Rockwell Automation Headquarters, Wisconsin

Rockwell Automation is one of several major mechanical companies that emerged out of Milwaukee’s industrial apogee in the early 20^th century, that remain leaders in their field today, and though their names may have changed, they have kept their headquarters in town. What is called Rockwell today started in 1903, making switches, rheostats, and other machine and radio controls, growing as the Allen-Bradley company. The company grew exponentially supplying machinery parts in World War II, and built its new headquarters, with the notable clock tower, in the 1950s. The company was still privately held when it surpassed the annual sales mark of $1billion in 1985, and was purchased by Rockwell, and Allen-Bradley became Rockwell Automation, still making control systems for buildings, machines, and motors.