Hargrove Controls & Automation

What Hargrove Controls & Automation does

Hargrove Controls & Automation (Hargrove C&A) is a vendor-agnostic industrial automation system integrator operating as a division of Hargrove & Associates Inc., a privately-held ESOP company founded in 1995 and headquartered in Mobile, Alabama. The firm functions as a Main Automation Contractor (MAC), delivering turnkey multi-discipline automation services spanning Distributed Control Systems (DCS), Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC), Safety Instrumented Systems (SIS), Human Machine Interfaces (HMI), Plant Historians, IIoT, industrial IT/OT system integration, and industrial digitalization including AI-enabled advanced process control. Core service lines include system integration, system migration, process safety (TÜV Rheinland certified), machine safety, UL-certified panel fabrication, IT/OT cybersecurity, and lifecycle services. Industry affiliations and certifications include CSIA certification, Rockwell Automation Gold System Integrator Partner status, Ignition Gold Certified Partner status, and partnerships with Honeywell, ABB, Siemens, Aveva, AspenTech, AWS, Microsoft Azure, and Cisco.

Hargrove C&A serves enterprise clients across chemicals, refining, pulp & paper, power generation, life sciences (via Hargrove Life Sciences in Philadelphia), data centers, renewable energy (including battery energy storage systems), and steel & heavy manufacturing. The firm leverages its parent Hargrove group's ecosystem (Hargrove Engineers & Constructors for EPC services, Tormod for asset lifecycle solutions, Hargrove Equipment Solutions Group for custom equipment) to deliver integrated project execution from concept through commissioning and operations. Named and case-study customers include Danimer Scientific (bioplastics brownfield retrofit, partnership since 2015) and a chemical manufacturer with a six-year preferred-vendor relationship; documented outcomes include DCS migrations completed on budget with zero safety or environmental incidents and 20+ years of vendor support post-migration.

The firm generates revenue primarily through project-based professional services engagements including system integration, legacy system migrations, process safety lifecycle services, and managed lifecycle support. Pricing is quote-based with no public pricing disclosed. Distribution occurs through direct enterprise field sales targeting engineering and operations decision-makers, supplemented by vendor referral networks. The company is recognized as the largest engineering firm in Alabama (according to Business Alabama) with 2,700+ teammates across the parent organization, 19 offices domestically and internationally, and 4,000+ completed projects; Hargrove C&A itself is estimated at 101-250 employees. Industry recognition includes System Integrator of the Year, SI Hall of Fame, SI Giants, and individual awards for emerging leaders within the firm.

Name

Hargrove Controls & Automation

Legal name

Hargrove & Associates Inc.

Website

https://hargrove-ca.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Hargrove Controls & Automation is a vendor-agnostic industrial system integrator and Main Automation Contractor providing DCS/PLC/SIS integration, process and machine safety, and digital transformation services to enterprise clients in chemicals, refining, pulp & paper, life sciences, power, and other heavy industries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Mobile

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. System Integration Services: Project-based engineering and integration services for DCS/PLC/SIS system integration, legacy system migrations, control strategy development and implementation, and Industry 4.0 implementation.
2. Process Safety Services: TÜV-certified functional safety engineering services including Process Hazard Analysis, Safety Instrumented System programming, SIL calculations, and compliance assessments.
3. Lifecycle Services: Ongoing operational support including backup and recovery, antivirus updates, preventive maintenance, emergency support, and day-to-day operations assistance.
4. Panel Fabrication: Custom industrial control panel fabrication, design, build, test, and staging services.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Hargrove Controls & Automation is a vendor-agnostic industrial automation system integrator delivering turnkey control system solutions across the entire automation lifecycle. The company provides DCS/PLC/SIS system integration, legacy system migrations, digital transformation including IIoT and AI-enabled advanced process control, process and machine safety lifecycle services, and UL certified panel fabrication for chemical, refining, pulp and paper, power generation, life sciences, data center, renewable energy, and heavy manufacturing clients.

Product overview

Hargrove Controls & Automation operates as a systems integrator offering turnkey solutions across the entire automation lifecycle, functioning both as a standalone integrator and alongside their affiliated companies (Hargrove Engineers & Constructors and Tormod). The company provides multi-discipline automation services as a Main Automation Contractor (MAC), delivering plant automation, safety systems, IIoT, industrial IT/OT integration, and digitalization including AI-enabled advanced process control. Their core service portfolio includes System Integration (DCS/PLC/SIS), System Migration, Digital Transformation, Process Safety, Machine Safety, Panel Fabrication, IT/OT & Cybersecurity, and Lifecycle Services. They also offer resources including Batch Management, Building Automation Systems, Manufacturing Execution Systems, Process Safety Lifecycle, and Machine Safety Lifecycle guidance. The company is affiliated with Hargrove EPC (full-service EPC firm), Tormod (asset lifecycle solutions), Hargrove Life Sciences (life sciences specialization), and Hargrove Equipment Solutions Group (custom equipment fabrication), serving industries including chemicals, refining, pulp & paper, power generation, life sciences, data centers, renewable energy, and steel & heavy manufacturing.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• System Integration DCS/PLC/SIS system integration services that help clients automate processes for better predictability, including control strategy development and implementation across all major automation platforms.
• System Migration Legacy control system migration services that take clients from concept to commissioning, including migrations between DCS platforms such as Honeywell TDC 3000 to Experion C300 and integration of new SIS hardware.
• Digital Transformation Industrial digitalization services including IIoT implementation, AI-enabled advanced process control, multivariate analysis, and conversion of plant data into operational knowledge and decisions.
• Process Safety Customized process safety solutions including Process Hazard Analysis (PHA), Safety Instrumented System (SIS) programming, SIL calculations, and functional safety lifecycle services to IEC 61511 compliance delivered by TÜV Rheinland certified engineers.
• Machine Safety Machine safety lifecycle services including risk assessments, safety requirements specifications, and compliance with OSHA requirements and standards including ISO 12100, ISO EN 13849, and ANSI B11.0.
• Panel Fabrication In-house UL certified industrial control panel fabrication with templated design approach for consistency, cost reduction, and easier maintenance, covering design, build, test, and staging services.
• IT/OT & Cybersecurity Industrial IT/OT system integration and cybersecurity services that mitigate cyber risk in industrial facilities through network architecture, integration, and security assessments.
• Lifecycle Services Solution Ongoing operational support including backup and recovery, antivirus updates, preventive maintenance, emergency support, and day-to-day operations assistance delivered as managed services.

Quantifiable outcome

• DCS migration completed on budget with zero safety or environmental incidents and no unplanned downtime to the rest of the site
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability1 record

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Rockwell AutomationcoreTechnology or IntegrationRockwell Automation Silver Partner status through the PartnerNetwork program. Gold SI Partners are required to employ personnel trained and certified in Rockwell products and capabilities. Benefits include extended warranty (two additional years), effective communication, faster access to technical support, and cost savings. Hargrove has implemented over 700 solutions with Rockwell Automation products.
• Inductive AutomationcoreTechnology or IntegrationIgnition Gold Certified Partner. Hargrove has expertise in Ignition platform implementation for industrial automation applications.
• ABBcoreTechnology or IntegrationTechnology partnership for control systems and automation solutions.
• SiemenscoreTechnology or IntegrationSolution Partner status for Siemens industrial automation technologies.
• HoneywellcoreTechnology or IntegrationAuthorized Honeywell Process Solutions partner with experience in Experion, TDC 3000, and other Honeywell control systems.
• AvevacoreTechnology or IntegrationPartnership for AVEVA industrial software and automation solutions.
• AspenTechcoreTechnology or IntegrationPartnership for AspenTech process optimization and digitalization software.
• Hargrove Engineers & ConstructorscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFull-service EPC firm (founded 1995, Mobile Alabama) with over 2,700 teammates and 19 offices. Hargrove Controls & Automation operates as the automation division, providing multi-discipline automation services either independently or with the full complement of the global EPC firm.
• TormodcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAsset life cycle solutions company providing commissioning & startup, maintenance & reliability optimization, procedure development, EHS, permitting assistance, talent recruiting, and leadership training. Hargrove engages with Tormod for comprehensive project support from feasibility to operations and maintenance.
• Hargrove Life SciencescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpecialized division based in Philadelphia office serving drug manufacturers and biotech industry in the U.S. and abroad with GMP-compliant solutions.
• Hargrove Equipment Solutions GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInnovation-driven group designing and fabricating custom specialty and proprietary equipment, modeling complex industrial applications, and providing turnkey solutions utilizing Hargrove's EPC services.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Applied Control Engineering: Independent U.S.-based system integrator serving process and discrete manufacturers with DCS/PLC/SCADA integration. Directly comparable to Hargrove C&A as a vendor-agnostic integrator of similar size serving overlapping end markets.
• Maverick Technologies: One of the largest independent industrial system integrators in North America, with strong presence in process industries including chemicals, refining, and life sciences. Direct competitor on DCS migration and process automation projects.

Broad incumbents

• Honeywell Process Solutions: OEM of Experion and TDC 3000 DCS platforms; Hargrove is an authorized partner but Honeywell's own services organization competes on the same migration and lifecycle engagements. Largest automation platform owner in Hargrove's served base.
• Emerson Automation Solutions: DeltaV DCS owner and major automation platform incumbent. Competes with Hargrove on integration projects while also serving as a partner ecosystem; broad portfolio across process and discrete industries.
• Rockwell Automation: Owner of ControlLogix/PlantPAx platforms and Hargrove's largest ecosystem partner (700+ implementations). Rockwell's own services and Solution Partner network create direct competitive overlap alongside the partnership.
• Siemens Digital Industries: SIMATIC PCS 7/PCS neo owner with global system integration partner program. Competes on large process automation deployments and DCS modernization, with comparable multi-vertical reach.
• ABB Industrial Automation: ABB Ability 800xA owner with extensive process industry footprint. Competitor on DCS, safety, and lifecycle services while also serving as a partner in Hargrove's vendor-agnostic portfolio.
• Schneider Electric Industrial Automation: EcoStruxure platform owner spanning DCS, PLC, and energy management. Competes with Hargrove on integrated process automation projects, particularly in chemicals and water/wastewater.
• Yokogawa Electric: CENTUM VP DCS owner with strong presence in refining, chemicals, and power generation. Competitor on large DCS migration projects where Hargrove's vendor-agnostic MAC model also competes.

Emerging players

• Inductive Automation: Developer of the Ignition SCADA/HMI platform and Hargrove's Gold Certified partner. Indirect competitor as Ignition increasingly enables in-house integration, while also being a complementary platform on which Hargrove delivers services.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hargrove-controls-automation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 Hargrove Controls & Automation