In a fragmented and confusing business, all revenue numbers not related to automation have been eliminated, which provides a clear view of industry rankings. The CONTROL TOP-50 list has become the standard by which the automation industry is measured.

The numbers used are from 2009, which introduces a year's lag. But, this is the only fair way, because companies release their full year results at different times.

Walt Boyes points out the effects of the recession: The USA market (25% of the world market) fell by 15% from 2008 to 2009, to $19.3B; the world market was down by 11% to $77.8B.

Based on interim reports, the 2010 numbers (which will be in the Dec. 2011 issue of CONTROL) will show significant improvement.

Here is my summary of the Global and N. America Top-10, with some rank additions for clarity.

In N. America, the top four (Emerson, Rockwell, ABB and Siemens) retained their positions; Emerson maintained market share at 15% and ABB improved to 8.8%; but Rockwell fell by 1% to 11.4%.

Invensys IOM returned to the USA Top 10 at number 9, with 3% market share. World rankings showed no changes in the positions of the top six: Siemens, ABB, Emerson, Rockwell, Schneider and Honeywell.

When we look at the global market, changes are evident. Last year, Siemens (18%) and ABB (12%) were well ahead of the rest, followed by the other majors each at around 5% market share. This year the results show Siemens dropping back to 16.6%, ABB steady at 11.8%, and Emerson moving up to 6.2% share, ahead of Schneider, Omron, Yokogawa and Mitsubishi, which were overtaken by Rockwell and Honeywell.

Here are a few of the mid-size companies I track; I expect these leaders to keep growing steadily in the rankings:

• National Instruments falls back a bit, at #27, $676 M global. The company is growing well in 2010 - revenue $824M.
• Phoenix Contact #14 at $1,332M globally - now more than double the size of its old competitor Weidmuller which has fallen to #26 at $561M.
• Beckhoff is #45 at $332M globally, but just an honorable mention on the N. America list at $33M. I'm informed that the company grew globally to $450M in 2010, a growth of +46% vs. 2009.
• OSIsoft was #34 at $84M on the N. American ranking, and got just an honorable mention on the global list at $162M.
• Mini-conglomerates (bag of smaller, acquired companies):
  • Ametek jumped to #10 in N. America ($585M), and is #19 ($1,147M) globally;
  • Spectris #16 ($1.2B) global, and #16 ($284M) in N. America;
  • Roper ($536M #31) global, #14 N. America $359M.
• OPTO-22 got an honorable mention at $90M worldwide revenues.