NAICS 335314 Quarterly Industry Report
Relay and Industrial Control Manufacturing
Comprehensive industry research for valuation professionals, business owners, buyers, and lenders
NAICS Code: 335314Sector: 33Updated: Q1 2026
About This Report
This Fair Market Value industry report for NAICS 335314 draws on verified data from the U.S. Census Bureau[5], Bureau of Labor Statistics[7], and the Small Business Administration[8]. Our research team compiles establishment counts, employment data, and SBA eligibility criteria specific to relay and industrial control manufacturing. Reports are updated quarterly to reflect new Census releases and regulatory changes.
Industry Snapshot
Key metrics for the relay and industrial control manufacturing industry.
Industry Definition & Overview
Relay and Industrial Control Manufacturing (NAICS 335314) encompasses establishments primarily engaged in manufacturing relays, motor starters and controllers, and other industrial controls and control accessories. Products include electromagnetic and solid-state relays, across-the-line and reduced-voltage motor starters, programmable logic controllers (PLCs), overload protection devices, push buttons, pilot lights, and selector switches. The U.S. Census Bureau[5] classifies this industry under electrical equipment manufacturing.
Roughly 681 businesses operate across approximately 740 establishments employing an estimated 34,100 workers per Census data[6]. Production spans from high-volume commodity relay manufacturing for automotive, appliance, and HVAC applications to custom-engineered industrial control panels for process manufacturing, water treatment plants, and oil and gas facilities. Programmable logic controllers represent the highest-value product segment, with PLC platforms serving as the central automation hardware in discrete and process manufacturing environments.
Manufacturing processes vary by product complexity: relay production involves automated coil winding, contact assembly, and encapsulation; motor starter assembly combines contactor mechanisms with overload relays and enclosures; PLC manufacturing requires surface-mount electronics assembly, firmware programming, and environmental stress screening. UL and CSA safety listing requirements govern product design across all categories. Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) connectivity features now appear across relay, starter, and controller product lines as manufacturers add Ethernet communication ports, cloud-based monitoring capability, and predictive maintenance data collection to traditional control hardware.
What's Included in This Industry
- Electromagnetic relay manufacturing for industrial applications
- Solid-state relay production
- Motor starter and controller manufacturing
- Programmable logic controller (PLC) production
- Overload relay and protection device manufacturing
- Push button and pilot light production
- Industrial control panel assembly
- Selector switch and cam switch manufacturing
- Timing relay and delay device production
- Contactor manufacturing for motor control circuits
NAICS Classification Hierarchy
| Level | Description | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Subsector | Electrical Equipment, Appliance, and Component Manufacturing | 335 |
| Industry Group | Electrical Equipment Manufacturing | 3353 |
| NAICS Industry | Electrical Equipment Manufacturing | 33531 |
| National Industry | Relay and Industrial Control Manufacturing | 335314 |
Related NAICS Codes
| Code | Description | Relationship |
|---|---|---|
| 335313 | Switchgear and Switchboard Apparatus Manufacturing | Manufactures switchgear and switchboard apparatus that houses and distributes power rather than the relays and control devices that monitor and regulate electrical circuit operation |
| 335312 | Motor and Generator Manufacturing | Produces electric motors and generators controlled by the motor starters and controllers manufactured in this classification rather than the control devices themselves |
| 334513 | Instruments and Related Products Manufacturing for Measuring, Displaying, and Controlling Industrial Process Variables | Manufactures industrial process variable instruments measuring temperature, pressure, and flow rather than the relays and motor control devices that act on those measurements |
| 334515 | Instrument Manufacturing for Measuring and Testing Electricity and Electrical Signals | Produces instruments for measuring electricity and electrical signals rather than the electromechanical relays and motor starters that switch and protect power circuits |
| 335311 | Power, Distribution, and Specialty Transformer Manufacturing | Manufactures power and distribution transformers for voltage conversion rather than the protective relays and automatic control devices that monitor transformer operation |
| 334118 | Computer Terminal and Other Computer Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing | Produces computer terminals and peripheral equipment classified separately from the programmable logic controllers and industrial automation hardware manufactured here |
Geographic Concentration
Top states by share of national establishments.
| # | State | % Est. | Total Est. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 9.0% | 65 |
| 2 | Texas | 7.8% | 56 |
| 3 | Pennsylvania | 6.4% | 46 |
| 4 | Ohio | 6.4% | 46 |
| 5 | Illinois | 6.1% | 44 |
| 6 | New York | 5.6% | 40 |
| 7 | Michigan | 5.3% | 38 |
| 8 | Wisconsin | 4.7% | 34 |
| 9 | Florida | 3.6% | 26 |
| 10 | Indiana | 3.5% | 25 |
% Of Establishments
0%
9%
Source: County Business Patterns, U.S. Census Bureau[3]
SBA Lending Summary
8
Total SBA Loans
$15.6M
Total Loan Volume
$1.9M
Average Loan Size
14 yrs
Average Loan Term
7.50%
Average Interest Rate
8
Jobs Supported
Source: SBA 7(a) Program Data, U.S. Small Business Administration — FY 2025[4]
Key Insight: The SBA[8] sets the size standard for NAICS 335314 at 750 employees. Firms below this threshold qualify for small business set-aside contracts and SBA-backed lending programs. Federal procurement includes industrial control panels for Navy shipboard machinery, motor starters for Army Corps of Engineers pump stations, and PLCs for Department of Energy process control systems. The SBA's contracting programs[9] support manufacturers pursuing Defense Logistics Agency and federal facility automation contracts. Eligible businesses can access SBA 7(a) loans[10] for working capital, equipment, and acquisition financing, while 504 loans[11] support major fixed-asset purchases including real estate and heavy machinery.
Top SBA Lenders
| # | Lender | Loans | Volume | Avg Loan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | U.S. Bank, National Association | 8 | $15.6M | $1.9M |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this industry.
What types of businesses are classified under NAICS 335314?
Manufacturers of relays, motor starters, programmable logic controllers, and industrial control accessories classify here. Products include electromagnetic relays, solid-state relays, motor contactors, overload devices, PLCs, push buttons, and timing relays per the Census Bureau[5] classification.
How is the relay and industrial control industry structured?
Roughly 681 businesses operate across approximately 740 establishments employing an estimated 34,100 workers per Census data[6]. Large automation companies dominate PLC and motor starter markets while numerous smaller firms build custom control panels and specialty relay products for niche industrial applications.
What is the SBA size standard for NAICS 335314?
The SBA[8] sets the threshold at 750 employees. Businesses with fewer than 750 average employees qualify as small for federal contracting preferences and SBA-backed financing programs including 7(a) and 504 loans.
What NAICS codes are related to relay and industrial control manufacturing?
Related codes include 335313 (Switchgear), 335312 (Motors and Generators), 334513 (Process Instruments), 334515 (Electrical Instruments), 335311 (Transformers), and 334118 (Computer Peripherals). Each covers products that interface with but differ from the relay and control devices in this code.
What industries purchase relays and industrial controls?
Motor manufacturers, electrical contractors, industrial machinery producers, switchgear assemblers, and water utility operators interact most directly. Manufacturing plants consume the largest volume of motor starters and PLCs while custom control panel shops integrate components from multiple manufacturers into application-specific control systems.
What activities are included in NAICS 335314?
Activities include manufacturing electromagnetic and solid-state relays, producing motor starters and contactors, assembling programmable logic controllers, fabricating overload protection devices, manufacturing push buttons and selector switches, building industrial control panels, and producing timing relays and cam switches for automation and motor control applications.
Can relay and industrial control manufacturers qualify for SBA loans?
Yes, firms below 750 employees qualify for SBA lending programs[9] including 7(a) and 504 loans. Automated coil winding equipment, surface-mount assembly lines, environmental test chambers, and UL certification testing apparatus represent capital investments suited to SBA 504 equipment financing.
Where are relay and industrial control manufacturers concentrated?
Manufacturing concentrates in the Midwest, Southeast, and mid-Atlantic states near industrial customer bases and automation system integrators. Wisconsin, Ohio, South Carolina, and Texas host major production facilities. Custom control panel fabricators distribute more broadly, locating near regional manufacturing hubs to provide local integration services alongside component supply from national manufacturers.
Sources & References
Government datasets and editorial sources used in this report.
- [1]U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages bls.gov
- [2]U.S. Census Bureau, Economic Census census.gov
- [3]U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns census.gov
- [4]U.S. Small Business Administration, SBA 7(a) Loan Program Data data.sba.gov
- [5]U.S. Census Bureau census.gov
- [6]Census data naicslist.com
- [7]Bureau of Labor Statistics bls.gov
- [8]Small Business Administration sba.gov
- [9]SBA's contracting programs sba.gov
- [10]SBA 7(a) loans sba.gov
- [11]504 loans sba.gov
Disclaimer
This publication has been prepared by Fair Market Value (“Fair Market Value”) for informational purposes only. It is provided on an “as-is” and “as available” basis. Fair Market Value makes no representations or warranties, express or implied, regarding the merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, completeness, or accuracy of the data or information contained herein. This publication is not intended to be, and should not be construed as, professional financial, legal, tax, or investment advice. Users should consult with qualified professionals before making any financial or business decisions based on the information presented.
To the extent permitted by law, Fair Market Value disclaims all liability for loss or damage, direct and indirect, suffered or incurred by any person resulting from the use of, or reliance upon, the data in this publication.
Copyright © 2026 Fair Market Value. All rights reserved. All data, information, articles, graphs, and content contained in this publication are copyrighted works and Fair Market Value hereby reserves all rights. No part of this publication may be copied, reproduced, republished, uploaded to a third party, or distributed without the prior written permission of Fair Market Value.