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A global industrial automation and software company serving process, hybrid, discrete, energy, life-sciences, aerospace, and other technology-intensive industries.

Last updated November 4, 2026

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Overview

Emerson, formally Emerson Electric Co., is a United States-based multinational industrial technology company headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri. Although its earliest identity was built around electric motors, fans, household equipment, and electrical products, the company has progressively transformed into a focused provider of industrial automation, control, measurement, engineering, and software solutions. Its customers include operators and manufacturers in oil and gas, chemicals, power generation, pharmaceuticals, life sciences, food and beverage, water treatment, mining, metals, semiconductor production, aerospace, defense, and other complex industries. The company was established in St. Louis in 1890 by John Wesley Emerson with technology developed by Scottish-born brothers Charles and Alexander Meston. Emerson initially manufactured electric motors and became one of the first major American sellers of electric fans. During the first half of the twentieth century, the business expanded into fans, motors, sewing machines, dental equipment, power tools, and other electrical products. Its World War II production included significant aircraft armament manufacturing, making Emerson one of the important American defense suppliers of the period. From the 1950s through the 1990s, Emerson pursued broad diversification through acquisitions and internal expansion. It entered or strengthened positions in electric motors, heating and cooling, appliances, professional tools, industrial controls, telecommunications infrastructure, and other technology markets. The company acquired InSinkErator in 1968 and later developed the business into a leading producer of food-waste disposers and instant hot-water dispensers. It also built a large climate-technology portfolio, including Copeland compressors and related heating, ventilation, air-conditioning, and refrigeration products. Under Charles Knight and David Farr, Emerson became increasingly international and acquisition-driven. In 2000 the company shortened its public-facing name to Emerson and adopted a brand strategy centered on technology leadership and collaboration across business units. The company’s “Consider It Solved” campaign supported that period of expansion and emphasized Emerson’s role as an engineering partner. During the 2010s and 2020s, Emerson increasingly concentrated on automation, software, measurement, process control, industrial communications, and specialized technologies. It sold the U.S. Motors business to Nidec, divested Network Power to Platinum Equity, acquired professional-tool assets from Textron, combined industrial software assets with Aspen Technology, acquired National Instruments, and divested major consumer and climate businesses. In 2023, Emerson completed the sale of a majority stake in Climate Technologies to Blackstone, creating the standalone Copeland company. In 2024, it sold its remaining Copeland equity interest and related note receivable. In 2025, Emerson acquired the remaining shares of AspenTech, making AspenTech a wholly owned subsidiary. Emerson’s current portfolio is organized around industrial automation and related technology. Its offerings include automation platforms, distributed control systems, safety systems, industrial software, control valves, regulators, measurement instruments, analytical systems, test and measurement products, discrete-automation equipment, industrial wireless technologies, and engineering and lifecycle services. Major brand families include DeltaV, Ovation, Plantweb, AspenTech, Rosemount, Fisher, Micro Motion, ASCO, AVENTICS, TopWorx, Branson, and National Instruments-derived test and measurement technologies. As of fiscal 2025, Emerson described itself as a global automation leader with international destination sales representing 59 percent of total sales. Its strategic positioning emphasizes a software-defined technology stack combined with hardware-advantaged products, operational intelligence, autonomous operations, sustainability, energy efficiency, and improved industrial performance. The company remains publicly traded on the NYSE under the symbol EMR and continues to operate as an active global industrial-technology enterprise.

History

Emerson was founded in 1890 in St. Louis, Missouri, as Emerson Electric Manufacturing Co. John Wesley Emerson, a former Union officer, judge, and lawyer, provided financial backing for a motor design developed by Charles and Alexander Meston, brothers from Scotland. The company began by manufacturing electric motors at a time when electrification was creating new markets for industrial and household equipment. In 1892, Emerson became one of the first American companies to sell electric fans. Fans became an important early product, and the company later introduced ceiling fans that helped make tall commercial and residential buildings more comfortable. During its early decades, Emerson broadened its range to include electric sewing machines, dental drills, power tools, and other electrical products. This established a pattern that would define the company for much of the twentieth century: entering adjacent markets where its motor, electrical, and manufacturing capabilities could be applied. World War II marked a major expansion of Emerson’s defense manufacturing. Under Stuart Symington, the company became a leading producer of aircraft armament and ranked among the largest United States corporations by the value of wartime military production contracts. The experience strengthened Emerson’s engineering and production capabilities, although the company continued to serve civilian markets after the war. From the 1950s through the 1970s, Emerson diversified under leaders including W. R. Persons and Charles F. Knight. The company expanded through acquisitions into motors, electrical equipment, appliances, tools, heating and cooling, and industrial technologies. The 1962 acquisition of United States Electrical Manufacturing Company added the U.S. Motors business. In 1968, Emerson acquired InSinkErator, a business that became a major supplier of food-waste disposers and instant hot-water dispensers. During Charles Knight’s tenure, Emerson pursued an aggressive acquisition and international-growth program. By the end of the twentieth century, the company had become a broad industrial and commercial conglomerate rather than a narrowly focused motor manufacturer. In 2000, David Farr became chief executive officer, succeeding Knight as CEO while Knight retained the chairmanship. Emerson adopted the shorter public-facing name Emerson, introduced a new corporate logo and brand strategy, and emphasized technology leadership, global operations, and cross-business collaboration. The company’s “Consider It Solved” campaign, launched in 2002, communicated Emerson’s role as an engineering partner capable of addressing complex customer challenges. During the 2000s and 2010s, Emerson continued expanding in process automation, measurement, control systems, telecommunications infrastructure, professional tools, and climate technologies. It also acquired specialized businesses such as Cascade Technologies, which strengthened laser-based gas analysis, and American Governor Company, which added hydroelectric-turbine control technology. A major strategic transition began in the 2010s as Emerson divested businesses that were less central to industrial automation. It sold U.S. Motors to Nidec in 2010 and sold Network Power to Platinum Equity in 2016; Network Power later became Vertiv. In 2018, Emerson acquired Textron’s tools and test businesses, adding brands such as Greenlee, Klauke, HD Electric, and Sherman+Reilly. These moves balanced divestitures with targeted additions in professional equipment and industrial technology. In the early 2020s, Emerson accelerated its transformation into an automation and software company. It acquired National Instruments in 2023, creating the Test & Measurement business, and integrated industrial software activities with Aspen Technology. It also sold InSinkErator to Whirlpool and separated its Climate Technologies business into Copeland, majority-owned by Blackstone. Emerson later sold its remaining Copeland equity interest and note receivable, completing the divestiture. In March 2025, Emerson acquired the remaining shares of AspenTech that it did not already own, making AspenTech a wholly owned subsidiary and incorporating it into the Control Systems & Software segment. Emerson’s current strategy emphasizes a software-defined automation stack, connected hardware, measurement, control, artificial intelligence, autonomous operations, and lifecycle services. Its customers operate in industries where reliability, safety, regulatory compliance, energy efficiency, emissions reduction, and productivity are critical. The company remains headquartered in St. Louis and publicly traded on the NYSE as EMR.

  • 2025

    AspenTech becomes wholly owned

    [14]

    Emerson acquired the remaining AspenTech shares for approximately $7.2 billion and integrated AspenTech into Control Systems & Software.

  • 2025

    Autonomous-future strategy presented

    [9]

    Emerson introduced strategic priorities and 2028 financial targets focused on automation, software, autonomous operations, and selected growth verticals.

  • 2023

    Climate Technologies becomes Copeland

    [13]

    Emerson completed the sale of a majority stake in Climate Technologies to Blackstone, creating the standalone Copeland business.

  • 2023

    National Instruments acquired

    [14]

    Emerson completed the acquisition of National Instruments and established Test & Measurement as part of its Software and Control group.

  • 2022

    Industrial software combination with AspenTech

    [11]

    Emerson combined industrial software assets with Aspen Technology and created a larger industrial-software platform.

  • 2022

    InSinkErator sold to Whirlpool

    [12]

    Emerson completed the $3.0 billion divestiture of InSinkErator to Whirlpool.

  • 2021

    Lal Karsanbhai becomes CEO

    [3]

    Lal Karsanbhai succeeded David Farr as chief executive and began a more focused transformation toward industrial automation and software.

  • 2020

    American Governor Company acquired

    [10]

    The acquisition added control technologies for hydroelectric turbines and strengthened Emerson’s power-generation portfolio.

  • 2018

    Textron Tools and Test businesses acquired

    [10]

    Emerson acquired professional-tool and test-equipment businesses including Greenlee, Klauke, HD Electric, and Sherman+Reilly.

  • 2016

    Network Power divested

    [10]

    Platinum Equity acquired Emerson’s Network Power division in a transaction valued at more than $4 billion; the business later became Vertiv.

Products and positioning

A global industrial automation partner combining control hardware, measurement and analytical instrumentation, engineering expertise, and software-defined technologies to improve safety, reliability, productivity, energy performance, and autonomy in complex operations.

  • Distributed control and process automation

    DeltaV

    DeltaV is Emerson’s distributed control and automation platform for process industries. It combines control hardware, operator interfaces, engineering tools, safety integration, asset information, and operational software. DeltaV is used by manufacturers and process operators seeking improved plant reliability, production consistency, commissioning, change management, and integration between field equipment and enterprise systems.

  • Power-generation automation

    Ovation

    Ovation is Emerson’s automation and control platform for electric utilities and power-generation facilities. It supports control, monitoring, optimization, and operational management across power assets, including conventional generation and renewable-energy applications. The platform is designed for high availability and for the coordination of complex generation and grid-related processes.

  • Industrial digital ecosystem

    Plantweb

    Plantweb is Emerson’s digital ecosystem for connected operations and industrial intelligence. It brings together sensors, control systems, analytics, software, edge technologies, and services to help customers monitor assets, identify operational issues, improve maintenance, and pursue more autonomous plant operations. Plantweb is a portfolio and architecture rather than a single product.

  • Industrial software · 1981

    AspenTech

    AspenTech supplies industrial software for asset optimization, process engineering, planning, scheduling, supply-chain management, energy operations, and asset performance. Following Emerson’s acquisition of the remaining shares in 2025, AspenTech became a wholly owned Emerson subsidiary and was integrated into Emerson’s Control Systems & Software activities.

  • Measurement and analytical instrumentation · 1956

    Rosemount

    Rosemount is a major Emerson brand for process measurement and analytical equipment. Its portfolio includes pressure, temperature, flow, level, wireless, and analytical instruments used to monitor and control industrial processes. Rosemount products are deployed where accurate measurement supports safety, quality, energy management, regulatory compliance, and production efficiency.

  • Control valves and regulators

    Fisher

    Fisher provides control valves, regulators, actuators, and related final-control technologies. These products regulate the flow, pressure, and direction of fluids and gases in process plants and infrastructure. Fisher equipment is used in energy, chemical, pharmaceutical, food, water, and other industries where precise and reliable final control is essential.

  • Flow and density measurement · 1977

    Micro Motion

    Micro Motion develops precision flow, density, and concentration measurement products, including Coriolis and related technologies. The products support custody transfer, process control, batching, quality assurance, and production optimization in industries such as energy, chemicals, food and beverage, and life sciences.

  • Automated test and measurement · 1976

    National Instruments Test & Measurement

    National Instruments-derived technologies provide software-connected automated test and measurement systems. The portfolio helps engineers validate electronic, semiconductor, aerospace, automotive, communications, and other complex products. Emerson acquired National Instruments in 2023 and reports the business as Test & Measurement within Software and Control.

  • Fluid-control equipment · 1910

    ASCO

    ASCO supplies solenoid valves, pneumatic valves, fluid-control systems, and related products for industrial automation, commercial equipment, process systems, and infrastructure. The brand is used in applications requiring dependable control of air, gas, steam, water, and other fluids.

  • Pneumatics and discrete automation · 1869

    AVENTICS

    AVENTICS provides pneumatic components and systems, including cylinders, valves, air preparation equipment, controls, and related automation products. The portfolio serves factory automation, mobile equipment, packaging, material handling, and other discrete-manufacturing applications.

  • Ultrasonic and plastics joining · 1946

    Branson

    Branson develops ultrasonic, vibration, and other joining technologies for plastics, nonwovens, packaging, medical products, electronics, and industrial manufacturing. Its systems are used for welding, sealing, cleaning, and assembly where repeatability and process control are important.

  • Food-waste disposers and instant hot-water dispensers · 1938

    InSinkErator

    InSinkErator was a long-standing Emerson consumer and commercial-products business producing food-waste disposers and instant hot-water dispensers. Emerson acquired it in 1968 and sold it to Whirlpool in 2022, so it is no longer an Emerson-owned product line.

Controversies

  • 2006

    NBC Heroes garbage-disposal lawsuit

    Emerson sued NBC over a scene in the pilot episode of Heroes showing a character seriously injured while reaching into a garbage disposal. Emerson argued that the depiction could damage the reputation of its disposer products. The parties reached an out-of-court settlement, and the case was dropped in February 2007.

    Source

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Marketing campaigns

  • 2022Go Boldly

    Global

    Go Boldly was introduced as a new tagline and global brand campaign during Emerson’s transformation from a diversified manufacturing company toward a focused industrial automation leader. The campaign connected automation, sustainability, operational performance, and the company’s aspiration to help create a healthier, safer, smarter, and more sustainable world.

    Outcome. The campaign remains part of Emerson’s public brand identity and supports its current positioning around automation and the autonomous future.

    Source
  • 2002Consider It Solved

    Global

    Emerson’s first major corporate advertising platform presented the company as an engineering and technology partner that could solve complex customer problems across industrial, commercial, and consumer markets.

    Outcome. The campaign became closely associated with Emerson during its period of diversification, international expansion, and technology-led industrial positioning.

    Source

Brand decisions

  • 2025

    Full acquisition of AspenTechM&A

    Background

    Emerson determined that full ownership would simplify the portfolio and allow closer integration of AspenTech’s software with Emerson’s automation technologies.

    Action taken

    Emerson purchased the remaining AspenTech shares it did not already own and made AspenTech a wholly owned subsidiary.

    Aftermath

    AspenTech was reorganized into Emerson’s Control Systems & Software segment, strengthening the company’s software-defined automation strategy.

    Purchase price for remaining shares. Approximately $7.2 billion (March 12, 2025)

    Source

  • 2025

    Engineering the autonomous future strategyStrategy

    Background

    After several years of acquisitions and divestitures, Emerson presented its transformed portfolio as a focused global automation company.

    Action taken

    Emerson introduced strategic priorities and 2028 financial targets centered on organic growth, margin expansion, software-defined technology, autonomous operations, and selected vertical markets.

    Aftermath

    The strategy formalized Emerson’s post-transformation identity and prioritized power, LNG, life sciences, semiconductors, aerospace, and defense as growth areas.

    2028 net-sales target. $21 billion (Target announced November 20, 2025)

    Source

  • 2023

    Acquisition of National InstrumentsM&A

    Background

    Emerson sought to broaden its automation offering beyond process industries by adding software-connected testing, validation, and measurement technologies.

    Action taken

    Emerson completed its acquisition of National Instruments and integrated it as the Test & Measurement business.

    Aftermath

    The transaction expanded Emerson’s reach into semiconductor, electronics, aerospace, automotive, communications, and other product-development markets.

    Cash consideration at closing. Approximately $8.467 billion, including debt payoff (October 11, 2023)

    Source

  • 2022

    Sale of InSinkEratorM&A

    Background

    Emerson was reshaping its portfolio around industrial automation and viewed the consumer-oriented InSinkErator business as less central to the future company.

    Action taken

    Emerson agreed to sell InSinkErator to Whirlpool and completed the transaction on October 31, 2022.

    Aftermath

    Whirlpool obtained a leading food-waste-disposer and instant-hot-water business, while Emerson received cash and continued simplifying its portfolio.

    Transaction value. $3.0 billion (2022)

    • Whirlpool Corporation — Whirlpool described the acquisition as an opportunity to build on InSinkErator’s established brand and market position.
    Source

  • 2022

    Creation of standalone Copeland businessM&A

    Background

    Emerson sought to focus on automation and software while unlocking value from its large climate-technology portfolio.

    Action taken

    Emerson agreed to sell a majority stake in Climate Technologies to Blackstone while retaining a minority interest in the new Copeland joint venture.

    Aftermath

    The transaction created Copeland as a standalone climate-technology company and materially reduced Emerson’s exposure to residential and commercial HVAC and refrigeration.

    Transaction value. $14.0 billion (Announced 2022; completed 2023)

    • Blackstone — Blackstone became the majority owner and partner in the standalone Copeland business.
    Source

  • 2022

    Industrial software combination with AspenTechM&A

    Background

    Emerson wanted greater scale and a stronger software platform for asset optimization, process engineering, and industrial operations.

    Action taken

    Emerson contributed industrial software businesses and approximately $6 billion in cash to combine with Aspen Technology and create a larger AspenTech.

    Aftermath

    The combination increased Emerson’s participation in industrial software and laid the foundation for later full ownership of AspenTech.

    Source

  • 2016

    Divestiture of Network PowerM&A

    Background

    Emerson sought to simplify its portfolio and concentrate on businesses with stronger alignment to its long-term industrial-technology strategy.

    Action taken

    Platinum Equity acquired Network Power for more than $4 billion and later operated it under the Vertiv name.

    Aftermath

    The divestiture separated Emerson from a major telecommunications and data-center power business and contributed to portfolio simplification.

    Transaction value. More than $4 billion (2016)

    Source

  • 2010

    Exit from U.S. MotorsM&A

    Background

    Emerson evaluated its electric-motor portfolio as part of a broader effort to focus resources on businesses with stronger technology and growth characteristics.

    Action taken

    Emerson sold its U.S. Motors business to Nidec Corporation.

    Aftermath

    The transaction removed a historic motor business from Emerson’s portfolio and reinforced its shift toward industrial technology and automation.

    Source

Recent events

  • Unconfirmed

    Emerson releases TopWorx Magnetic Target Switch[16]

    Emerson released the TopWorx Magnetic Target Switch, a position-sensing switch designed for standard and extreme-duty environments and offered in general-purpose, intrinsically safe, or explosion-proof classifications.

  • Unconfirmed

    Emerson receives 2021 IoT Analytics Platform of the Year award[17]

    Emerson received the IoT Analytics Platform of the Year award for its Plantweb Optics Analytics software.

  • Unconfirmed

    Emerson announces acquisition of OSI[18]

    Emerson announced a cash acquisition of OSI for $1.6 billion. The article says the acquisition would expand Emerson's software portfolio and combine Emerson's power-sector expertise with OSI software.

  • Unconfirmed

    Reported

    Emerson and SABIC enter strategic automation alliance[19]

    Emerson signed a strategic agreement to serve as a preferred automation services and technologies provider for SABIC, supporting the petrochemical manufacturer's digital transformation programs and operations optimization.

  • Unconfirmed

    Reported

    Emerson signs strategic agreement with SABIC[20]

    Emerson signed a strategic agreement to serve as a preferred automation services and technologies provider to SABIC, supporting the petrochemical manufacturer's digital transformation programs and operational optimization.

  • Reported

    Emerson's Greenlee works with FSG on GreenApple Labs training[21]

    Emerson's Greenlee business is working with electrical contractor FSG to integrate GreenApple Labs curriculum into FSG's free training program.

Read more

Sources21 sources

  1. 1Emerson Company Historyemerson.com
  2. 2Emerson Leadershipemerson.com
  3. 3Lal Karsanbhai biographyemerson.com
  4. 4Emerson Governance and Boardir.emerson.com
  5. 5Emerson fiscal 2025 Form 10-Kir.emerson.com
  6. 6Emerson 2025 Annual Reportsec.gov
  7. 7Emerson InSinkErator sale announcementemerson.com
  8. 8Emerson Climate Technologies transaction announcementemerson.com
  9. 9Emerson 2025 Investor Conference strategy announcementemerson.com
  10. 10Emerson Electric Wikipedia articleen.wikipedia.org
  11. 11Industrial software combination with AspenTechir.emerson.com
  12. 12InSinkErator sold to Whirlpoolir.emerson.com
  13. 13Climate Technologies becomes Copelandsec.gov
  14. 14National Instruments acquiredsec.gov
  15. 15Go Boldlyir.emerson.com
  16. 16Emerson发布TopWorx磁性目标开关oilandgasonline.com
  17. 17Emerson获得2021年度物联网分析平台奖digitalproducer.com
  18. 18艾默生宣布收购OSInews.e-works.net.cn
  19. 19Emerson 与 SABIC 建立自动化战略联盟saudigazette.com.sa
  20. 20艾默生与沙特基础工业公司签署战略协议saudigazette.com.sa
  21. 21Emerson 旗下 Greenlee 与 FSG 合作开展 GreenApple Labs 培训prnewswire.com

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