What Are the Types of Products Allen-Bradley Offers?

Rockwell Automation offers a comprehensive portfolio of industrial automation products under the Allen-Bradley brand name. The product lines range from motion control solutions, motor drives, power supplies, sensors and switches, Human Machine Interfaces (HMIs), motor controls, circuit and load protection devices, Input/Output (I/O) modules, relays and timers, and safety modules to programmable controllers and networking infrastructure. Allen-Bradley products have a long-standing reputation for robust design, premier integration, exceptional reliability, and advanced features, making them a perfect fit for a wide range of industrial applications. This article features the most commonly used Allen-Bradley products.

PowerFlex AC Drives and Parts

The Allen-Bradley lineup of PowerFlex Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs)/AC drives provides cutting-edge motor control technology. These drives enable precise control of motor speed and torque, resulting in significant energy savings, reduced mechanical stress, and enhanced process control. They are available for a variety of applications, from simple fan and pump control to intricate servo applications that require high-precision positioning.

Available Allen-Bradley AC drives range from low-power, compact units to high-power models, delivering flexible low, medium, and high-voltage motor control solutions. They include:

PowerFlex 525

An example of a low to medium-power Allen-Bradley AC drive series. This series features a modular design, 0.4 to 22 kW / 0.5 to 30 HP power ratings, and built-in EtherNet/IP communication modules for easy setup and integration. The PowerFlex 525 drives also support multiple control modes (e.g., Sensorless vector, V/Hz, and closed-loop vector) and can operate up to 70 °C with derating.

PowerFlex 750 and PowerFlex 753 AC drives

High-power Allen-Bradley VFDs. These are suitable for general-purpose applications with high safety requirements. For instance, the PowerFlex 753 series offers built-in digital I/O, power ratings of 0.5 to 200 HP (0.37 to 149 kW), and advanced safety options (STO/Safe Torque-Off), ideal for PLe/SIL3 safety-rated applications.

PowerFlex 755TS

A state-of-the-art Allen-Bradley PowerFlex AC drive series designed for standard and demanding industrial control applications. The PowerFlex 755TS series is a TotalFORCE silicon-controlled, ultra-low harmonic, regenerative-capable drive platform that features up to 500 HP, 380 to 400V AC, high-performance motor control, integrated safety, predictive analytics for real-time monitoring, ease of use, and greater energy savings and production output.

PowerFlex DC Drives and Parts

While AC drives dominate many modern systems, DC motors are still common in heavy industrial applications, and Allen-Bradley continues to support them with the PowerFlex DC drive family. This lineup includes digital DC drives, standalone regulators (SAR), and field controllers for both new installations and retrofit projects, with available system ratings up to 6000 HP (4000 kW). Both regenerative and non-regenerative configurations are offered to suit demanding applications.

PowerFlex DC drives cover a wide voltage and power range, from 1.2 kW at 200–240V up to over 1 MW at 690V. The platform also includes open-type enclosures, armature converters, advanced DC regulators, and regulated field converters. These regulators support integrated DPI, DC tachometer, and encoder feedback, along with noise and voltage suppression for electrically sensitive environments. Extensive I/O, flexible feedback, and modern communication options such as EtherNet/IP, Modbus TCP/IP, EtherCAT, and PROFINET are also supported.

Allen-Bradley DC field controllers provide three-phase reversing field control with 60–500V AC input ranges and current outputs from 17 to 570A. They support four-quadrant DC motors and generators and can operate as standalone field controllers or alongside PowerFlex DC regulators and digital drives. In standalone use, they can supply fixed field power to DC motors or control electromagnets and other non-motor loads.

Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs)

Allen-Bradley ControlLogix and CompactLogix controllers form the backbone of many industrial automation systems. As part of the Allen-Bradley Integrated System Architecture, these Logix controllers use standard industrial network protocols (such as DeviceNet, Ethernet/IP, DH+, and ControlNet), providing a common control engine for a variety of control tasks.

For example, the Allen-Bradley ControlLogix 5570 controller series is available in standard, safety, extreme-temperature, and On-Machine models, suitable for process, motion, discrete, and high-availability applications. These controllers support EtherNet/IP-integrated motion, SERCOS motion, and analog motion. They communicate using a variety of network protocols, including EtherNet/IP, ControlNet, DeviceNet, Data Highway Plus, Remote I/O, SynchLink, and third-party process and device networks. They can be programmed in a variety of languages, including ladder logic, structured text, function block, and SFC (Sequential Function Chart). In addition, Allen-Bradley ControlLogix 5570 controllers with a “K” in their catalog numbers have conformal coating for enhanced protection in harsh environments. 

Allen-Bradley CompactLogix controllers deliver similar functionality to the ControlLogix platforms but in a more compact form. For instance, the CompactLogix 5380 models provide enhanced cybersecurity, higher performance, improved productivity, and increased power capacity for use in smart machines. They are suited for applications that require high-performance, versatile communication, more I/O, and motion control across up to 32 axes.

For safety-related applications, the Allen-Bradley GuardLogix integrated safety controllers are the best choice. They provide advanced safety and integrated motion features in the same chassis. They are TUV certified for Safety Integrity Level 3 (SIL 3) functional safety.

Smart Motor Controller Parts

The Allen-Bradley Smart Motor Controller (SMC) product line includes solid-state soft starters and motor starter combinations. Examples of the offerings include Bulletin 150/153 enclosed SMC models in three performance tiers: SMC-3 (basic), SMC Flex (mid-range), and SMC-50 (high end). These motor controllers provide advanced functionalities beyond simple motor starts and stops. They also reduce mechanical wear associated with full-voltage motor starting, enabling smooth, controlled acceleration. This reduces supply line disruptions, resulting in less downtime and more efficiency. It also extends the lifespan of the motor system.

Key features of Allen-Bradley SMCs include:

• An extensive current range: SMC-3: 20 to 600 A, SMC-Flex: 5 to 1250 A, and SMC-50: 20 to 1600 A. They provide flexible soft-starter solutions for motors rated up to several hundred kW.
• Multiple start/stop modes: Up to 17 modes in the SMC-50 series and solid-state bypass options (internal or external). These bypass options can save costs compared to using conventional contactors.
• Built-in motor overload protection, electronic bypass contactor, and LCDs on higher-end Allen-Bradley SMC models (like SMC-Flex and SMC-50)Optional communication modules including DeviceNet, Ethernet/IP, ControlNet, etc.Advanced diagnostics (overcurrent, ground fault, overvoltage, undervoltage, etc.)

Allen-Bradley soft starters are frequently installed next to motor controllers or in motor control centers. We do have an article here comparing two popular SMC products: The SMC Plus and the SMC 2.

I/O modules and Accessories

Rockwell Automation manufactures a wide range of Allen-Bradley I/O modules for a variety of industrial automation systems. These products enable controllers to interface with field sensors and actuators. They include:

• ControlLogix I/O family (Bulletin 1756): It offers rack-based digital and analog modules, such as 24-channel digital inputs or outputs, analog input modules, motion-control modules, and even computing I/O (all in the 1756 chassis). These modules can be placed in a ControlLogix rack alongside CPU and communication modules.
• Compact 5000 and Micro800 I/O systems: These are snap-on I/O modules specifically designed for use with Bulletin 5069 and Micro800 controllers, respectively. For example, the Micro850 has right-side expansion modules. Compact 5000 I/O units provide high-performance control in a close-packed design, while expanding the performance capabilities of the Compact 5000 Logix controller platform.
• Distributed I/O platforms: These include FLEX I/O (Bulletin 1794) and POINT I/O (Bulletin 1734). FLEX I/O modules (digital, analog, specialty I/O, up to 32 points per module) can be networked via DeviceNet or Ethernet/IP. POINT I/O modules provide 1 to 8 input/output points per module and can mix I/O types in a compact brick (via Ethernet/IP).
• Specialized I/O includes safety variants like the POINT Guard I/O, which is safety-rated and built to fit into the standard POINT I/O system, providing automation and safety functionality in a maximum density I/O solution.

Accessories related to the Allen-Bradley I/O and controllers include:

• Power Supplies and Backplanes: Like the 1756 chassis power supplies
• I/O Cables and Terminal Blocks for field wiring to I/O modules.
• Communication Modules: Such as the EtherNet/IP, DeviceNet, and ControlNet cards that plug into controller racks.
• Fieldbus Adapters, required to interface older PLCs or non-Allen-Bradley networks

Industrial Network Parts

Allen-Bradley offers an extensive variety of communication interfaces for various industrial networks, including EtherNet/IP, DeviceNet, ControlNet, and many more. Other Allen-Bradley networking products include Stratix-managed Ethernet/IP switches and adapters for connectivity, as well as cybersecurity assessments. The Ethernet switches are available as managed and unmanaged, medium or higher-performance switches (like Stratix 5800).

An example of a managed Allen-Bradley Ethernet switch is the  Stratix 5200, which is compatible with PROFINET and EtherNet/IP CIP communication interfaces.  In essence, the Allen-Bradley Stratix 5200 product line employs a robust set of switching and cybersecurity technologies to fulfill a wide range of application requirements.

Stratix 5200 key features:

• Layer-2 switching
• Gigabit ports: Up to 20-port Stratix 5200 switch models are available
• Redundant power inputs
• Factory default configurations for quick setup.
• Support for Device Level Ring (DLR), mainly for network fault tolerance
• Can be managed using OT or IT tools

Allen-Bradley also offers remote-access routers, such as the Stratix 4300. The router provides secure remote connectivity to devices connected via a serial port and Gigabit Ethernet for commissioning, programming, and troubleshooting. It’s available in 2-port and 5-port variants, including a WAN uplink and several LAN ports for local devices. It is designed for industrial use and includes VPN tunneling, NAT, and an integrated firewall to ensure safe Ethernet/IP communications. The Stratix 4300 models with dual-band Wi-Fi, LTE Cat 4 cellular, and Bluetooth offer more versatile connectivity. This model also provides IT-grade security through role-based access and TLS encryption.

Operator Interfaces

Allen-Bradley provides a range of HIMs (Human-Interface-Modules) and operator interface terminals under the PanelView brand. They are designed to provide an intuitive user experience and improve the integration of Allen-Bradley Logix controller. They are available as color touchscreen panels that make it easier to configure and control Logix controllers.

Examples of PanelView 5000 Graphic Terminals:

• PanelView 5510: Large-screen (up to 21.5 inches) graphic terminals. Ideal for demanding industrial applications, as they can support up to 4 Logix controllers and 4000 alarms per controller, with dual Ethernet ports and a 1.46 GHz CPU.
• PanelView 5310: Mid-size touch screens (6 inches to 12 inches). They are suitable for smaller machines, as they can only support a single Logix controller and up to 4000 alarms.

All the Allen-Bradley operator terminals outlined can display detailed graphics, an HTML5 browser, and even PDFs. They also support industrial network features like Device Level Ring (DLR) and dual Ethernet.

Safety Components

In safety-rated applications, Allen-Bradley offers both safety controllers and safety relays. The GuardLogix controller series is a collection of ControlLogix/CompactLogix platforms that include additional safety features. They can handle both standard and safety logic in a single chassis. Primarily, they offer both safety and integrated motion in a single chassis and are certified for up to SIL3/PL e functional safety when paired with a safety CPU. This allows users to use a single Logix controller platform for both control and safety, simplifying machine architecture.

Allen-Bradley Guardmaster safety relays are suitable for simple safety circuits. For example, the Guardmaster 440R series offers single-function safety relays that comply with ISO 13849-1 and IEC 62061. These relays are compact DIN-rail modules that perform duties such as gate monitoring, two-hand control, and emergency stop, with simple wiring and optional GuardLink connectivity. They are designed to meet functional safety standards while also providing critical functionalities that minimize installation and system complexity. Built-in Ethernet/IP monitoring interfaces, timers, and force-guided contacts are among the additional features available on advanced models.

Allen-Bradley also manufactures Safety I/O modules, such as ArmorBlock Guard I/O and POINT Guard I/O, which integrate safety signals at the field level. These safety I/O modules can be combined with GuardLogix controllers to create more secure systems. The Allen-Bradley safety portfolio includes everything from integrated safety PLCs (GuardLogix series) to off-the-shelf safety relays (Guardmaster series), meeting most plant safety needs.

Final Thoughts

Allen-Bradley products are found worldwide, from factories to water treatment plants. Their lineup is extensive, spanning PLCs to motors to power the future of manufacturing. Best of all, we at DO Supply have most of these products and more ready to be shipped to your automation solution. Stop by our site and browse our extensive list of automation equipment from popular brands such as OMRON, Mitsubishi, Allen-Bradley, Seimens, and more. We ship same-day for free and include a two-year warranty on all equipment for added peace of mind.