Red Lion Controls
Red Lion Controls, founded 1972 and headquartered in York, USA, is an HMS Networks brand that manufactures ruggedized HMIs, panel meters, controllers, and industrial communication/security products for harsh-environment applications in oil & gas, power, water, and factory automation sectors.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1972
- HeadquartersYork, United States
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Red Lion Controls does
Red Lion Controls, founded in 1972 and headquartered in York, United States, is an industrial automation brand specializing in ruggedized data visualization and control products for harsh industrial environments. Its core portfolio comprises Human-Machine Interfaces (HMIs), digital panel meters, and industrial controllers, supplemented by remote gateways, network diagnostics products, network security products, software tools, and accessories. The technology stack centers on durable hardware built for real-time telemetry, resilient connectivity, and integration with broader industrial automation systems, with differentiators around durability/longevity and interoperability with HMS Networks' portfolio.
Red Lion operates as a wholly-owned product brand of HMS Networks AB, a Swedish publicly listed company on Nasdaq Stockholm (ticker: HMS.B), alongside sibling brands Anybus, Ewon, Intesis, Ixxat, N-Tron, and PEAK. The company generates revenue primarily through hardware product sales via three distribution channels: direct orders through HMS for integrated communication customers, online partner storefronts, and a global network of certified distributors offering local support and discounted pricing. An OEM embedded go-to-market — exemplified by the 2026 partnership with RS for oil & gas — extends reach into industrial solutions providers that integrate Red Lion products into larger systems.
The customer base spans multiple process-industry verticals: industrial automation (primary use case), oil & gas, power generation (including renewables), and water/wastewater. Marketing is conducted through the HMS Networks corporate website, case studies, technical blog and TechTalks content, industry events, and the certified distributor network. Warren Nicholson serves as CEO. The company was acquired by HMS Networks (acquisition date undisclosed in source data) and previously acquired Sixnet, LLC in October 2011 to expand industrial networking capability.
Red Lion Controls firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Red Lion Controls
- Legal name
- Red Lion Controls
- Website
- https://redlion.net
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1972
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- Red Lion Controls, founded 1972 and headquartered in York, USA, is an HMS Networks brand that manufactures ruggedized HMIs, panel meters, controllers, and industrial communication/security products for harsh-environment applications in oil & gas, power, water, and factory automation sectors.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Red Lion Controls industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Industrial Automation Hardware
- NAICS
- Instruments and Related Products Manufacturing for Measuring, Displaying, and Controlling Industrial Process Variables (334513), Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (33451)
- SIC
- Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823), Electronic & Other Electrical Equipment (No Computer Equip) (3600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- SCADA/HMI Platforms (IMAGABAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- PLC & PAC Hardware (IMAGABAA), Industrial Panel PCs & HMI Terminals (HDACALAE), Industrial Controllers & Control Systems (PLCs, PACs, CNC Controllers) (IMAHAHAH)
Keywords
Where Red Lion Controls is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
Red Lion Controls business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Hardware Product Sales: Sale of industrial hardware products including HMIs, panel meters, controllers, and communication gateways. Products are sold through distributors, online partners, and direct ordering.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Red Lion Controls product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Red Lion Controls manufactures and sells industrial data visualization and control hardware products — including Human-Machine Interfaces (HMIs), digital panel meters, programmable industrial controllers, remote gateways, network diagnostics tools, and network security products — built to operate reliably in harsh industrial environments and to provide real-time monitoring, process control, and resilient connectivity for industrial automation. The portfolio is sold as standalone hardware units through HMS Networks' direct sales, online partners, and certified distributor channels.
Product overview
Red Lion Controls, a brand under HMS Networks, provides a comprehensive portfolio of industrial data visualization and control products designed for harsh environments. The product line centers on HMIs (Human-Machine Interfaces), panel meters, and industrial controllers as the core offerings, supplemented by remote gateways, network diagnostics products, and network security products. These products work together to enable real-time telemetry, resilient connectivity, and various automation capabilities for oil and gas and other industrial sectors. The portfolio also includes software tools and accessories that support configuration, monitoring, and management of the hardware products.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Red Lion HMIs (Human-Machine Interfaces) Industrial Human-Machine Interfaces designed for harsh environments, enabling operators to monitor and control machines and processes through graphical interfaces for industrial automation applications.
- Red Lion Panel Meters Digital panel meters displaying process variables, measurements, and status information for industrial monitoring applications.
- Red Lion Industrial Controllers Programmable controllers for industrial automation, managing and coordinating machine operations and processes in harsh industrial environments.
- Red Lion Remote Gateways Communication gateways enabling secure remote access to industrial equipment for monitoring, configuration, and maintenance.
- Red Lion Network Diagnostics Products Products for diagnosing and troubleshooting industrial network connectivity and performance issues.
- Red Lion Network Security Products Security solutions protecting industrial networks from unauthorized access and cyber threats.
Quantifiable outcome
- Reduced total ownership costs for oil and gas operations
Companies that use Red Lion Controls
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Red Lion Controls technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Red Lion Controls partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- RS (a global industrial solutions provider)coreRS, a global industrial solutions provider, collaborates with HMS Networks to offer Red Lion brand communication, monitoring, and control solutions tailored for harsh industrial environments in the oil and gas sector. The partnership provides real-time telemetry, resilient connectivity, and automation capabilities to streamline operations and reduce total ownership costs.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Red Lion Controls competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- ABB: ABB is a broad process automation and industrial controls incumbent whose HMI, controller, and SCADA offerings compete with Red Lion, particularly in oil & gas, power, and water/wastewater verticals that Red Lion also targets.
- Siemens SIMATIC: Siemens' SIMATIC line of HMIs, PLCs (S7), and industrial controllers is the closest direct HMI/controller competitor to Red Lion, with a broader portfolio including PLCs, distributed I/O, and software that competes head-to-head in factories, process, and harsh-environment applications.
- Rockwell Automation: One of the largest US industrial automation incumbents, offering a full HMI, PLC, and controller portfolio (Allen-Bradley/Rockwell) that directly overlaps with Red Lion's industrial control and visualization offerings, but at much larger scale with bundled software ecosystems.
- Schneider Electric (Modicon / Magelis): Schneider Electric offers Modicon PLCs and Magelis HMIs that directly compete with Red Lion in industrial control and monitoring. Schneider's EcoStruxure platform and broader energy management portfolio create bundled competition that Red Lion must displace on price or specialization.
Direct peers
- Pro-face (Schneider Electric): Pro-face is a focused HMI and industrial PC brand now under Schneider Electric, directly comparable to Red Lion's HMI and panel meter core, targeting operator interface and machine visualization applications in factories and process plants.
- Beijer Electronics: Beijer Electronics is a focused HMI and industrial data specialist directly comparable to Red Lion's HMI and panel meter core offering. Both target harsh-environment industrial applications, with similar panel PC and remote access product lines and overlapping distribution channels.
- Phoenix Contact: Phoenix Contact manufactures industrial controllers, HMIs, and industrial communication products that overlap with Red Lion's HMI, controller, and remote gateway offerings, with similar industrial network and connectivity focus under HMS's broader connectivity ecosystem.
- IDEC Corporation: IDEC manufactures industrial controllers, HMIs, and operator interface products that compete directly with Red Lion's controller and visualization portfolio, particularly in factory automation and process control applications.
- Mitsubishi Electric (MELSEC / GOT): Mitsubishi's MELSEC PLCs and GOT HMI series directly compete with Red Lion's industrial controllers and HMIs in factory and process automation, with comparable functionality in machine visualization and control.
- Advantech: Advantech is a major manufacturer of industrial PCs, panel PCs, and HMI terminals that overlaps with Red Lion's HMI and industrial data visualization portfolio, particularly for harsh-environment and ruggedized computing applications.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Red Lion Controls social profiles
Digital presenceRed Lion Controls financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Red Lion Controls leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Red Lion Controls funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Red Lion Controls M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Red Lion Controls
What does Red Lion Controls do?
Red Lion Controls manufactures and sells industrial data visualization and control hardware products — including Human-Machine Interfaces (HMIs), digital panel meters, programmable industrial controllers, remote gateways, network diagnostics tools, and network security products — built to operate reliably in harsh industrial environments and to provide real-time monitoring, process control, and resilient connectivity for industrial automation. The portfolio is sold as standalone hardware units through HMS Networks' direct sales, online partners, and certified distributor channels.
Is Red Lion Controls a public or private company?
Red Lion Controls is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Red Lion Controls founded?
Red Lion Controls was founded in 1972. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is Red Lion Controls based?
Red Lion Controls is headquartered in York, United States, in the North America region.
How does Red Lion Controls make money?
One revenue line is on record: hardware Product Sales.
Who are Red Lion Controls's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are ABB, Siemens SIMATIC, Rockwell Automation and Schneider Electric (Modicon / Magelis). Direct peers are Pro-face (Schneider Electric), Beijer Electronics, Phoenix Contact, IDEC Corporation, Mitsubishi Electric (MELSEC / GOT) and Advantech.
Does Red Lion Controls have an API?
No public API is recorded for Red Lion Controls.
What industry is Red Lion Controls in?
Red Lion Controls's product category is Industrial Automation Hardware. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAGABAB, SCADA/HMI Platforms, with a secondary code of IMAGABAA, PLC & PAC Hardware. Its NAICS code is 334513 and its SIC code is 3823.