Contrex, Inc. Precision Motion Controls

HISTORY OF CONTREX

CONTREX has been providing precision speed and motion controls to the industrial market since 1972!  Over the years CONTREX has introduced many innovative products such as the ACCUTRACK, M-TRIM, M-DRIVE, M-TRACK, and most recently the CX-1200.  With well over 100,000 controllers placed into operation at manufacturing facilities around the world, CONTREX has maintained its position as a leader in precision closed-loop motion control technology.

1971    Company was founded as Detection Sciences, Inc. in Minneapolis, MN

1972    1st industrial speed control – developed for the film processing industry

1975    1st digital speed control – the MR130, a 3-digit thumbwheel setpoints

1976    1st digital speed control & drive – the MR430 ACCUDRIVE, a 4-digit thumbwheel

1979    1st universal digital controller for use with all brands of AC / DC drives – the MR430TR ACCUTRIM

1981    1st synchronizing (registration) digital controller – the ACCUTRACK, Sold to a packaging machinery OEM for an overwrap machine.

1982    Company was acquired by U.K. based FENNER and renamed to Fenner Industrial Controls; products are sold world wide

1986    1st microprocessor based digital universal speed controller – the M-TRIM

1987    1st microprocessor based digital controller & drive – the M-DRIVE

1989    Acquired the Reflex brand of signal conditioning modules

1990    1st microprocessor based digital synchronizing controller – the M-TRACK

1990    Introduced servo motor /amplifier products for high response control

1991    1st synchronizing controller with electronic cam action – the M-ROTARY, sold into converting and packaging industries for rotary knife applications

1992    1st controller for flying cutoff (reciprocating carriage control) – the M-SHUTTLE

1992    1st quadrature hall effect encoder in a flange ring mount for C-Faced motors - the QRK

1993    1st contoller for level wind (wire / cable / hose / tubing machines) – the M-TRAVERSE

1993    Company became an independent Minnesota corp. and renamed to CONTREX, Inc

1994    1st controller for cut-to-length, and indexing applications – the M-CUT

1995    Introduced low cost digital speed controllers – the ML-TRIM & ML-DRIVE

1996    Introduced full featured universal controller – the CX1000, included multi-line display, help screens, built-in PLC

2003    Introduced specialized unwind / wind 2-axis controller – the CX1102, included dancer control, and automatic diameter calculations

2007    Introduced full featured synchronizing controller – the CX1200, included sophisticated machine learn, and trend functions