Russell Homans, owner and engineer
20+ years specifying, programming and supporting OEM controls
Russell has specified, programmed and supported controls for OEM machine builders for more than two decades, and has owned Phoenix outright since the start of 2026. He writes application code, lays out networks, walks a customer's engineer through a platform's known problems before they hit them, and takes cost targets back to the factory personally. He has stood on that factory's floor.
When a project needs more hands than one, Phoenix draws on a bench of contract controls engineers who have worked with Russell for years. Too much work is not a problem Phoenix turns away.
- Twenty years, one account. A residential elevator manufacturer has run on Phoenix-supplied controls through every revision of their cab.
- $1,000 to $350. A glass cab operating panel re-engineered at the factory to the customer's target, at 2,500 units.
- Nine industries. Packaging, elevators, kitchens, printing, food, water, building products, agriculture, medical. See them.
- Owner since 2026. Phoenix Automation Solutions, Inc., Mokena, Illinois.
What Phoenix is becoming
For most of its history Phoenix supplied one control platform to a handful of loyal customers. That platform is not going anywhere. What is changing is breadth: additional product lines are shipping to Illinois now, so that one engineering relationship can cover more of your machine.
Credentials
Certifications and credentials to be listed here.