QDS Systems

What QDS Systems does

QDS Systems is a privately held industrial automation systems integrator incorporated in Louisiana and headquartered in Baton Rouge. Founded in 1996, the company designs, fabricates, integrates, and maintains process control systems, variable frequency drives, SCADA systems, UL 508A/698A-certified control panels, and collaborative robotic solutions (the HAND product, built on Universal Robots arms) for enterprise customers in petrochemical and oil and gas, food and beverage, pulp and paper, and water and wastewater verticals. Its core technology stack is integration-led rather than proprietary IP, assembling solutions from components and platforms supplied by Allen Bradley/Rockwell, Schneider Electric, Honeywell, Siemens, GE, and ABB, layered on certified engineering credentials (CSIA Certified Control System Integrator since 2003, the only such integrator in Louisiana) and UL-listed panel fabrication subject to quarterly unannounced inspections.

The company serves a diversified set of named enterprise customers including Flowers Foods, Exxon Mobil/Chemtrusion, Solvay, Georgia Pacific, Abbott, Baxter, NASA, Boardwalk Pipeline, NRG, Shintech, IKARIA, and the City of Baton Rouge, primarily within a 3-hour service radius of Baton Rouge across the Louisiana Gulf South. Revenue is generated through professional engineering services, custom control panel fabrication, integration of drives and SCADA systems, turnkey collaborative robot deployments, and recurring maintenance contracts under a stated lifetime 7x24 service commitment. In September 2018 the company added an equipment leasing channel through Lease Corporation of America, starting at $500 per month over 12-60 month terms, which broadens access for customers with constrained capital budgets and complements the direct sales motion executed through Technical Account Managers and a Sales Manager.

QDS operates with 11-50 employees, has not taken outside capital, and has remained independently held since founding. The firm distinguishes itself through professional certifications, regional response capability, and vendor-agnostic integration depth across heterogeneous plant environments, including legacy Allen Bradley/Rockwell and Honeywell systems alongside modern Universal Robots cobot deployments.

Name

QDS Systems

Legal name

QDS Systems

Website

https://qdssystems.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

QDS Systems is a privately held, Louisiana-based industrial automation systems integrator founded in 1996, providing process control, SCADA, variable frequency drives, control panels, and collaborative robotic systems to enterprise industrial customers across petrochemical, food and beverage, pulp and paper, and water and wastewater sectors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Automation and Process Control Systems Integration

NAICS

Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151), Computer Systems Design Services (541512)

SIC

Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373), Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823)

akta.pro primary industry

Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs) (IMAGACAD)

Keywords

• Industrial automation integration
• Process control systems
• SCADA system integration
• Variable frequency drives
• Collaborative robotics integration

Headquarters

HQ city

Baton Rouge

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Systems Integration Services: Professional engineering services including process system engineering, industrial automation support, SCADA system integration, custom machine fabrication, and panel fabrication. Services are provided on a project basis with long-term maintenance contracts.
2. Control and Drive Products: Sale of control systems, variable frequency drives, engineered drive systems, and robotics products as part of turnkey solutions.
3. Equipment Leasing/Rental: Leasing and rental program for automated systems and collaborative robots through partnership with Lease Corporation of America, with terms from 12 to 60 months.
4. Maintenance and Support Contracts: Long-term preventative maintenance contracts with 24/7 on-site and remote support services for installed systems throughout their lifecycle.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

QDS Systems is a registered professional engineering firm and independent system integrator that designs, fabricates, integrates, and maintains industrial control and automation systems. Its offering spans process control systems, variable frequency drives, engineered drive systems, SCADA integration, custom machine fabrication, UL-certified panel fabrication, and collaborative robotic systems (HAND) based on Universal Robots technology, sold as turnkey solutions with lifetime 7x24 service support.

Product overview

QDS Systems is an engineering firm and systems integrator offering a portfolio of process control and automation products and services. The core product lineup includes: HAND (Handed Arm Navigational Device) collaborative robotic systems based on Universal Robotics technology; Control Systems for retrofiting and updating obsolete systems; Variable Frequency Drives for variable speed applications; and Engineering Drive Systems. These are complemented by six service offerings: Process System Engineering, Industrial Automation Support, Panel Fabrication (UL certified), Engineered Drive Systems, SCADA System Integration, and Custom Machine Fabrication. The company serves petrochemical/oil & gas, food & beverage, pulp & paper, water/wastewater, and crane & hoist industries. As a vendor-neutral provider, QDS Systems selects best-in-class hardware from major manufacturers to meet client needs. The company distinguishes itself through lifetime 7x24 systems service support commitment and a CSIA Certified Integrator status maintained since 2003.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• HAND (Handed Arm Navigational Device) Collaborative Robotic System Turnkey collaborative robotic system consisting of a robotic arm, end effector, and software for automating tasks such as assembly, painting, screw driving, labeling, injection molding, welding, packaging, polishing, palletizing, and machine tending. Includes force and vision capabilities, and is designed to operate safely alongside humans without safety caging. Based on Universal Robots' technology platform with over 7,000 installations worldwide.
• Control Systems Retrofit and update solutions for obsolete and aging control systems, designed by professional engineers with flexibility and responsiveness from design through commissioning stages for industrial operators.
• Variable Frequency Drives Variable speed drive solutions including retrofits and updates of obsolete drives, conversion of analog drives to current drives, motor retrofitting, and regenerative drive system designs.
• Engineering Drive Systems Engineered drive system solutions including system analysis, control/PLC/HMI and drive system design and fabrication, with packaging options for various environments and hazardous areas.
• Process System Engineering Services
• Industrial Automation Support 24/7 troubleshooting and automation solutions for industrial companies, including control system design, IT architecture, SCADA implementation, and programming services, with lifetime systems service support.
• UL 508A/698A Panel Fabrication UL 508/698 panel design, fabrication and installation services including pre-fab electrical/control building assemblies, MCC/drive system integration, and motor control assemblies, performed in a UL-certified shop subject to quarterly unannounced audits.
• Engineered Drive System Solutions (Service) Turnkey engineered drive system solutions with expertise in coordinated web process drive systems, DC/AC drive conversions, and regenerative drive system designs.
• SCADA System Integration SCADA system integration including network design, software configuration, mobile/remote access systems, and field commissioning, drawing on 30+ years of applications experience.
• Custom Machine Fabrication Custom machine design and fabrication services by professional engineers, including conceptual design, mechanical and electrical design, machine fabrication, testing, and commissioning.
• Equipment Leasing and Rental Program Leasing and rental program for automated systems, SCADA systems, and collaborative robotic equipment offered through a partnership with Lease Corporation of America, with terms from 12 to 60 months starting at $500 per month.

Quantifiable outcome

• Investments in HANDs typically pay back within 6 months to 1 year through reduced personnel costs, improved quality through repeatability, and enhanced productivity.
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Foundation for East Baton Rouge School SystemminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2018QDS Systems sponsors the FIRST LEGO League Jr Expo 'Let's Geaux to the Moon' for elementary robotics students, supporting STEM education in the local community.
• Universal RobotscoreTechnology or IntegrationQDS Systems' HAND (Handed Arm Navigational Device) collaborative robotic products are based on Universal Robots' proven line of collaborative robotic arms. With over 7,000 installations worldwide, Universal Robots is the industry technical and market leader. Universal Robots is a division of Teradyne (NYSE:TER).
• Allen Bradley / Rockwell AutomationcoreTechnology or IntegrationTechnology partner providing control systems, PLCs, and automation hardware for QDS Systems' integration projects.
• Schneider ElectriccoreTechnology or IntegrationTechnology partner including Wonderware software, Square D products, Modicon PLCs, and SCADAPack telemetry products.
• HoneywellcoreTechnology or IntegrationTechnology partner for industrial automation and control solutions.
• SiemenscoreTechnology or IntegrationTechnology partner for automation and control hardware and software solutions.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Gray Solutions: A CSIA-certified control systems integration business within Gray, providing process control, safety instrumented systems, and SCADA across food & beverage, chemical, and petrochemical. Highly comparable in vertical mix and project model, with parent-company resources enabling larger project pursuits than QDS.
• Avanceon: Multi-regional systems integrator providing industrial automation, process control, and SCADA solutions across the Middle East, Pakistan, and North America. Comparable service portfolio to QDS including drive systems, panel fabrication, and lifecycle support — though operating at materially larger scale and broader geography.
• Matrix Technologies: CSIA-certified independent system integrator specializing in process control, SCADA, and drive systems across food & beverage, chemical, and petrochemical. Closely matches QDS in vertical mix, CSIA certification, and project-based integration model, though operating across a broader Midwest footprint.
• Champion Technology Services: CSIA-certified system integrator with offices across the southern U.S. providing automation, SCADA, and process control solutions in oil & gas, petrochemical, and water/wastewater. Highly comparable to QDS in geographic focus, vertical mix, and CSIA-certified positioning.
• Tesco Controls: California-based control system integrator focused on water/wastewater, utilities, and industrial automation with strong SCADA and instrumentation capabilities. Overlaps with QDS in water/wastewater vertical and offers a useful comparison point for how a regional integrator can scale vertically.
• Automation & Control Concepts (AC²): CSIA-certified industrial systems integrator based in the Midwest serving food & beverage, pharmaceutical, and chemical with process control, SCADA, and MES services. Closely comparable vertical focus and project profile to QDS's food and beverage segment.
• MAVERICK Technologies: A large independent industrial automation system integrator serving process and discrete manufacturers across multiple U.S. regions. Highly comparable to QDS in services portfolio (SCADA, drives, control system retrofits, panel fabrication) but at significantly larger scale — directly relevant for benchmarking QDS's growth ceiling.

Broad incumbents

• Schneider Electric: Global industrial automation vendor (Wonderware, Modicon, Square D) with EcoStruxure platform and integration services. Competes with QDS in SCADA, drives, and process control — both as a technology supplier to QDS projects and as an integrator on larger enterprise programs.
• Honeywell Process Solutions: Major process automation vendor with an in-house integration services capability serving petrochemical, refining, and pulp & paper. Competes with QDS at the upper end of project size in verticals where Honeywell has deep domain presence.
• Rockwell Automation: Largest pure-play industrial automation vendor; operates its own systems integration services arm alongside its hardware/software portfolio. Competes with QDS for large integration projects, particularly where customers standardize on Allen-Bradley/Rockwell stacks.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 QDS Systems