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Real Time Automation Company Profile: Protocol Gateways and Industrial Data

Oct 13
3 min read

Updated: 7 days ago

Real Time Automation develops industrial communications gateways and protocol software. Its products connect devices that use different automation protocols, helping move data between equipment, controllers and business systems. The portfolio supports both ready-to-use gateways and embedded communications development.

Real Time Automation company logo

Real Time Automation at a Glance

Company fact

Verified detail

Name

Real Time Automation

Technical focus

Industrial protocol gateways, connectivity and embedded communication software

Country / listed operating location

United States

Published contact address

N26W23315 Paul Rd, Pewaukee, WI 53072-4061, United States

Founded / established

1989

Applications

Factory data exchange and legacy equipment integration

Catalog coverage

1 listed product; representative entries discussed below

History and a Distinct Company Identity

Real Time Automation's official history states that John S. Rinaldi founded the company in 1989. Its focus is industrial data connectivity: protocol gateways, embedded communication software and edge historians. It is a different business from Realtime Robotics, which works on robot motion planning. The similar names should not lead to mixing their products or corporate histories.

The company's stated objective is to simplify connections between equipment, PLC architectures and higher-level systems. That gives it a component and software role in automation projects, where replacing functioning machinery may be less practical than making its data available to another network or application.

Technology: Converting Meaning as Well as Transport

A gateway can connect equipment using different protocols, but the engineering task also includes mapping the correct data. Registers, tags, units, update rates and status values have to preserve their intended meaning across the connection. Real Time Automation identifies networks including EtherNet/IP, PROFINET, Modbus and BACnet, with products serving PLC and OEM device integration.

Its embedded software stacks address a different level of responsibility from a standalone gateway. They allow communications to be designed into equipment, while an external device can bridge an existing installation. The right approach depends on whether the project controls the equipment design or is connecting a legacy machine already in service.

Applications and Commissioning Evaluation

The portfolio is relevant to controls engineers joining mixed equipment, OEMs adding industrial network support and operations teams collecting machine data. A well-defined trial should use the actual controller, device and data set. Successful connectivity is the start of acceptance, not its completion.

Test invalid values, communication interruptions, startup order and recovery. Confirm whether stale data is clearly identified and whether write commands can reach the device safely and as intended. The practical value of a connectivity supplier lies in predictable behavior and maintainable configuration as much as in supporting a long list of protocol names.

Strengths and Practical Limits

The following assessment interprets the documented portfolio and its engineering role. It does not report a hands-on benchmark, a guaranteed return on investment or an independently verified ranking.

Strengths

  • Clear industrial communications focus and documented founding history

  • Standalone products and embedded software serve different integration needs

  • Portfolio includes data collection as well as protocol bridging

Points to Verify

  • Data mapping and stale-data handling require engineering

  • Protocol support does not guarantee every device-specific function

  • Gateway and embedded-stack projects assign different responsibilities to the buyer

Current Catalogue Coverage

Catalogue checked on 15 October 2026: 12 associated product records. The links below are representative entries, rather than a claim that every historical model is currently available.

Real Time Automation FAQ

What does Real Time Automation do?

Real Time Automation works in industrial protocol gateways, connectivity and embedded communication software. Its relevance to automation comes from the products and capabilities described in this profile, rather than from a claim that it supplies every component of a complete robotic installation.

Which Real Time Automation products are covered by All Things Cobots?

Real Time Automation Modbus RTU Client Source Code Stack. The catalog provides a representative selection. Product naming, supported options and software versions should be checked against the specific configuration under consideration.

How should an engineering team evaluate Real Time Automation?

Data mapping and stale-data handling require engineering. Protocol support does not guarantee every device-specific function. Gateway and embedded-stack projects assign different responsibilities to the buyer. A realistic evaluation connects those questions to the actual process, operating environment and acceptance criteria.

Does this profile establish current revenue, valuation or market share?

Only specifically attributed, dated figures establish those facts. No revenue, valuation, ownership percentage or market-share estimate has been inferred from the number of catalog entries, association membership or marketing language in this profile.

Explore Real Time Automation on All Things Cobots

Sources

  • Real Time Automation, Inc. - Connectivity Products, Protocol Gateways & Embedded Stacks — www.rtautomation.com

  • About Real Time Automation - Industrial Automation Networking Company — www.rtautomation.com

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