Control Freaks

What Control Freaks does

Control Freaks Ltd is a UK-based industrial systems integration and electrical engineering firm specialising in bespoke automation and control solutions. Founded in March 2006 by professional controls engineer Clint Johnson in Holbeach, Lincolnshire, the company designs, manufactures, installs, and maintains industrial control panels, PLC systems, SCADA and MES platforms, robotics and motion control, functional safety upgrades, and predictive maintenance solutions. Its primary vertical is UK food manufacturing, with adjacent work across general manufacturing, energy, water treatment, and specialist applications including Olympic venues and luxury automotive AGV safety systems. Notable historical projects include the 2012 Olympics Aquatic Centres, the 2014 Commonwealth Games, wireless safety systems for AGVs at a luxury sports car manufacturer, and bespoke residential automation for high-value London homes.

The company's technology stack is centred on PLC programming under IEC 61131, custom software development in C#, Visual Basic, SQL, and Access, and integration with Mitsubishi Electric automation hardware under an authorised Drive Solutions Centre (DSC) regional partnership. It is also an authorised Mitsubishi Electric delivery partner for predictive maintenance, deploying Smart Condition Monitoring that uses vibration analysis and algorithmic anomaly detection to forecast equipment failure. An Evocon partnership signed in January 2022 extends the offering into Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) hardware and software distribution for the UK market. The firm holds ISO 9001:2015 certification and markets itself on workshop capability, qualified staff, and the ability to deliver tailored rather than off-the-shelf solutions.

Control Freaks operates a project-based professional services model, supplemented by recurring maintenance contracts (including 24/7 breakdown cover, PLC health checkups, and obsolescence reports) and managed Smart Condition Monitoring services. The go-to-market is direct enterprise field sales with bespoke project proposals and free estimates; lead generation relies on company website SEO, an active technical blog, social media presence, and word-of-mouth referrals. The business is founder-owned and private, with no disclosed external funding and a stated headcount of 1–10 employees that the firm describes as rapidly expanding through engineering and apprentice hiring.

Name

Control Freaks

Legal name

Control Freaks Ltd

Website

https://controlfreaksltd.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Control Freaks Ltd is a UK-based industrial systems integrator founded in 2006, designing and manufacturing bespoke control panels, PLC/SCADA/MES systems, and Smart Condition Monitoring solutions primarily for food manufacturing and specialist industrial clients across the UK.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Automation & Control Systems Integration

NAICS

Relay and Industrial Control Manufacturing (335314), Instruments and Related Products Manufacturing for Measuring, Displaying, and Controlling Industrial Process Variables (334513)

SIC

Measuring & Controlling Devices, Nec (3829), Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823)

akta.pro primary industry

Control System Integration & Engineering Services (Design, Commissioning, Retrofits) (IMAGABAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Industrial Control Panels & Enclosures (Panel Building, MCCs, Integration) (IMAGABAJ), Instrumentation, Controls & Automation (DCS/PLC/SCADA, SIS, Metering) (EUAEAFAC), Safety Instrumented Systems & Machine Safety Control (SIS, Safety PLCs, Relays) (IMAGABAF)

Keywords

• Industrial automation services
• Control panel manufacturing
• SCADA MES systems
• Predictive maintenance solutions
• PLC programming services

Headquarters

HQ city

Spalding

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Systems Integration & Project Services: Bespoke project-based engineering services for control panel design, manufacturing, installation, and automation systems. Projects are delivered on a per-contract basis with varying scope and complexity.
2. Control Panel Manufacturing: Custom-built industrial control panels manufactured in their workshop facility, sold as completed units or as part of broader system integration projects.
3. Maintenance & Servicing Contracts: Ongoing maintenance contracts including general servicing, 24/7 breakdown cover, PLC health checkups, battery changes, backups, and obsolescence reports. Recurring revenue through structured service agreements.
4. Smart Condition Monitoring Solutions: Predictive maintenance and condition monitoring solutions as an authorised Mitsubishi delivery partner. Includes sensor installation, monitoring systems, and ongoing support.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Control Freaks Ltd is a UK-based systems integration and electrical engineering firm that designs, manufactures, installs, and services bespoke industrial automation and control systems for manufacturing clients. Their core offerings span bespoke control panel design and manufacture, PLC programming, SCADA and MES deployment, robotics and motion control integration, functional safety compliance, and Smart Condition Monitoring delivered as a Mitsubishi Electric authorised partner. They also provide recurring maintenance contracts with 24/7 breakdown cover for existing client installations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Industrial Control Panel & Automation Systems Custom-built industrial control systems and automation solutions including electrical design, specification, panel manufacturing, installation, and integration with existing machinery and processes, tailored for UK manufacturing clients.
• Control Panel Manufacturing & Installation Specialist electrical control panel manufacturing and installation services, producing bespoke panels for industrial automation applications, built in the Holbeach workshop facility.
• SCADA & MES Systems Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) and Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) that allow industrial companies to control processes, monitor real-time data, interact with devices through HMI software, and manage production processes including work orders, shipping, quality control, maintenance, and scheduling.
• Smart Condition Monitoring Predictive maintenance solution using Mitsubishi Electric's smart sensing technology that monitors motors, fans, pumps, and gearboxes in real time, detecting anomalies through vibration analysis and sophisticated algorithms to predict failure ahead of catastrophic events.
• Robotics & Motion Control Robotics integration and motion control programming services for industrial automation applications, including motion control programming for bespoke industrial equipment.
• Functional Safety & Machine Compliance Specialist services ensuring industrial machinery and control systems meet functional safety standards and regulatory compliance requirements for manufacturing clients.
• Industrial Networking & Technology Solutions Networking solutions for industrial environments, connecting control systems, sensors, and devices with wired or wireless connectivity for manufacturing operations.
• Expert Programming & Software Solutions Programming services using IEC 61131 for PLCs and custom software development in C#, Visual Basic, SQL, and Access for industrial control systems, data management, and legacy system upgrades and migration to modern platforms.
• Servicing & Maintenance Comprehensive maintenance services including general servicing, ongoing maintenance contracts, 24/7 breakdown cover, obsolescence reports, preventative maintenance, PLC health checkups, battery changes, and data backups for installed control systems.
• Bespoke Control Panel Design & Specification Custom design and specification services for industrial control panels tailored to specific client requirements and applications across diverse industries.
• Control Panel & Automated Solutions Installation Professional installation services for control panels and automated systems in industrial environments, delivered with minimal disruption to client operations.

Quantifiable outcome

• Minimised downtime through predictive maintenance and smart condition monitoring
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

AI capability4 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Mitsubishi Electric (Drive Solutions Centre)coreTechnology or IntegrationControl Freaks is part of the Drive Solutions Centre (DSC) - a regional centre of excellence combining Mitsubishi Electric's industrial automation equipment with select expert businesses. Also an authorised Mitsubishi delivery partner for predictive maintenance and condition monitoring products and technology.
• Mitsubishi ElectriccoreTechnology or IntegrationAs an authorised Mitsubishi delivery partner for predictive maintenance and condition monitoring, Control Freaks delivers Smart Condition Monitoring solutions using Mitsubishi Electric's integrated smart sensing and automated technology. This partnership provides access to advanced predictive maintenance capabilities for monitoring motors, fans, pumps, and gearboxes.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Mitsubishi Electric: Control Freaks' core technology partner and supplier of its automation and Smart Condition Monitoring platforms. Directly comparable as an automation vendor, but materially larger and operating as an OEM-plus-partner channel rather than bespoke integrator.

Broad incumbents

• Eaton: Power management and industrial control manufacturer offering motor controls, relays, and automation components. Comparable to Control Freaks in industrial control hardware and motor/panel scope, though Eaton operates as a broad electrical equipment incumbent.
• ABB: Global automation, robotics, and motion control group serving process and manufacturing industries. Comparable to Control Freaks in industrial automation scope (PLCs, drives, robotics integration), with significantly greater scale.
• Honeywell: Process automation major offering DCS, SCADA, and control systems across process industries. Comparable to Control Freaks' food and process manufacturing work, though skewed toward larger continuous-process facilities.
• Rockwell Automation: US-headquartered industrial automation leader focused on discrete and process control (Allen-Bradley, FactoryTalk). Competes with Control Freaks in PLC programming, SCADA, and control panel integration for manufacturers.
• Siemens: Global industrial automation and digital industries leader offering PLCs, SCADA, drives, and system integration services. Comparable to Control Freaks as a full-scope automation vendor, though operating at vastly larger scale and broader portfolio.
• Schneider Electric: Major industrial automation and energy management company with PLC, SCADA, and EcoStruxure platform offerings. Competes with Control Freaks in plant automation and food manufacturing, supported by a much larger integrator network.
• Bosch Rexroth: Factory automation, motion control, and drive technology provider. Comparable to Control Freaks' robotics and motion control offering, operating at significantly larger scale with broader factory-automation scope.

Direct peers

• Beckhoff Automation: PC-based control and automation specialist (TwinCAT, EtherCAT). Comparable to Control Freaks as a focused automation vendor offering controllers, motion, and integration expertise, with a similar channel-integrator business model.
• Pilz: Specialist in functional safety and machine safety control systems (safety PLCs, relays, SIS). Closely comparable to Control Freaks' Functional Safety & Machine Compliance service line, with similar mid-sized specialist positioning.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ControlFreaks__
• Facebookfacebook.com/ControlFreaksLtd
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/control-freaks-ltd

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Control Freaks