What Bachelor Controls does

Bachelor Controls, Inc. (BCI) is a US-based control and systems integration firm founded in 1983 and headquartered in Sabetha, Kansas. The company delivers custom automation solutions — including design, PLC/PAC programming, HMI development, Factory Acceptance Testing, installation, and commissioning — to mid-to-large manufacturers in food and beverage, pharmaceutical, pet food, plastics, specialty chemicals, and feed and grain. Its core technical differentiator is BCI CORE™, a proprietary ISA-88 compliant batch process workflow management software with Dynamic Unit Allocation that layers over real-time control systems; this is complemented by a proprietary Finite State Programming methodology that ensures graceful recovery from abnormal exits such as power failures and network outages.

BCI operates primarily on Rockwell Automation platforms (ControlLogix PLCs, FactoryTalk software suite, EtherNet/IP) with Microsoft SQL Server back-ends, and holds Charter status as both a Rockwell Automation Solution Partner and a CSIA Certified Member (15th company certified in 2000, maintained continuously through at least 2022). It delivers enterprise field sales through dedicated sales engineers and a structured project methodology anchored by upfront Design Specification Documents. Revenue is generated through professional services for systems integration projects, licensing of BCI CORE™ software, and IoT/digital transformation engagements; pricing is custom-quoted per project rather than publicly disclosed.

The company is privately held and family-controlled, with founder Ray Bachelor serving as Chairman and Michael Bachelor as President since August 2016. BCI operates four offices (Sabetha KS, Lenexa KS, Memphis TN, Lowell IN) and is recognized with industry accolades including the 2008 Control Engineering System Integrator of the Year award and induction into the Control Engineering System Integrator Hall of Fame. In June 2022, BCI joined MKD Electric, expanding its service capabilities.

Name

Bachelor Controls

Legal name

Bachelor Controls, Inc.

Website

https://bachelorcontrols.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Bachelor Controls is a US-based control and systems integration firm, founded in 1983, that designs and implements custom automation solutions — including its proprietary BCI CORE™ batch software — for manufacturers in food and beverage, pharmaceutical, pet food, plastics, specialty chemicals, and feed and grain.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Sabetha

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Systems Integration Services: Custom control systems integration projects including design, programming, testing (Factory Acceptance Tests), installation, and commissioning. Project-based engagements with clients in food & beverage, pharmaceutical, and specialty chemicals industries.
2. Software Licensing (BCI CORE): Licensing of proprietary batch processing software BCI CORE™ for batch operations management. Software provides enterprise-wide monitoring, control and streamlining of operations.
3. IoT Integration Services: Digital transformation and IoT solutions including mapping operations, identifying improvement opportunities, building IoT solutions and collaborative Actionable Information Systems.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Bachelor Controls provides control systems integration services and proprietary batch process automation software for manufacturers in food and beverage, pharmaceutical, pet food, plastics, specialty chemicals, and feed and grain industries. Its core offering centers on BCI CORE™, an ISA-88-compliant batch workflow management platform, combined with full-service engineering for batch control, process automation, IoT integration, and control system retrofits using Rockwell Automation platforms.

Product overview

Bachelor Controls (BCI) is a control systems integration firm offering proprietary software and professional services. Their core product is BCI CORE™, a batch process workflow management software providing enterprise-wide batch operations management with ISA-88 compliant functionality. This is complemented by three primary service offerings: Batch Control Solutions (spanning single-scale to complex ISA-88 flexible systems), IoT Integration (digital transformation and actionable information systems), and Process Automation (for food, beverage, pharmaceutical, and specialty chemical industries). The company also provides control system retrofits. All offerings are delivered through a structured, disciplined methodology with a focus on the food and pharmaceutical industries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• BCI CORE™: Proprietary batch process workflow management software providing enterprise-wide ability to monitor, control and streamline batch operations to increase efficiency, product quality and throughput.

Products and services

• BCI CORE™ Proprietary batch process workflow management software that provides enterprise-wide ability to monitor, control, and streamline batch operations to increase efficiency, product quality, and throughput. Provides a batch operations management platform layered over the real-time batch control system with ISA-88 compliant functionality.
• Batch Control Solutions Batch processing solutions ranging from elementary single scale-single hopper to complex ISA-88 fully flexible systems with optimized asset utilization. Developed since 1983 to enhance accuracies and improve equipment module utilization in batching mechanical systems.
• IoT Integration Digital transformation services including mapping out operations, identifying improvement opportunities, building IoT solutions, and creating collaborative Actionable Information Systems for manufacturers.
• Process Automation Process automation solutions for cooking extrusion (food and pet food), distillation of alcohol and bourbon, modified starches, margarines and salad dressings, and various drying applications including spray, drum, and multi-pass plenum dryers.
• Control System Retrofits Retrofitting and replacing obsolete control systems with newer, more flexible systems while retaining existing field wiring and field devices, minimizing downtime and installation costs.
• Bar Code Solutions Bar code solutions supporting manufacturing traceability, ingredient genealogy, and batch record documentation requirements for regulated manufacturers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Major implementation installed in only 5 days during scheduled plant shut-down
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• MKD ElectricminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 9 June 2022BCI joined MKD Electric in June 2022, indicating a partnership or acquisition that expands BCI's service capabilities or market presence.
• Rockwell AutomationcoreTechnology or IntegrationCharter Rockwell Automation Solution Partner. BCI specializes in Rockwell Automation platforms including ControlLogix PLCs, FactoryTalk software suite, and EtherNet/IP networks. The partnership provides access to Rockwell technology and support resources for delivering control solutions.
• MicrosoftcoreTechnology or IntegrationMicrosoft Certified Partner. BCI utilizes Microsoft technologies including SQL Server for database platforms and Windows environments for control system applications. Open architecture systems that are widely supported.
• Control System Integrators Association (CSIA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCharter CSIA Certified Member. CSIA provides certification programs for control system integrators requiring audits to verify quality programs. BCI was the 15th company certified and has maintained certification for 8 consecutive times without interruption since 2000/2001.
• Lowell, IN OfficeminorOthersFourth office location mentioned in 2020 anniversary communications.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• RoviSys: RoviSys is a large independent systems integrator providing process control, MES, and plant-floor integration for manufacturing clients — overlapping with BCI's batch, process automation, and IoT/digital transformation offerings.
• Applied Control Engineering: Applied Control Engineering is an independent systems integrator specializing in PLC, SCADA, DCS, and MES solutions for process manufacturers — directly comparable to BCI's Rockwell-centric batch and process automation practice.
• Matrix Technologies: Matrix Technologies is a control and information systems integrator serving food & beverage, chemical, and pharma clients with batch control, process automation, and MES capabilities — a strong direct comparable to BCI.
• InSource Solutions: InSource Solutions is a control systems integrator focused on process and discrete manufacturing, providing MES, SCADA, and PLC services — directly overlapping BCI's Rockwell-anchored batch and process offerings.
• Maverick Technologies: Maverick Technologies is a control systems integration firm serving process and manufacturing clients across food & beverage, life sciences, and chemical industries — directly comparable to BCI's vertical mix and project-based integration model.
• Hargrove Controls & Electric: Hargrove is a CSIA-certified control systems integrator delivering industrial automation, control panel fabrication, and EPC services to process manufacturers — directly overlapping BCI's batch and process automation service lines.
• Avanceon: Avanceon is an industrial automation and systems integration firm delivering control, MES, and digital transformation across process industries — directly comparable in scope and delivery model to BCI.

Broad incumbents

• Siemens (Process Industries & Drives): Siemens is a broad incumbent in industrial automation offering PLC, DCS, and integrated process solutions across the same verticals BCI serves; it competes for large enterprise integration projects and shapes the standards with which BCI's Rockwell-centric approach must interoperate.
• Rockwell Automation (Lifecycle Services): Rockwell Automation is the platform vendor on which BCI's solutions are built; its own Lifecycle Services arm competes directly with integrators like BCI for implementation projects, making it both a critical partner and an incumbent competitor.
• Wood (Automation & Control): Wood is a large engineering and EPC firm with an Automation & Control division delivering integration projects to process manufacturers — a broader incumbent that competes for larger, multi-site projects beyond BCI's mid-market focus.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCjJhXVfM2fn4G3TnfwfO4Wg
• Facebookfacebook.com/BachelorControls
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bachelor-controls-inc-
• Xx.com/bci_success

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 Bachelor Controls