About Dataforth
About Dataforth
Dataforth Corporation was founded in 1984 by Lee Payne, an engineer who had built his career at Burr-Brown Corporation before starting the company out of his garage in Tucson, Arizona. That analog-design heritage still runs through the product line decades later: Dataforth's first product was a limited distance modem, quickly followed by the SCM5B series of signal conditioners that established the company's core business.
Today Dataforth designs and manufactures signal conditioning, data acquisition, energy monitoring, and industrial control products from two Tucson facilities, with a catalog of more than 2,000 parts used by engineers worldwide to interface sensors, transmitters, and field instruments with PLCs and control systems. The company has stayed privately held and engineering-led, prioritizing high-reliability analog performance over rapid product churn.
Dataforth modules show up wherever a plant needs to isolate, amplify, filter, or convert a signal before it reaches a controller, from thermocouple and RTD inputs to 4-20mA loops. On ChatMRO, maintenance and controls teams can search by Dataforth part number or describe the signal type and get matched to the right conditioning module without combing through datasheets.
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Frequently asked questions
What does Dataforth manufacture?
Dataforth makes signal conditioning modules, data acquisition systems, energy monitoring equipment, and industrial control hardware used to interface sensors and field instruments with PLCs and controllers. Its SCM5B series of isolated signal conditioners remains one of its most widely specified product lines.
Where is Dataforth based and how long has it been operating?
Dataforth was founded in 1984 by Lee Payne in Tucson, Arizona, and still operates from two Tucson facilities today. The company grew out of Payne's engineering background at Burr-Brown Corporation, which shaped its focus on precision analog design.
What kinds of signals can Dataforth modules condition?
Dataforth modules handle a wide range of inputs including thermocouples, RTDs, strain gauges, 4-20mA current loops, and voltage signals, isolating and conditioning them before they reach a control system. The company offers more than 2,000 catalog products covering most common industrial signal types.
Is Dataforth a public or private company?
Dataforth has remained a privately held, engineering-led company throughout its history rather than going public or being acquired by a larger conglomerate. That independence has let it keep a narrow focus on signal conditioning and data acquisition rather than diversifying into unrelated product lines.
How do I find the right Dataforth module for my application through ChatMRO?
Search by the Dataforth part number from your existing equipment, or describe the signal type, input range, and output you need and ChatMRO will match it to the correct module. Our RFQ form is also available if you'd like our team to confirm compatibility before you order.