Controls
Controls, Inc. is a privately-held Medina, Ohio-based manufacturer of in-house-designed engine and equipment display, monitoring, and control systems for off-highway equipment in oil and gas, marine, and construction markets, sold direct via e-commerce and phone channels.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1989
- HeadquartersMedina, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Controls does
Controls, Inc. is a privately-held, Ohio-based manufacturer of engine and equipment display, monitoring, and control systems for off-highway equipment powered by spark ignited engines, diesel engines, and electric motors. Founded in 1989 and headquartered in Medina, Ohio, the company serves end markets including oil and gas, marine, and construction through a catalog of ruggedized, in-house-designed products positioned as compatible with every engine make, model, and tier level.
The company's technology stack is built on J1939 CANbus communications and control, MODBUS communications and control, and integration with remote control, telemetry, PLC, and SCADA systems. The portfolio comprises five display series — MVP (compact 4-inch), RX, MX, CX, and XL — ranging from OLED gauges to large graphical panels, complemented by NEMA 3/3R/4X panel enclosures, a seven-SKU XCAN CAN I/O expansion module family (AC/DC generator monitors, configurable I/O, 10-relay, 4-20 mA repeater, mechanical-engine sensor bridge, 10-analog-input), the TT-100 J1939 throttle knob, CI Station configuration software, and the CI CONNECT cellular telemetry platform with companion iOS and Android apps. A full accessory ecosystem (sensors, Deutsch connectors, harnesses, floats, key switches, enclosure parts) supports the core systems. All hardware and software are designed in-house by Controls' engineering team.
Controls generates revenue almost exclusively through one-time hardware sales distributed via its direct e-commerce storefront at controlsinc.com and phone-based technical sales (330-239-4345), with no disclosed subscription or recurring revenue component. Unit pricing is publicly listed across the catalog (displays $395–$1,695; throttles $245; CI-1000 configuration kit $295; sensors and harnesses $1.50–$398), and the company pursues customer acquisition through drop-in replacement SKUs such as MVP-101-C, engineered as a direct plug-and-play substitute for the discontinued Murphy PV101-C. Customer support is delivered in-house, including an after-hours emergency line (330-590-3309) for machine-down scenarios, and segmentation is horizontal across off-highway equipment operators and equipment manufacturers (OEMs and replacement/aftermarket channels).
Controls firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Controls
- Legal name
- Controls, Inc.
- Website
- https://controlsinc.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1989
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Controls, Inc. is a privately-held Medina, Ohio-based manufacturer of in-house-designed engine and equipment display, monitoring, and control systems for off-highway equipment in oil and gas, marine, and construction markets, sold direct via e-commerce and phone channels.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Controls industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Industrial Engine Display and Control Systems
- NAICS
- Instruments and Related Products Manufacturing for Measuring, Displaying, and Controlling Industrial Process Variables (334513), Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (33451), Relay and Industrial Control Manufacturing (335314)
- SIC
- Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823), Electrical Industrial Apparatus (3620)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Industrial Control Panels & Enclosures (Panel Building, MCCs, Integration) (IMAGABAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Industrial Control Cabinets & Power Distribution (Panels, Switchgear for Automation) (IMAHAHAK)
Keywords
Where Controls is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Medina
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Controls business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Hardware Product Sales: Direct sales of displays, panels, CAN I/O modules, throttles, sensors, connectors, and accessories through e-commerce website. Products are sold as one-time purchases with no recurring subscription component.
- Technical Support Services: In-house technical support provided via phone for troubleshooting, service inquiries, and product configuration questions. After-hours emergency line available for machine-down situations.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Display Products |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | TT-100 CAN Throttle |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | CI Station Configuration Kit |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Sensors and Transducers |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Harnesses and Accessories |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Float Kits |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels3 records
Controls product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Controls, Inc. designs and manufactures engine and equipment display, monitoring, and control systems for off-highway equipment powered by spark ignited engines, diesel engines, and electric motors. The product portfolio includes five series of engine displays (MVP, RX, MX, CX, XL), matching panel products in NEMA enclosures, J1939 CANbus I/O expansion modules, a CAN throttle knob, a PC configuration application (CI STATION), and a cellular telemetry service (CI CONNECT). Supporting accessories include sensors, senders, connectors, harnesses, enclosure parts, floats, and key switches.
Product overview
Controls Inc offers a comprehensive portfolio of engine and equipment display, monitoring, and control products for off-highway equipment powered by spark ignited engines, diesel engines, and electric motors. The core product lines include five series of displays (MVP, RX, MX, CX, XL) ranging from compact 4-inch gauges to large graphical OLED displays, and corresponding panel products in NEMA 3, NEMA 3R, and NEMA 4X enclosures. The ecosystem is expanded through CAN I/O expansion modules (XCAN-AC, XCAN-DC, XCAN-IO-644, XCAN-10R, XCAN-420S, XCAN-ECU, XCAN-A10) for integrating sensors and components into CANbus systems, the TT-100 CAN throttle knob for J1939 engines, CI CONNECT telemetry solution for remote monitoring, and CI STATION configuration software. Supporting accessories include sensors (temperature, pressure, level, fuel), connectors, harnesses, enclosure parts, floats, and key switches.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- CI CONNECT: Telemetry solution for remote monitoring and management of engine/equipment assets, including cell service options, location tracking, two-way communications, and website portal for asset and billing management.
- CI Station
Products and services
- MVP Series Displays Compact 4-inch diameter engine display and alarms for mechanical and J1939 engines. Features a waterproof, ruggedized housing with watertight plug-and-play connectors, designed to install into a 2-inch gauge hole. Suitable for OEM installation and replacement of older engine gauges on off-highway equipment.
- RX Series Displays Full graphical OLED display purpose-specific to engine and equipment monitoring and control, with configurable information display, advanced control options, and easy-to-configure I/O for sensors and components.
- MX Series Displays Full graphical display for engine and equipment monitoring and control featuring a ruggedized watertight design, advanced control options, and configurable I/O.
- CX Series Displays PLC-capable full graphical OLED display for engine and equipment monitoring and control with CANbus and Modbus communications for seamless system integration.
- XL Series Displays Large graphical OLED display for engine and equipment monitoring with configurable information display, CANbus and Modbus communications for system integration.
- Engine Display Panels (NEMA 3, 3R, and 4X enclosures) Engine display panels built around the MVP, RX, MX, CX, and XL displays mounted in NEMA 3 or NEMA 3R metal panels, or NEMA 4X polycarbonate enclosures with a tinted door, ready for any installation or application.
- XCAN Series I/O Expansion Modules Family of CAN I/O Expansion Modules that integrate sensors and components into a J1939 CANbus system, including XCAN-AC (AC generator monitoring), XCAN-DC (DC generator monitoring), XCAN-IO-644 (configurable I/O), XCAN-10R (10-relay module), XCAN-420S (4-20mA repeater), XCAN-ECU (mechanical engine sensor data), and XCAN-A10 (10 analog inputs).
- TT-100 CAN Throttle J1939 throttle knob providing a traditional throttle knob look and feel for off-highway equipment, configurable via CI STATION for ENGINE MANUFACTURER, TSC ADDRESS, MINIMUM SPEED, MAXIMUM SPEED, RAMP RATE, BUMP SPEED, and RPM PER ROTATION.
- CI STATION Configuration Software PC-based configuration application providing a complete suite of tools to configure, manage, and organize settings for all Controls Inc displays, panels, CAN I/O expansion modules, and TT-100 throttle knobs; supports profile management, settings upload/download, and product firmware updates when paired with the CI-1000 USB-to-CAN converter kit.
- CI CONNECT Telemetry Solution Turnkey cellular telemetry solution that monitors engine/equipment operation, asset alarms and faults, tracks asset location, provides two-way communications with the asset, and includes a website portal for asset and billing management; available standalone or bundled with Controls Inc panels and accompanied by mobile apps for iOS and Android.
- Sensors, Connectors, Harnesses, Enclosure Parts, Floats, and Key Switches Supporting accessories sold separately including temperature and pressure transducers, oil and fuel level senders, magnetic pickups, current transformers, Deutsch and DT connectors, relay modules, CANbus extension harnesses and terminating resistors, panel mounting brackets, latch kits, float kits for fluid level sensing, and key switches with replacement keys.
Companies that use Controls
Customer profileSegments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Controls technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature7 records
Controls partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators1 record
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Controls competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Enovation Controls (formerly Frank W. Murphy): Direct competitor in engine/equipment displays and controls for off-highway, industrial, and marine markets. The discontinued Murphy PV101-C PowerView display that Controls Inc explicitly targets as a drop-in replacement is the most direct point of competition.
- Cattron Group: Industrial and off-highway engine control specialist offering CAN-based displays, I/O modules, throttles, and remote control systems — overlapping with Controls Inc's XCAN module family and TT-100 throttle.
- Motec (MoTeC Pty Ltd): CANbus-based engine displays, loggers, and ECUs for motorsport and off-highway/industrial applications. Comparable product architecture (CAN-based, configurable displays, I/O expansion) to Controls Inc's MVP/CX/XL series.
- Murphy by Enovation (PowerView line successors): Same company as Enovation Controls but specifically references the legacy Murphy brand website. Closest direct competitor historically; Controls Inc's MVP-101-C drop-in product explicitly displaces the discontinued PV101-C PowerView.
Broad incumbents
- Woodward: Large incumbent in engine controls, power conversion, and turbomachinery — much broader portfolio but overlapping in engine/equipment control modules, displays, and integration services for off-highway and industrial OEMs.
- Eaton: Diversified industrial conglomerate with industrial control, HMI, and power management product lines serving OEMs and harsh-environment applications. A potential acquirer or large competitor in adjacent niches.
- Parker Hannifin: Broad motion and control technologies including industrial displays, I/O modules, and CANbus-based controllers — overlapping with Controls Inc's display, panel, and XCAN I/O offering at a much larger scale.
Emerging players
- Beijer Electronics: Industrial HMI and operator panel manufacturer with strong presence in marine, oil & gas, and process industries — directly comparable end-markets (marine/off-highway) and overlapping panel/display product family.
- Red Lion Controls: Industrial HMIs, panel meters, and protocol-conversion gateways with CANbus/MODBUS expertise — comparable technology stack and integration focus to Controls Inc's display and CI Station offering.
- Banner Engineering: Industrial sensors, indicators, and machine safety products. Comparable in sensor and accessory categories (temperature, pressure, level sensors) that complement Controls Inc's XCAN-based monitoring ecosystem.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Controls social profiles
Digital presenceControls financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Controls leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Controls funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Controls M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Controls
What does Controls do?
Controls, Inc. designs and manufactures engine and equipment display, monitoring, and control systems for off-highway equipment powered by spark ignited engines, diesel engines, and electric motors. The product portfolio includes five series of engine displays (MVP, RX, MX, CX, XL), matching panel products in NEMA enclosures, J1939 CANbus I/O expansion modules, a CAN throttle knob, a PC configuration application (CI STATION), and a cellular telemetry service (CI CONNECT). Supporting accessories include sensors, senders, connectors, harnesses, enclosure parts, floats, and key switches.
Is Controls a public or private company?
Controls is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Controls founded?
Controls was founded in 1989. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Controls based?
Controls is headquartered in Medina, United States, in the North America region.
How does Controls make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Hardware Product Sales are the primary driver. The others are technical Support Services.
Who are Controls's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Enovation Controls (formerly Frank W. Murphy), Cattron Group, Motec (MoTeC Pty Ltd) and Murphy by Enovation (PowerView line successors). Broad incumbents are Woodward, Eaton and Parker Hannifin. Emerging players are Beijer Electronics, Red Lion Controls and Banner Engineering.
Does Controls have an API?
No public API is recorded for Controls.
What industry is Controls in?
Controls's product category is Industrial Engine Display and Control Systems. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAGABAJ, Industrial Control Panels & Enclosures (Panel Building, MCCs, Integration), with a secondary code of IMAHAHAK, Industrial Control Cabinets & Power Distribution (Panels, Switchgear for Automation). Its NAICS code is 334513 and its SIC code is 3823.