IEN conducted its annual Brand Preference Study among you, our readers, to identify brands considered to be the best in specific categories.

Here are the 2007 results with information about the companies. Congratulations to all the winners—and thanks to everyone who participated.

About the Companies

AutomationDirect
Cumming, GA
“AutomationDirect is a direct seller of automation and industrial control products such as PLCs, sensors, pushbuttons, AC drives/motors, enclosures, operator interfaces, and much more. Through our free 1,900+ page catalog and this full-featured Web site, we are able to offer the most practical industrial automation products at the industry’s lowest prices.”
http://www.automationdirect.com
(800) 633-0405

Bosch Rexroth
Buchanan, MI
“To be successful in the 21^st century, you need to create sustainable competitive advantage, both for you and for your customers. We’ve built collaborative relationships with a network of local and regional distributors to give design engineers the best of both worlds: world-class applications assistance for machine automation with unrivaled local support.”
http://www.boschrexroth-us.com
(800) 739-7684

Cole-Parmer
Vernon Hills, IL
“Since 1955, Cole-Parmer has been a leading global source of laboratory and industrial fluid handling products, instrumentation, equipment, and supplies. We are proven experts in the fields of temperature measurement and control, electrochemistry, and fluid handling. Our products are sold throughout the world through company-owned customer channel outlets and a strong network of international dealers. Our expansive warehouse is stocked with many of the 60,000 items we offer the scientific and industrial markets.”
http://www.coleparmer.com 
(800) 323-4340

Devcon/Permatex
Danvers, MA 
“Since 1909, Permatex® products have provided industry with innovative and reliable solutions to the most challenging mechanical problems. Now available through ITW Devcon, Permatex® continues to be a brand leader in the Industrial market with product solutions specifically designed to increase reliability while reducing costs. Whether you’re looking for an OEM adhesive or trying to keep your facility up and running through proactive maintenance procedures, look to Devcon® and Permatex® for quality, cost-effective solutions!”
http://www.devcon.com
(800) 626-7226

Exide Technologies
Alpharetta, GA
“Exide Technologies, with operations in 89 countries, is one of the world’s largest producers and recyclers of lead-acid batteries. The company’s four global business groups – Transportation Americas, Transportation Europe and Rest of World, Industrial Energy Americas and Industrial Energy Europe and Rest of World – provide a comprehensive range of stored electrical energy products and services for industrial and transportation applications.”
http://www.exide.com
(678) 566-9000

ExxonMobil
Alpharetta, GA
“ExxonMobil is the world’s No. 1 supplier of lube basestocks and a leader in marketing finished lubricants and specialty products. We have a dedicated organization and strong distributor network that supply high quality lubricants and provide technical application expertise to customers throughout the globe.”
http://www.exxonmobil.com
(800) 662-4525

Gates
Denver, CO
“Over the years, Gates built its reputation by providing the highest-quality products and services. That dedication to quality continues today with the Gates Quality Commitment. At Gates, the definition of quality is simple and straightforward –‘To meet or exceed customer expectations with products, services and experiences that are superior to the competition’.” 
http://www.gates.com
(303) 744-1911

 Goodyear Engineered Products
Akron, OH
“The customer first, always. Goodyear Engineered Products delivers on this every day by enhancing your organization’s material transfer performance with a wide variety of industrial hose, fittings and accessories. With the additional strength of our support services, you’ll know you have chosen an industrial hose brand you can trust, one that stands for reliability and striving for your complete satisfaction.”
http://www.goodyearep.com
(888) 899-6354

Grainger
Lake Forest, IL
“Over the last 80 years, Grainger’s product line has expanded to more than 800,000 products and repair parts. The Grainger branch network has grown steadily over the years, and today there are more than 425 Grainger branches in the U.S. and nearly 600 in North America and China.”
http://www.grainger.com
(888) 361-8649

Heidenhain
Schaumburg, IL 
“Our competence in the area of linear and angular metrology is reflected by a large number of customized solutions for users. These include in particular the measuring and inspection devices developed and built for many of the world’s standards laboratories as well as angle encoders for various telescope projects and satellite receiving antennas. Naturally the standard products also profit from these experiences.” 
http://www.heidenhain.com
(800) 233-0388

Ingersoll Rand
Annandale, NJ 
“We are a global diversified industrial firm providing products, services and solutions to transport and protect food and perishables, secure homes and commercial properties, and enhance industrial productivity and efficiency. Driven by a 100-year-old tradition of technological innovation, we enable companies and their customers to create progress.”
http://www.irtools.com
(800) 376-8665

KPG/Krylon
Cleveland, OH 
“Krylon® Industrial delivers proven performance in products ranging from general maintenance paint to industrial coatings required to withstand the harshest industrial environments. In addition to being the largest aerosol paint manufacturer in the world, the Krylon® Industrial brand offers an expanded line of liquid paints and coatings of the highest quality.”
http://www.kpg-industrial.com 
(800) 777-2966

Lantech
Louisville, KY
“Lantech is the originator of stretch wrapping technology and world’s largest manufacturer, with more than 60,000 systems placed worldwide. Headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky, with manufacturing operations in the U.S. and the Netherlands. Lantech products are sold and serviced by a network of 175 distributor locations.”
http://www.lantech.com
(800) 866-0322

National Instruments
Austin, TX
“National Instruments creates innovative computer-based products that improve everyday life and give its customers a better solution for measuring and automating the world around them. Over the last 30 years, National Instruments has pioneered virtual instrumentation, a unique approach to embedded design, industrial control, and test and measurement that combines commercial off-the-shelf technologies with innovative software and hardware.”
http://www.ni.com
(800) 531-5066

New Pig
Tipton, PA
“Since 1985, New Pig has been providing innovative products and services to industrial, institutional and governmental facilities. We’ve grown into a multi-channel, multi-brand supplier of products designed specifically for leak and spill management, industrial safety and plant maintenance. Today, New Pig serves more than 170,000 customers in more than 40 countries.”
http://www.newpig.com
(800) 468-4647

Parker Hannifin
Wickliffe, OH and Des Plaines, IL
“With annual sales exceeding $8 billion, Parker Hannifin Corporation is the world’s leading diversified manufacturer of motion and control technologies, providing systematic, precision-engineered solutions for a wide variety of commercial, mobile, industrial and aerospace markets.”
http://www.parker.com
(800) 272-7537

Pro-face America
(Xycom)
Saline, MI 
“At Pro-face America, we are committed to providing the world’s best factory automation hardware, software and support services. A key element in achieving this goal is our relationships with our customers. We do not want to just satisfy our customers’ needs, we want them to participate in our processes so we can exceed their needs.”
http://www.profaceamerica.com
(800) 289-9266

Ridge Tool Company
Berea, OH
“Since 1923, RIDGID has remained the symbol of certainty to dedicated professionals of the expert trades. We at the Ridge Tool Company take this heritage seriously. This is why every tool that bears the RIDGID brand is engineered to the same high standards of quality, strength, and endurance as was that first heavy-duty pipe wrench more than 80 years ago.”
http://www.ridgid.com 
(800) 474-3443  

Rockwell/Allen Bradley
Milwaukee, WI
“At Rockwell Automation, helping manufacturers succeed and grow is what we do best — with industrial automation control and information solutions designed to give our customers a competitive advantage. From stand-alone, industrial components to enterprise-wide integrated systems, our solutions have proven themselves across a wide range of industries and in some of the most demanding manufacturing environments.”
http://www.rockwellautomation.com 
(414) 382-2000

Siemens Energy and Automation
Alpharetta, GA
“Siemens Energy and Automation helps customers in the industrial, manufacturing and construction sectors succeed by providing complete electrical, engineering and automation solutions. Through a commitment to innovative engineering that goes back more than 150 years, Siemens serves the world’s largest and most respected companies through integrated solutions, software, hardware and services.”
http://www.siemens.com
(800) 743-6367

Symbol Technologies
(acquired by Motorola)
Schaumburg, IL
“Symbol’s corded and cordless scanners are the foundation of mobile enterprises and work seamlessly with other networks and information systems, so you can cost-effectively build and adapt as your business grows. Because when you’re able to keep the line moving faster at checkout, track medications and control inventory more accurately, even in the harshest environments, revenue increases.”
http://www.symbol.com 
(866) 416-8545

Turck
Plymouth, MN
“Turck is a leading manufacturer of products designed for factory and process automation industries that uphold uncompromising standards for reliability and functionality. Our extensive line of products includes advanced sensors, measurement, instrumentation, connectivity, interface and networks that meet clients’ application demands.”
http://www.turck-usa.com 
(800) 544-7769

Uvex
Smithfield, RI
“Uvex is the leading U.S. manufacturer and supplier of premium quality, state-of-the-art, feature-rich safety eyewear, goggles and face shields that offer comfort and innovation without compromise. All Uvex products meet or exceed industry standards, proving time and again that nothing protects like Uvex.”
http://www.uvex.com
(800) 682-0839

Watlow
St Louis, MO
“At Watlow, quality means producing a single component, or an entire thermal system, that matches or exceeds customer expectations. More and more of our customers instruct us to ship-to-stock and do not inspect our incoming products because they know we do. We think this confidence results from our strong quality programs.”
http://www.watlow.com
(800) 492-8569