What c3controls does

c3controls is a privately held, Beaver, Pennsylvania-based manufacturer of industrial electrical control components founded in 1976. The company sells factory-direct through its own e-commerce website to industrial buyers across North America, eliminating distributor and rep intermediaries to offer what it states are savings of up to 40% versus traditional channels. Its portfolio spans motor control (contactors, motor protection circuit breakers, DOL starters, overload relays, VFD bypass panels), disconnect switches, pilot devices (push buttons, selector switches, and indicating lights in 13mm to 30mm sizes for IEC, NEMA, and Class 1 Division 2 hazardous-location ratings), circuit protection (UL 489, UL 1077, and UL 489B miniature circuit breakers for AC and DC/renewable applications), terminal blocks, relays and timers, control power and circuit transformers, industrial power supplies, enclosures, and control stations. An online configurator enables 17+ million product configurations, and orders placed by 6pm EST ship same day with free ground shipping on orders over $49.

The company generates revenue exclusively through one-time hardware sales with no recurring component, and its GTM motion is a self-serve, direct-to-consumer e-commerce model without a disclosed field sales team. Customer segments include industrial OEMs, UL 508A control panel builders, HVAC and building management integrators, and agricultural equipment manufacturers. All products carry UL listings (UL 508, UL 489, UL 1077, UL 489B, UL 508A) and the firm holds ISO 9001:2015 certification; a 36-month warranty backs the catalog.

c3controls operates a small ecosystem of wholly owned, related entities: Covenant Panelworks (UL 508A custom control panel fabrication), c3digitus (in-house digital marketing agency), and c3compassion (charitable giving program). No acquisitions, funding rounds, or leadership changes were disclosed in the source material, and the company has been continuously operating under the same private ownership structure for approximately 50 years. Geographic scope is limited to North America (USA), with no international distribution or e-commerce localization identified.

Name

c3controls

Legal name

c3controls

Website

https://c3controls.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1976

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

c3controls is a privately held, Beaver, Pennsylvania-based manufacturer of industrial electrical control components founded in 1976, selling factory-direct via e-commerce to OEMs, control panel builders, HVAC integrators, and agricultural equipment manufacturers across North America with UL-listed products.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Electrical Controls

NAICS

Relay and Industrial Control Manufacturing (335314), Switchgear and Switchboard Apparatus Manufacturing (335313), Capacitor, Resistor, Coil, Transformer, and Other Inductor Manufacturing (334416), Other Electronic Component Manufacturing (334419)

SIC

Electrical Industrial Apparatus (3620), Switchgear & Switchboard Apparatus (3613), Power, Distribution & Specialty Transformers (3612)

akta.pro primary industry

Industrial Control Panels & Enclosures (Panel Building, MCCs, Integration) (IMAGABAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Circuit Protection Devices (MCBs, MCCBs, ACBs, fuses, RCD/GFCI, surge protection) (IMAGAEAB), Industrial Control Cabinets & Power Distribution (Panels, Switchgear for Automation) (IMAHAHAK), Low-Voltage Switchboards & Panelboards (LV distribution panels, MCCs, switchboards) (IMAGAEAA)

Keywords

• Industrial electrical controls
• Motor control components
• Circuit protection devices
• Pilot devices switches
• Control panel components

Headquarters

HQ city

Beaver

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Industrial Control Products Sales: One-time hardware sales of industrial electrical control components and accessories including motor control devices, circuit protection, pilot devices, terminal blocks, relays, timers, power supplies, and tower lights. Products are sold directly to industrial customers through e-commerce with no recurring revenue component.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

c3controls manufactures and sells factory-direct industrial electrical control components including motor control devices (contactors, motor protection circuit breakers, DOL starters, overload relays, VFD bypass panels), disconnect switches, pilot devices (push buttons, selector switches, indicator lights), circuit protection (UL 489 / UL 1077 / UL 489B miniature circuit breakers), terminal blocks, relays and timers, control transformers, power supplies, and enclosures. The company also fabricates custom UL 508A control panels through its Covenant Panelworks sub-brand.

Product overview

c3controls is a manufacturer of durable industrial electrical control solutions offered factory-direct with UL listing. The product portfolio spans motor control (contactors, motor protection circuit breakers, DOL starters, overload relays, VFD bypass panels), disconnect switches, pilot devices (push buttons, selector switches, indicator lights in 13mm to 30mm sizes for IEC, NEMA, and hazardous location ratings), circuit protection (miniature circuit breakers UL 489/1077 and DC rated UL 489B), terminal blocks (IEC modular, high density, CT shorting), relays & timers (general purpose relays, electronic timing relays, terminal block relays), wiring solutions (wire duct, DIN rail), industrial power (control power transformers, control circuit transformers, industrial and enclosed power supplies), enclosures, and control stations. The company also offers custom UL 508A control panel fabrication through its Covenant Panelworks sub-brand. With over 17 million product configurations available, products are backed by a 36-month warranty, same-day shipping, and ISO 9001:2015 certification.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Contactors & Control Relays IEC contactors and control relays for motor control and switching applications, available in multiple configurations and amperage ratings, used by OEMs and panel builders.
• Motor Protection Circuit Breakers Circuit breakers that protect motors from overload, short circuit, and fault conditions using thermal and magnetic trip elements, for industrial motor control applications.
• Direct-On-Line (DOL) Starters Motor starters providing direct-on-line starting for electric motors by combining contactors with overload relays or motor protection circuit breakers.
• Enclosed UL508A Combination Motor Starters UL 508A certified enclosed motor starters housed in carbon steel enclosures for industrial motor control applications.
• Overload Relays Bimetallic overload relays for motor protection, available in multiple trip classes and configurations.
• Definite Purpose Contactors Contactors designed for specific applications such as HVAC, refrigeration, and industrial heating.
• VFD Bypass Panels UL 508A certified Variable Frequency Drive bypass panels allowing motor operation via VFD or across-the-line when bypass is engaged.
• Disconnect Switches UL 508 disconnect switches for safe electrical isolation, available in fused and non-fused configurations.
• 22mm IEC Push Buttons 22mm IEC standard push buttons for industrial control panels, available in momentary and maintained configurations.
• 22mm NEMA Push Buttons 22mm NEMA rated push buttons including ASME compliant elevator emergency buttons for demanding industrial applications.
• 30mm Industrial Push Buttons Heavy-duty 30mm industrial push buttons with IP20 guard options for industrial control applications.
• 30mm Hazardous Location Push Buttons Class 1, Division 2 rated push buttons designed for hazardous duty applications in explosive environments.
• 22mm IEC Selector Switches 22mm IEC selector switches including illuminated variants for control circuit selection and mode switching.
• 22mm NEMA Selector Switches Rugged 22mm NEMA selector switches with Type 4/4X and IP65 ratings for industrial environments.
• 30mm Industrial Selector Switches Heavy-duty 30mm industrial selector switches with a universal single cam design that reduces inventory requirements.
• 30mm Hazardous Location Selector Switches Class 1, Division 2 rated selector switches with hermetically sealed contact blocks for hazardous environments.
• Industrial Potentiometer Operators 30mm and 22mm potentiometer operators for adjustable resistance control in industrial applications, available in 1k to 10k Ohm ranges.
• Cam Switches Heavy-duty cam switches for control and load break applications including On-Off, changeover, ammeter, voltmeter, and motor reversing configurations up to 6 poles.
• 22mm IEC Pilot Lights 22mm IEC pilot lights available in unibody and modular designs with LED technology and lifetime warranty.
• 22mm NEMA Pilot Lights Rugged 22mm NEMA pilot lights with Type 4/4X and IP65 ratings featuring Lexan plastic lenses.
• 30mm Industrial Pilot Lights 30mm industrial pilot lights rated to last up to 100,000 hours with multi-voltage capability and snap-on contact blocks.
• 30mm Hazardous Location Pilot Lights Class 1, Division 2 rated pilot lights with hermetically sealed contact blocks for hazardous duty applications.
• 16mm Pilot Lights Compact 16mm LED pilot lights with multi-voltage modules and Type 4X ratings for space-constrained applications.
• 13mm Pilot Lights (Indicating) Ultra-compact 13mm indicating lights with bi-polar design for simplified wiring and broad voltage ranges.
• Miniature Circuit Breakers (UL 489 & UL 1077) UL 489 branch circuit breakers and UL 1077 supplementary protectors with 10kA SCCR rating, dual trip curves, and trip-free design for AC and DC applications.
• DC Miniature Circuit Breakers (UL 489B) UL 489B DC rated miniature circuit breakers designed for renewable energy and mission critical applications, featuring dual trip curves.
• IEC Terminal Blocks IEC modular terminal blocks with ratings from 5A to 230A, available in screw clamp and spring clamp configurations for DIN Rail mounting.
• High Density Terminal Blocks Multiple terminal points in single molded housings with 4, 6, and 12 circuit options featuring spring return terminals.
• CT Shorting Blocks Current transformer shorting terminal blocks for safe CT maintenance and testing procedures.
• World Tower Lights Stack lights with 50mm LED modules for visual and audible status indication in industrial automation applications, featuring field selectable dB levels and modular design.
• General Purpose Relays (Series 200/210) Square base and octal base general purpose relays with blade and pin terminals for low energy switching and control logic.
• Electronic Timing Relays Compact electronic timing relays in 17.5mm, 22.5mm, and 45mm sizes with multi-function capability, 10 range options, and AC/DC load switching.
• Terminal Block Relays Pluggable terminal block relays with super bright LED status indication, IP20 terminals, and DIN Rail mounting for control and automation systems.
• Control Stations Pre-assembled control stations in polycarbonate, polyester, and die cast aluminum with factory wired pilot devices for various industrial applications.
• Alarm Silence Control Stations IP65 rated alarm silence control stations factory wired to reduce installation time and costs.
• Wire Duct & Replacement Covers U-shaped wire duct with narrow and wide slot options in 25mm to 80mm dimensions featuring snap-off fingers and optional adhesive backing.
• DIN Rail 35mm DIN Rail in steel and aluminum for mounting terminal blocks and other control components.
• Control Power Transformers Control power transformers from 50VA to 3000VA for stepping down voltage in control circuits.
• Control Circuit Transformers UL Listed Class 2 control circuit transformers designed for HVAC/building management systems and industrial applications with color-coded wires.
• Industrial Power Supplies Regulated industrial power supplies with output range from 60W to 480W for industrial, commercial, and residential applications with LED indication.
• Enclosed Power Supplies Enclosed power supplies with controlled outputs, individual circuit breakers, and removable covers for 24VAC power to HVAC controllers.
• Enclosures Industrial enclosures in polycarbonate, polyester, and die cast aluminum for housing pilot devices and disconnect switches.
• Covenant Panelworks Custom Control Panels UL 508A custom control panel fabrication services offered under the Covenant Panelworks sub-brand, combining c3controls components with custom panel build services.

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 40% cost savings compared to traditional distribution
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Covenant PanelworkscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCovenant Panelworks (CPW) is a related company that specializes in UL 508A custom control panels. This partnership allows c3controls to offer complete control panel solutions combining their standard components with custom panel fabrication services.
• c3digitusminorOthersc3digitus is a digital marketing agency that provides online marketing services. This is an internal sister company providing marketing support.
• c3compassionminorOthersc3compassion is the company's charitable giving and social responsibility program, representing the company's commitment to community involvement.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• AutomationDirect: US-based factory-direct industrial controls and automation components retailer. Closest direct competitor to c3controls with a similar e-commerce-led, no-frills-distributor model across contactors, pushbuttons, terminal blocks, and circuit protection.
• IDEC Corporation: Japanese-headquartered manufacturer specializing in pushbuttons, selector switches, pilot devices, and safety components — directly comparable to c3controls' pilot device and relay lines, serving similar OEMs and panel builders.
• Phoenix Contact: Global leader in industrial connection technology, terminal blocks, relays, and signal conditioning. Closely comparable to c3controls on terminal blocks, relays, and industrial control interfaces, with deeper global reach.
• Omron: Japanese industrial automation specialist offering relays, pushbuttons, terminal blocks, timers, and power supplies — directly overlapping c3controls' component catalog while also extending into sensors and vision systems.

Broad incumbents

• Eaton: Global power management manufacturer with substantial industrial control, motor protection, and circuit protection portfolios. Competes with c3controls on the same UL-listed component categories but also sells upstream into switchgear and power distribution.
• Schneider Electric: Global industrial automation and energy management giant. Overlaps with c3controls on TeSys contactors, pilot devices, and terminal blocks, while also offering PLCs, drives, and software that c3controls does not.
• Rockwell Automation: Dominant US industrial automation supplier (Allen-Bradley) offering control components, motor starters, and panel-level devices. Competes with c3controls' components while bundling them with Logix PLCs and FactoryTalk software.
• ABB: Swiss-Swedish industrial conglomerate with broad offerings in motor control, circuit protection, and pilot devices. Directly comparable product lines (e.g., ABB contactors and MCBs) compete head-to-head with c3controls in US industrial accounts.
• Siemens: Global industrial automation leader (SIRIUS line of contactors, pushbuttons, terminal blocks). Sells directly comparable discrete control components alongside a much wider automation systems portfolio.
• Hubbell: US electrical products manufacturer with industrial controls, wiring devices, and enclosures. Overlaps with c3controls on disconnect switches, pilot devices, and enclosures, with broader commercial construction exposure.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/c3controls
• Facebookfacebook.com/c3controls
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/c3controls

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries3 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 c3controls