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.
