Preferred Controls
Preferred Controls provides SCADA, PLC, electrical engineering, and systems integration services for water and wastewater utilities and industrial operations across the Upper Midwest, with in-house UL-certified panel fabrication and 24/7 support.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1997
- HeadquartersAlbany, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Preferred Controls does
Preferred Controls, Inc. is a privately held industrial automation systems integrator headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska and operating under parent holding company PSI Holdings, Inc. Founded circa 1996-1997, the firm delivers electrical engineering, SCADA system design, PLC programming, instrumentation, motor controls, telemetry, and systems integration services, with an in-house UL 508A and UL 698A certified panel fabrication shop. Its solutions are built on non-proprietary, open-architecture principles using Allen-Bradley, ControlLogix, MicroLogix, FactoryTalk, and Wonderware platforms, positioning the company against proprietary single-vendor integrators.
The company's primary customer base consists of municipal and private water and wastewater utilities in the Upper Midwest, supported by offices in Nebraska, Minnesota, Iowa, and North Dakota. Secondary vertical exposure includes oil and gas (well pad automation across hundreds of pads), agriculture, ceramics, concrete batch plants, and Department of Defense infrastructure. Notable reference projects include a 65-site wireless SCADA network for a water distribution system, multi-node Wonderware HMI deployments at water treatment plants, and reservoir pump station control systems.
Revenue is generated through three streams: project-based professional services (automation and control system integration), hardware sales (custom UL-listed control panels), and a recurring 24/7 support and maintenance offering. The go-to-market model is direct enterprise field sales through relationship-based selling, with no channel partners or resellers and no publicly disclosed pricing.
Preferred Controls firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Preferred Controls
- Legal name
- Preferred Controls, Inc.
- Website
- https://preferredcontrols.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1997
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Preferred Controls provides SCADA, PLC, electrical engineering, and systems integration services for water and wastewater utilities and industrial operations across the Upper Midwest, with in-house UL-certified panel fabrication and 24/7 support.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Preferred Controls industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Industrial Automation and SCADA System Integration Services
- NAICS
- Instruments and Related Products Manufacturing for Measuring, Displaying, and Controlling Industrial Process Variables (334513), Relay and Industrial Control Manufacturing (335314), Switchgear and Switchboard Apparatus Manufacturing (335313)
- SIC
- Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823), Switchgear & Switchboard Apparatus (3613), Electrical Industrial Apparatus (3620)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Industrial Control Panels & Enclosures (Panel Building, MCCs, Integration) (IMAGABAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- SCADA, Instrumentation & Controls Integration for Water/Wastewater Projects (IMAFAGAK), Instrumentation, Controls & Automation (DCS/PLC/SCADA, SIS, Metering) (EUAEAFAC), Protection, Control & SCADA/Automation Installation (Relay Panels, RTUs) (IMAFAHAF)
Keywords
Where Preferred Controls is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Albany
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices5 records
Markets served
Preferred Controls business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Automation and Control System Integration: Project-based engineering and integration services for SCADA systems, electrical engineering, PLC programming, and instrumentation. Custom solutions tailored to client infrastructure requirements.
- UL Panel Shop Manufacturing: Custom control panel fabrication including SCADA panels, motor control panels, and telemetry panels with UL 508A and UL 698A certifications.
- 24/7 Ongoing Support and Maintenance: Continuous technical support, troubleshooting, system upgrades, and maintenance services to maintain operational systems.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels5 records
Preferred Controls product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Preferred Controls delivers electrical engineering, automation, and SCADA system integration services for water and wastewater utilities, industrial operations, and infrastructure systems. The company designs operator-friendly control systems that improve reliability, visibility, and long-term performance, and fabricates UL-listed custom control panels under non-proprietary, open-architecture design principles.
Product overview
Preferred Controls is a systems integrator offering a suite of engineering and automation services rather than a packaged software product. Its core portfolio consists of SCADA Systems, PLC Programming & Automation, Electrical Engineering, Systems Integration, Instrumentation & Controls, Motor Controls, Telemetry Systems, and UL Panel Shop — all delivered as professional services with non-proprietary, open-source, open-architecture design principles. These service lines are organized into three primary industry verticals: Water Industry Solutions (covering treatment, distribution, pump stations, and well systems), Wastewater Industry Solutions (covering treatment plants, lift stations, and collection systems), and Industrial Solutions (covering agriculture, ceramics, concrete batch plants, defense, and oil & gas). The company does not offer a standalone software platform but rather implements its solutions across PLC/SCADA platforms including Allen-Bradley, ControlLogix, MicroLogix, FactoryTalk, and Wonderware. Support services (24/7 monitoring and troubleshooting) are offered as an ongoing service relationship rather than a discrete product.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- SCADA Systems
Quantifiable outcome
- 65-site wireless SCADA network integration for water distribution
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Preferred Controls
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments7 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Preferred Controls technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Preferred Controls partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators4 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Preferred Controls competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Hargrove Controls & Electric: U.S.-based industrial automation and electrical systems integrator serving process industries with PLC, SCADA, and control panel work. Highly comparable to Preferred Controls in delivery model, customer verticals, and technical stack.
- Revere Control Systems: Independent systems integrator specializing in PLC, SCADA, and industrial automation for water/wastewater, energy, and manufacturing customers. Closely matches Preferred Controls on services, verticals, and project profile.
- Avanti Company: Industrial automation and control systems integrator focused on water/wastewater, process, and municipal infrastructure. Comparable to Preferred Controls on SCADA, instrumentation, and panel-building capabilities.
- Control Associates: Process automation integrator delivering PLC, SCADA, DCS, and control panel solutions across the Northeast U.S. Comparable in service mix, project size, and customer verticals to Preferred Controls.
- CORE Automation: Independent systems integrator providing SCADA, PLC, and instrumentation services for water/wastewater and industrial clients. Directly comparable business model and project type to Preferred Controls.
Broad incumbents
- Rockwell Automation: Global industrial automation vendor and ecosystem parent of Allen-Bradley/FactoryTalk, the platforms Preferred Controls integrates. Represents the dominant OEM whose authorized partner program shapes Preferred Controls' market access.
- Black & Veatch: Large global EPC and engineering firm with deep water/wastewater and infrastructure automation practices. Competes with Preferred Controls for larger municipal SCADA and instrumentation contracts.
- Emerson Automation Solutions: Global automation and controls supplier with growing SCADA and water utility offerings. Competes broadly for municipal and industrial automation budgets that Preferred Controls also targets.
- CDM Smith: Major engineering and construction firm with significant water/wastewater consulting and integration capabilities. Represents a larger, broader incumbent competing for the same municipal automation work.
Others
- Trihedral Engineering (VTScada): SCADA software vendor listed as a Preferred Controls partner. Adjacent rather than competitive; the two companies co-deliver SCADA solutions in municipal and industrial deployments.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Preferred Controls social profiles
Digital presencePreferred Controls financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Preferred Controls leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Preferred Controls funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Preferred 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 Preferred Controls
What does Preferred Controls do?
Preferred Controls delivers electrical engineering, automation, and SCADA system integration services for water and wastewater utilities, industrial operations, and infrastructure systems. The company designs operator-friendly control systems that improve reliability, visibility, and long-term performance, and fabricates UL-listed custom control panels under non-proprietary, open-architecture design principles.
Is Preferred Controls a public or private company?
Preferred Controls is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Preferred Controls founded?
Preferred Controls was founded in 1997. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Preferred Controls based?
Preferred Controls is headquartered in Albany, United States, in the North America region.
How does Preferred Controls make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Automation and Control System Integration is the primary driver. The others are UL Panel Shop Manufacturing and 24/7 Ongoing Support and Maintenance.
Who are Preferred Controls's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Hargrove Controls & Electric, Revere Control Systems, Avanti Company, Control Associates and CORE Automation. Broad incumbents are Rockwell Automation, Black & Veatch, Emerson Automation Solutions and CDM Smith. Trihedral Engineering (VTScada) is listed as an others.
Does Preferred Controls have an API?
No public API is recorded for Preferred Controls.
What industry is Preferred Controls in?
Preferred Controls's product category is Industrial Automation and SCADA System Integration Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAGABAJ, Industrial Control Panels & Enclosures (Panel Building, MCCs, Integration), with a secondary code of IMAFAGAK, SCADA, Instrumentation & Controls Integration for Water/Wastewater Projects. Its NAICS code is 334513 and its SIC code is 3823.