Company History
Motherwell Automation is proud to celebrate its 20th anniversary under its current ownership, marking two decades of growth and rising influence as a dynamic Perth-based industrial automation company. Over the last 20 years, Motherwell has been productive in introducing well-adopted technologies including leading edge industrial automation, control and information technology products and solutions to the Australian market. With a company history extending back 36 years, I am often asked the origin of the Motherwell Automation name and how it was founded in Perth. I would like to take this opportunity to share that story with you. The Company was founded in Perth Western Australia in 1984 with the delivery of a state-of-art control and management systems for the Albany Grain Export Terminal operated by Cooperative Bulk Handling; the grain handling authority in Western Australia. At the time, the Company was known as “Control Systems International” (CSI) and was a satellite office of its parent company of the same name based in the mid-west of the US in Kansas City.
Ultimately the Company provided upgrades for all Grain Export Terminals in Western Australia as well as the Grain Handling Authority of NSW and for Bulk Grains Queensland at the Gladstone Grain Terminal. The services also extended internationally providing control systems for four international grain handling facilities located on the Nile River in Egypt at Sohag, Qus, Al-balyana and Edfu. In the mid 80’s, the Company became the exclusive distributor for GE Fanuc Process Control System Hardware and Software products in Australia and in addition to the Perth head office, established offices in Melbourne and Sydney. As a consequence, the Company expanded to include dedicated to Bulk Handling, Oil & Gas, Utilities and Water & Wastewater project departments; in addition to the products distribution business. In the mid 90’s, the Company (CSI as it was known then) was acquired by the Motherwell Bridge Company based in the city of Motherwell in Scotland. As a consequence of this acquisition, the company name was changed from CSI to Motherwell Systems and became part of the Motherwell Bridge controls group; this is the origin of the Motherwell name.
Ultimately the Company provided upgrades for all Grain Export Terminals in Western Australia as well as the Grain Handling Authority of NSW and for Bulk Grains Queensland at the Gladstone Grain Terminal. The services also extended internationally providing control systems for four international grain handling facilities located on the Nile River in Egypt at Sohag, Qus, Al-balyana and Edfu. In the mid 80’s, the Company became the exclusive distributor for GE Fanuc Process Control System Hardware and Software products in Australia and in addition to the Perth head office, established offices in Melbourne and Sydney. As a consequence, the Company expanded to include dedicated to Bulk Handling, Oil & Gas, Utilities and Water & Wastewater project departments; in addition to the products distribution business.
