Broad incumbents

• Burns & McDonnell: Burns & McDonnell is a major employee-owned engineering, construction, and consulting firm with significant industrial controls and SCADA practice serving utilities, water, and manufacturing. Comparable as a much larger full-service engineering firm with overlapping I&C and commissioning capabilities, though not specialized as a pure SI.
• Rockwell Automation: Rockwell Automation is Huffman's primary technology partner and the dominant global industrial automation OEM. Comparable in that Rockwell's direct SI arm (formerly MAVERICK) competes with Huffman for the same pharma/F&B projects, while Huffman's Process Systems Integrator status sits inside Rockwell's partner ecosystem.
• Affiliated Engineers: Affiliated Engineers is a large US engineering consultancy with building and process systems practices including industrial controls work. Comparable in the engineering-services-for-regulated-clients model, though substantially larger and not focused on industrial control systems integration as a core offering.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCU8YkfbOIEzEgKf1tETT9gg
• Facebookfacebook.com/HuffmanEngineeringInc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/huffman-engineering-inc/mycompany
• Instagraminstagram.com/huffmanengineering
• Xx.com/huffmanengineer

Compliance21 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Huffman Engineering