Emerson Electric Co. has long been a heavyweight in both industrial automation and climate technologies – offering everything from process control systems and plant instrumentation to HVAC and refrigeration components. Competing with Emerson means matching its reputation for reliability and innovation across factories, refineries, data centers, and commercial buildings.
In recent years Emerson sharpened its focus on automation (including major software acquisitions) while restructuring its climate division, underscoring how dynamic these sectors are. It’s a fiercely competitive arena where global players race to provide smarter, greener, and more efficient solutions for industry and infrastructure.
Emerson’s rivals span continents and specialties. Some are diversified engineering conglomerates with century-old legacies; others are pure-play specialists in automation or climate systems. What they share is a commitment to innovation and a recognition that digital transformation and sustainability are the key battlegrounds.
Below, we spotlight ten of Emerson’s top global competitors in industrial automation and climate tech – from North America, Europe, and Asia – examining their company profiles, how they overlap with Emerson, and their recent strategic moves.
Notably, Emerson’s own strategy has evolved in response to this competitive environment. In 2023, it carved out a majority stake of its Climate Technologies business (now named Copeland) to focus more on automation and software, while still retaining a hand in the HVAC market through that partnership.
This indicates Emerson is doubling down on its industrial automation core – exactly where competitors like Siemens, ABB, and Rockwell are upping the game – even as it ensures its climate legacy (Copeland compressors, cold-chain solutions, etc.) continues under a new structure. In the following sections, we examine how each major competitor stacks up.
Top Competitors of Emerson
1) ABB (Switzerland/Sweden)
Website – https://www.abb.com/
ABB is a Swiss-based engineering giant and a direct rival to Emerson in industrial automation. With about $32 billion in revenue and operations in 100+ countries, ABB’s portfolio spans robotics, factory automation equipment, process control systems, and electrification.
It often goes head-to-head with Emerson in process industries – ABB’s distributed control systems and measurement instruments compete with Emerson’s automation solutions in oil & gas, chemicals, and utilities.
In recent years ABB has been refocusing its business: in 2025 it announced plans to spin off its robotics division as a separate company, allowing ABB to concentrate on core automation and energy markets. The company has also made acquisitions to bolster its green and digital offerings (for example, buying a power electronics unit to strengthen its renewable energy portfolio).
Notably, ABB has installed over half a million industrial robots worldwide and holds the top robotics market share in China – underscoring its global influence in automation.
ABB’s scale and ongoing push into digital platforms (the ABB Ability™ suite) and sustainable technologies ensure it remains one of Emerson’s fiercest global competitors in automation.
2) Siemens (Germany)
Website – https://www.siemens.com/
Germany’s Siemens AG is one of the world’s largest industrial tech companies and a major Emerson competitor in automation. With around 300,000 employees in 190 countries and annual revenues near €78 billion, Siemens offers a wide spectrum of products from SIMATIC PLCs and factory robots to process control systems and building automation.
It competes directly with Emerson in factory and process automation – Siemens’ control systems and instrumentation often rival Emerson’s in industries like manufacturing, energy, and chemicals.
Lately Siemens has put huge emphasis on software and digital services: in 2024 it agreed to buy Altair Engineering for $10.6 billion, expanding its industrial simulation and AI software portfolio and reinforcing its Siemens Xcelerator digital platform.
By integrating physical equipment with cutting-edge software, Siemens aims to lead the industry’s digital transformation. Siemens also entered 2023 with a record order backlog of over €100 billion, giving it momentum to invest in new technologies (such as industrial AI and electric mobility infrastructure).
Such scale and forward-looking investments ensure Siemens stays in the top tier of Emerson’s competitors.
3) Schneider Electric (France)
Website – https://www.se.com/
France’s Schneider Electric is a global leader in digital automation and energy management, and it competes with Emerson in both industrial and building automation.
A Fortune Global 500 firm with about €38 billion in 2024 revenue, Schneider’s offerings – from factory controllers and process control systems to electrical gear and smart building controls – overlap significantly with Emerson’s. Schneider (the parent of brands like Modicon PLC and Foxboro DCS) often bids against Emerson on projects in oil & gas, power, and manufacturing, while also rivaling Emerson’s HVAC controls in buildings.
In 2023–2024 Schneider doubled down on industrial software and sustainability services: it completed the full acquisition of AVEVA, a major UK engineering software company, in January 2023, bringing AVEVA’s plant design and simulation tools fully in-house. It also acquired climate consulting firm EcoAct in 2023 and has partnered on AI-driven energy projects (for example, teaming with NVIDIA to develop smarter energy management systems).
Notably, Schneider Electric is often lauded for its sustainability efforts – in 2025 it was recognized by the World Economic Forum for innovation in sustainable design – reflecting its brand positioning as a green leader. By blending automation technology with energy expertise and heavily promoting efficiency and “green” solutions, Schneider remains a formidable competitor to Emerson worldwide.
4) Rockwell Automation (USA)
Website – https://www.rockwellautomation.com/
Rockwell Automation, based in the U.S., is the world’s largest pure-play industrial automation company and a key competitor to Emerson’s automation segment. Much smaller than the European conglomerates (about $8–9 billion annual revenue), Rockwell is known for its Allen-Bradley PLCs, factory control software, and strong presence in North American manufacturing.
It directly competes with Emerson for automation projects in industries like automotive, pharmaceuticals, and food processing – essentially anywhere PLCs and control systems are needed.
Rockwell has been expanding into new areas to keep pace: in late 2023 it acquired Canada’s Clearpath Robotics (including the OTTO Motors autonomous mobile robots) to add warehouse and material-handling automation to its portfolio. It’s also partnering with tech firms like Microsoft and NVIDIA to infuse cloud connectivity and AI into its solutions.
Headquartered in Milwaukee, Rockwell has about 27,000 employees in over 100 countries, giving it a global service footprint despite its smaller size.
Rockwell’s focused expertise in automation and its “Connected Enterprise” vision continue to make it a strong rival to Emerson, especially in discrete manufacturing and digital factory initiatives. Its tight focus and continual innovation (from acquisitions like Plex Systems for cloud MES to partnerships in analytics) ensure Rockwell stays highly relevant in the competitive landscape against giants like Emerson.
5) Honeywell International (USA)
Website – https://www.honeywell.com/us/en
Honeywell International is a diversified U.S. conglomerate that competes with Emerson in both process automation and building climate control. Best known for its aerospace and thermostat brands, Honeywell also offers the Experion process control system (a direct rival to Emerson’s DeltaV in refineries and plants) and a broad line of building automation systems.
With roughly $38 billion in annual revenue, Honeywell’s scale and range are vast.
In recent years Honeywell sharpened its focus on automation and sustainable technology under new CEO Vimal Kapur.
In mid-2024, for example, it paid $4.95 billion to acquire Carrier’s commercial building access and security business – adding brands like LenelS2 and Supra to its building technologies segment – a move that aligns with Honeywell’s strategy to lead in smart buildings.
Honeywell has also been innovating in eco-friendly solutions (such as new processes for turning waste biomass into renewable fuels). Honeywell is also evaluating portfolio moves (considering a possible spin-off of its Aerospace division) to unlock value and concentrate on high-growth areas.
By combining expertise in industrial automation, aerospace-grade control systems, and green tech (and through its Honeywell Forge cloud platform for analytics), Honeywell remains one of Emerson’s most formidable and multi-faceted competitors.
6) Johnson Controls (Ireland/USA)
Website – https://www.johnsoncontrols.com/
Johnson Controls (JCI) is an Irish-domiciled, U.S.-run company specializing in building HVAC equipment and automation, making it a top Emerson competitor in climate technologies and building controls. With about $23 billion in revenue, JCI produces everything from large chillers and air conditioning systems (York brand) to fire/security and digital building management platforms.
It often competes with Emerson’s climate control offerings – for example, JCI’s facility automation systems and smart thermostats rival Emerson’s in commercial buildings.
Johnson Controls has recently streamlined to focus on its core strength in commercial buildings: in 2025 it sold its entire residential and light-commercial HVAC business to Bosch for $8.1 billion. This divestiture allows JCI to double down on smart and sustainable building solutions for large facilities.
The company’s OpenBlue suite (an AI-powered building management platform) has gained recognition for improving energy efficiency.
Founded in 1885 by Warren Johnson (inventor of the first electric room thermostat), Johnson Controls has a 140-year legacy of building innovation.
That legacy, combined with its aggressive moves in smart tech (it made eight acquisitions in 2022 alone to enhance its digital and services portfolio), keeps JCI as a vigorous competitor in the climate and building tech arena.
7) Mitsubishi Electric (Japan)
Website – https://in.mitsubishielectric.com/en/
Japan’s Mitsubishi Electric is a broad-based electronics and engineering company that competes with Emerson in both industrial automation and climate control.
On the automation side, Mitsubishi Electric provides factory automation systems (MELSEC PLCs, servomotors) and industrial robots, which often go up against Emerson’s automation solutions in manufacturing plants (especially in Asia).
On the climate side, it’s a major global manufacturer of air conditioning and heating systems (from home AC units to VRF commercial systems), overlapping with Emerson’s HVAC-related products and components.
Mitsubishi Electric has been investing in advanced technology to differentiate itself.
For instance, in 2025 it agreed to acquire Nozomi Networks – a leading industrial cybersecurity firm – for around $1 billion, aiming to integrate robust OT cybersecurity into its factory automation offerings.
It is also pushing the envelope in energy-efficient climate tech (like next-gen heat pumps and refrigerant-efficient AC systems) to meet sustainability goals.
Mitsubishi Electric’s overall revenue was about $38–39 billion in 2023, reflecting its huge global presence beyond Japan (nearly 150,000 employees worldwide).
Its contributions to fields as diverse as factory automation, elevators, and air conditioning give it a breadth of expertise few can match.
For Emerson, Mitsubishi Electric is a formidable rival – particularly in Asia-Pacific markets where both companies vie for industrial and commercial projects.
8) Yokogawa Electric (Japan)
Website – https://www.yokogawa.com/
Yokogawa, based in Japan, is a specialized competitor to Emerson in the process automation arena. Smaller in scale (around $3–4 billion revenue) but highly focused, Yokogawa’s flagship CENTUM distributed control systems and its transmitters and analyzers are widely used in oil & gas, petrochemicals, and power generation – directly competing with Emerson’s control systems and instrumentation in those markets.
Yokogawa has a strong reputation in Asia and the Middle East for reliability and engineering quality. To adapt to industry shifts, Yokogawa has expanded into renewable energy and digital services.
In 2023 it acquired BaxEnergy, an Italian renewables management software provider, to strengthen its capabilities in monitoring wind and solar farms.
Yokogawa also offers IIoT and advanced analytics solutions under its OpreX brand, helping traditional industries improve efficiency and sustainability. Yokogawa’s strategy of co-innovating with customers on digital transformation (for instance, in autonomous plant operations and industrial IoT) mirrors Emerson’s own approach.
While not as large as some competitors, Yokogawa’s deep process control expertise and global installed base ensure it remains a key rival to Emerson in industrial automation – particularly in the process industries.
Despite its smaller size, Yokogawa remains a respected peer that often goes head-to-head with Emerson when big process industry contracts are up for bid in its stronghold regions.
9) Danfoss (Denmark)
Website – https://www.danfoss.com/
Denmark’s Danfoss is a privately held company that rivals Emerson primarily in climate control technologies and industrial components.
With roughly €10 billion in annual sales, Danfoss is known for its refrigeration and HVAC components (compressors, valves, sensors) and for its VFD motor drives – areas that overlap with Emerson’s former climate segment and automation products.
Danfoss often competes with Emerson’s Copeland compressors and control valves in refrigeration systems, and its heating solutions and thermostatic controls are used in the same markets Emerson serves.
In recent years Danfoss has pushed hard on sustainability and electrification. Its Climate Solutions division (heating and cooling) had about €3.1 billion in sales in 2024, buoyed by high-growth demand for commercial heat pumps and data-center cooling.
Danfoss has invested in technologies like district energy software (acquiring firms to optimize heating networks) and high-efficiency heat exchangers to support global decarbonization trends.
Notably, in 2021 Danfoss made one of its largest moves by acquiring Eaton’s Hydraulics business for $3.3 billion, which expanded its industrial reach (though into hydraulics more than Emerson’s domains).
By focusing on energy-efficient climate solutions and leveraging its expertise in industrial controls, Danfoss remains a significant global competitor to Emerson in the climate tech domain, particularly across Europe and Asia.
Danfoss’s focus on climate-friendly innovation – from oil-free centrifugal compressors to AI-optimized cooling systems – keeps it squarely in competition with Emerson’s climate tech offerings on the global stage.
10) Carrier Global (USA)
Website – https://www.carrier.com/
Carrier Global, based in the U.S., is one of the world’s largest HVAC and refrigeration system providers – and while Emerson traditionally supplied components, Carrier is a competitor as a complete climate systems manufacturer.
Spun off as an independent company in 2020, Carrier generates around $20 billion in annual sales from products like residential and commercial air conditioners, furnaces, chillers, and cold-chain refrigeration units.
In recent years Carrier has executed major strategic moves to solidify its leadership in climate tech. In 2023 it agreed to acquire Germany’s Viessmann Climate Solutions (a specialist in heat pumps and heating systems) for €12 billion – a bold bet on clean heating technology and the European market.
At the same time, Carrier has been divesting its non-core segments (such as fire and security businesses) to focus purely on HVAC and refrigeration. Carrier is also innovating in connected services – for example, its Lynx digital platform uses IoT and analytics to improve cold-chain refrigeration efficiency – similar to how Emerson has integrated connectivity into its compressors and thermostats.
With a workforce of over 50,000 and well-known brands in every region, Carrier’s global brand and scale (serving customers in 160+ countries) make it a formidable rival to Emerson’s climate technology offerings.
Whether it’s high-efficiency chillers, smart building thermostats, or refrigerated transport units, Carrier’s products often compete in the same spaces where Emerson’s climate control solutions are used.
These steps to streamline and double down on core HVAC are reshaping the competitive landscape that Emerson’s climate technologies must navigate.
Conclusion
The competitive landscape for Emerson is intense and continually evolving. Each rival profiled – whether an automation titan like ABB or Siemens, or a climate tech specialist like Carrier – is pushing the envelope in innovation.
Common threads emerge: nearly all are investing in digitalization (industrial software, IoT, and AI) and in solutions that support sustainability and energy efficiency.
This means Emerson must do the same to maintain its edge. Fortunately for Emerson, competition also creates opportunity. The race to offer smarter, greener products drives all players to improve.
Emerson’s recent portfolio moves (like its software acquisitions and the spin-off of its climate unit into a joint venture) indicate it is adapting and choosing its battles.
As these top competitors continue to expand globally and develop new capabilities, Emerson’s challenge and opportunity lie in leveraging its dual expertise – automation and climate – to offer integrated solutions that others cannot easily match.
The competitive landscape is truly global – North American players like Rockwell and Honeywell, Europeans like ABB, Siemens, and Schneider, and Asian giants like Mitsubishi and Yokogawa each bring regional strengths and technological specialties.
Emerson, with its heritage in both process automation and climate control, finds itself in a unique position to bridge these domains.
Success will require continuous innovation, strategic focus, and perhaps further partnerships or acquisitions to keep pace with larger rivals. But as long as Emerson stays agile and customer-focused, it can thrive amidst these global competitors and continue to shape the future of automation and climate technology.
Ultimately, the contest between Emerson and its rivals is spurring rapid advancement – a race that shows no signs of slowing as the mid-2020s and beyond into the coming decade.
Also Read: Who are ABB’s Top Competitors in Industrial Automation Market?
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