On March 3, 2026, Cybertrol Engineering celebrated an important milestone—30 years of delivering automation and information solutions to manufacturers across North America. The anniversary provided an opportunity to reflect on how the company has evolved since its founding in 1996 while continuing to build on the principles that shaped its early success.
Founded in 1996 by automation industry veterans Dan Scott and Merlin Graunke, Cybertrol began with a clear vision—to provide independent control system integration and engineering services built on technical excellence and a deep understanding of customers’ operations.
Three decades later, what began as a small team of automation engineers has grown into a multi-disciplined organization supporting process manufacturers across industries including food and beverage, dairy processing, chemical production, and life sciences.
Today the company is led by CEO and Owner Ben Durbin, who has continued to build on that original foundation while expanding Cybertrol’s technical capabilities and industry reach.
When Dan Scott founded Cybertrol, he was driven by a simple but important belief: manufacturers needed engineering partners who could provide independent technical guidance.
After years of working in control systems engineering, Scott wanted to create a company that focused on delivering high-quality automation solutions while remaining independent of specific equipment suppliers. This independence allowed the company to recommend technologies based on what was best for each application rather than being tied to a particular product line.
That philosophy became one of the foundational principles that shaped the company’s early growth.
The automation landscape in the mid-1990s looked very different from today.
At the time, PLC programming was often performed using dedicated programming terminals rather than personal computers, and many engineering drawings were still created by hand. The terminology and architecture that define modern industrial automation—such as connected operational technology (OT) environments—were still years away.
Despite these limitations, the founders saw tremendous opportunity in helping manufacturers adopt emerging automation technologies to improve production performance and reliability.
Those early years were defined by rapid growth and constant activity as the company began taking on larger automation projects.
An early Cybertrol brochure from the late 1990s highlighted the company’s customer-centered philosophy.
As the company secured new work, the engineering team expanded quickly. Office space was limited in the early days, and engineers often worked alongside the panel shop while projects were being delivered.
Scott later recalled how deliveries arriving at the shop could sometimes create unexpected chaos.
When the door opened for the UPS driver bringing parts or equipment, a draft would occasionally blow engineering drawings and paperwork off desks across the room. It was a hectic but exciting environment as the team worked to build the company while delivering complex automation projects.
The fast pace and collaborative environment helped establish the culture that continues to define Cybertrol today.
Even the company’s name reflected the founders’ vision for the role of technology in manufacturing.
Scott wanted a name that captured the emerging importance of computers in industrial automation. The founders drew inspiration from the term “cybernation,” which refers to the control of machines or processes by computers.
By combining “cyber” with “control,” they created the distinctive name Cybertrol, representing the company’s focus on computer-based control systems and industrial automation.
At the time, the name felt forward-looking. Decades later, terms like cybersecurity, cyber-physical systems, and connected manufacturing have made the word “cyber” even more central to industrial technology.
“It’s not just about how well we understand technology—it’s about how well we understand our customers’ businesses.”
— Ben Durbin, CEO and Owner, Cybertrol Engineering
From the beginning, Scott emphasized that the company’s long-term success would depend on the quality of its work and the strength of its relationships with customers.
In the systems integration industry, reputation matters. Projects are complex, production environments are demanding, and manufacturers rely on their automation partners to deliver reliable systems that keep operations running.
For Cybertrol, that meant focusing on:
delivering technically sound engineering solutions
supporting customers long after systems were installed
building trust through repeat business and long-term partnerships
This commitment to quality and service helped establish the company’s reputation and drive its growth over the years.
For Scott, one of the most rewarding aspects of the job was seeing an automation system come to life inside a production facility.
Standing on the plant floor and watching thousands of control points coordinate equipment across an entire manufacturing process was a powerful reminder of the impact automation engineering can have on industrial operations.
Those moments—when a complex system begins operating exactly as designed—remain one of the most satisfying aspects of engineering work for many automation professionals.
As manufacturing technology evolved, so did Cybertrol’s capabilities.
What began primarily as control system integration expanded into broader plantwide automation and information solutions.
Over the past 30 years, the company has completed thousands of automation projects and expanded its expertise beyond traditional control systems to include manufacturing execution systems (MES), industrial IT and OT infrastructure, and manufacturing intelligence solutions designed to improve data visibility and operational performance.
Cybertrol is recognized as a Rockwell Automation PartnerNetwork™ Gold System Integrator, reflecting the company’s technical expertise and long-standing partnership within the automation ecosystem.
In recent years, the company relocated its headquarters and regional offices to facilities in Maple Grove, Minnesota, and in Marshfield and Madison, Wisconsin, supporting greater collaboration across engineering teams.
Cybertrol has also strengthened its internal operations through the implementation of the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS), helping reinforce accountability, communication, and continuous improvement across the organization.
During the 30th anniversary celebration, CEO Ben Durbin reflected on how Cybertrol has evolved while staying true to its founding principles.
Durbin shared a story about speaking with founder Dan Scott and asking what advice he would give for the future. Scott’s response was simple: continue finding ways to use emerging technologies to create more value for customers.
Durbin also referenced an early Cybertrol brochure from the late 1990s—shown earlier in this article—that he keeps in his office. While the technology shown in the brochure now appears dated, the message remains just as relevant today.
It emphasized that success comes not only from understanding technology, but from understanding customers’ businesses.
As Durbin explained during the celebration, many companies can deliver the technical components of automation—PLC programming, control panels, and industrial systems.
But what ultimately differentiates companies is the customer experience: the care taken to understand operational challenges, the willingness to listen, and the commitment to supporting customers long after a system is delivered.
That philosophy has remained a central part of Cybertrol’s culture since the company was founded.
To commemorate the 30th anniversary milestone, Cybertrol hosted a Hollywood-themed celebration on March 3 for employees and their guests.
The evening featured dinner, casino games, and a Cybertrol awards ceremony recognizing employees whose contributions have helped shape the company’s growth and culture.
The event highlighted the many individuals across engineering, project management, sales, and support teams who contribute to successful projects and strong customer partnerships every day.
The celebration also served as an opportunity to reflect on the collaborative culture and shared commitment that have helped the company grow over the past three decades.
As Cybertrol celebrates this milestone, the company continues building on the principles that shaped its early success.
While the technology landscape continues to evolve, Cybertrol’s focus remains consistent.
Manufacturers are increasingly investing in digital transformation initiatives, connected production systems, and data-driven decision making. As these trends accelerate, Cybertrol continues to help organizations modernize their automation infrastructure while improving operational performance and enterprise visibility.
At the same time, the principles that shaped the company in 1996 continue to guide its future:
strong engineering expertise
long-term customer partnerships
a commitment to quality and service
Thirty years after its founding, Cybertrol remains focused on helping manufacturers navigate the evolving intersection of automation, information systems, and industrial technologies.
As we look toward the future, our mission remains the same as it was from the beginning: to deliver engineering solutions that help manufacturers operate more efficiently, reliably, and intelligently.