What Absolute Machine Control Technologies does

Absolute Machine Control Technologies (AMCT) is a privately held controls engineering and system integration services company founded in April 2008 by Jeff Schlais and headquartered in Rockford, Illinois. The company provides contract engineering services for industrial machine controls, with technical capabilities spanning electrical design (AutoCAD), PLC programming (Allen Bradley RS500/RS5000, Siemens S7, Omron, Phoenix VLC, B&R), HMI development (RSView Studio, RSView32, Wonderware, CTC InteractX, Panelbuilder32), servo system integration (B&R, Siemens, Lenze, Emerson, Parker), IEC 61131-3 programming (Ladderlogic, Structured Text, Function Block, Instruction List, Sequential Function Chart), and higher-level language development (C++, Visual Basic.net, Visual Basic 6). AMCT delivers complete control system integration including electrical schematics, bill of materials, machine control programming, panel build, and machine wiring for OEM, manufacturing, and system integration customers across diverse end markets such as heat treat furnaces, gear grinding machines, food packaging, water treatment, automated assembly, automated test, roll forming, medical device assembly, and road construction fiber-optic cable equipment.

The business operates on a project-based, extended contract period, or technical consulting engagement model, with services priced at "reasonable rates" targeting cost-conscious customers. Distribution is dual-channel: direct sales to manufacturing, OEM, and system integration customers, supplemented by a vendor partner channel in which vendors act as de facto sales representatives, directing design work to AMCT for their customers and reselling parts purchased through AMCT. The company grew from $137,000 in first-year sales with one employee in 2008 to $477,000 with four employees by 2010, averaging 15% profit during its first three years. In March 2026, AMCT was acquired by Sterling Engineering as a strategic bolt-on to expand the acquirer's end-to-end automation and machine controls capabilities, with founder Jeff Schlais's role transitioning as part of the transaction.

Name

Absolute Machine Control Technologies

Legal name

Absolute Machine Control Technologies Inc.

Website

https://amctinc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Acquired

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Absolute Machine Control Technologies (AMCT) is a Rockford, Illinois-based controls engineering services company providing PLC programming, HMI development, servo integration, and electrical design services to OEM, manufacturing, and system integration customers across diverse industrial verticals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Automation Engineering Services

NAICS

Relay and Industrial Control Manufacturing (335314)

SIC

Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373), Electrical Industrial Apparatus (3620)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Instrumentation, Controls & Automation Engineering Consulting (BPAHAIAM), Motion & Machine Control (CNC, Robotics Controllers, Servo/Motion Controllers) (IMAGABAG)

Keywords

• Controls engineering services
• Industrial automation integration
• PLC programming
• HMI software development
• Servo system integration

Headquarters

HQ city

Rockford

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Contract Engineering Services: AMCT provides engineering services on a project basis, extended contract periods, or technical support and consulting as needed. Services are priced at reasonable rates with the goal of providing quality service in a cost-friendly manner. The company also purchases and resells parts from vendors.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

AMCT is a controls engineering services company that provides contract engineering and complete control system integration for industrial automated equipment. Services span electrical schematics and design, PLC and HMI programming, servo system integration, IEC 61131-3 programming, higher-level language development, panel build, and machine wiring, delivered on a project, extended contract, or consulting basis to manufacturers, OEMs, and system integrators.

Product overview

Absolute Machine Control Technologies (AMCT) is a controls engineering and system integration services company. Rather than a software product company, AMCT provides contract engineering services for industrial machine controls, serving manufacturing, OEM, and system integration customers. The company's service portfolio includes HMI Software Development Services (Allen Bradley Panelbuilder32, RSView Studio, Wonderware, CTC InteractX), PLC Software Programming Services (Allen Bradley RS500/RS5000, Siemens S7, Omron), Servo Systems Services (B&R, Siemens, Lenze, Emerson, Parker), IEC 61131-3 Programming Services (Ladderlogic, Structured Text, Function Block), Higher Level Languages Development Services (C++, Visual Basic.net), Electrical Design Services (AutoCAD), and Control System Integration Services. Services are delivered on a project basis, extended contract period, or consulting basis.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• HMI Software Development Services Human-Machine Interface (HMI) software development and configuration services supporting Allen Bradley Panelbuilder32, RSView Studio, RSView32, Wonderware, CTC InteractX, and B&R platforms for machine control, data acquisition, recipe control, and trending applications.
• PLC Software Programming Services Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) software programming services supporting Allen Bradley RS500, RS5000, AI Series, APS, 6200, Siemens S7, Phoenix VLC, Omron, and B&R controllers for industrial automation.
• Servo System Integration Services Servo system integration and configuration services supporting B&R, Siemens, Lenze, Emerson, and Parker servo platforms for automated equipment motion control applications.
• IEC 61131-3 Programming Services IEC 61131-3 standard programming language development services including Ladderlogic, Structured Text, Function Block, Instruction List, and Sequential Function Chart for industrial automation.
• Higher Level Languages Development Services Higher-level language software development services using C++, Visual Basic.net, and Visual Basic 6 for industrial automation and control applications, including database integration with Microsoft SQL Server.
• Electrical Design Services Electrical design services for industrial machine controls using AutoCAD 2004, AutoCAD 2005, and AutoCAD Lite, including schematics and bill of materials development.
• Control System Integration Services Complete control system integration for automated equipment, encompassing electrical schematics, bill of materials, machine control programming, panel build, and machine wiring as a Controls Integrator.

Quantifiable outcome

• First year sales of $137,000 growing to $477,000 by 2010 with four employees
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Vendor PartnersminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2008AMCT purchases and resells parts from vendors and receives design work through them for their customers. Vendors act as salesmen directing work to AMCT. AMCT also provides product support at vendors' requests.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• ABB: Global automation and motion controls incumbent (now owner of B&R) that competes with AMCT in industrial automation and provides overlapping integration services to OEMs and manufacturers.
• Emerson: Industrial automation incumbent offering PLC, servo, and control platforms; one of AMCT's named servo vendor partners and a broad competitor in the same OEM/customer relationships.
• Siemens: Major automation OEM whose SIMATIC S7 platform is one of AMCT's core competencies; large incumbent that bundles integration services with hardware/software and competes for the same OEM customers.
• Rockwell Automation: Owner of the Allen Bradley/Rockwell platform that is AMCT's primary programming environment; broad automation incumbent whose in-house services and integration acquisitions compete with independents like AMCT.
• Schneider Electric: Global automation and industrial controls incumbent with EcoStruxure platforms and integration services, broadly overlapping AMCT's controls engineering and OEM customer base.

Direct peers

• Avanceon: System integrator specializing in industrial automation, process control, and SCADA across manufacturing and process industries — directly comparable to AMCT in services, customer types, and multi-vendor platform expertise.
• Hargrove Controls & Electric: Controls and electrical integration firm offering PLC programming, HMI/SCADA development, and panel build for industrial customers — directly comparable service mix to AMCT's complete control system delivery.
• Tesco Controls: Control system integrator providing electrical design, PLC programming, SCADA, and panel fabrication for water/wastewater and industrial customers — same project-based integration services and customer overlap in process automation.
• RoviSys: Independent control systems integrator delivering PLC, HMI, SCADA, and MES solutions across process and discrete industries — same multi-platform controls integration services business model as AMCT, at a larger scale.
• MAVERICK Technologies (a Rockwell Automation company): Independent-feeling controls integrator now owned by Rockwell Automation, offering the same end-to-end PLC, HMI, and control system services AMCT provides, with deep Allen Bradley ties overlapping AMCT's strongest platform.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

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 Absolute Machine Control Technologies