Industrial Automation and Controls

With decades of factory floor experience and a track record of success, our team of industrial automation professionals can engineer and implement a controls solution tailored to your unique needs and budget.

Control System Upgrades

Process Control

SCADA Systems

PHSR & CSA COMPLIANCE

Robotics Integration

Emergency Response

Legacy System Upgrades

Want to make process upgrades? Is your current control system past the point where the manufacturer can support it? Our industrial automation engineers and programmers can help.

Process Control

Our industrial automation engineers and programmers work from your mechanical concept and production specifications to provide a turn-key solution.

SCADA Systems

Do more with your data: Visualize, manage and report on all your machine data in real time. Our team will work with you to develop a scalable solution to meet your business needs.

PHSR & CSA Compliance

We can work from an existing PHSR report, or can generate one for you. We then work with you to achieve the safety required, while ensuring the machine stays functional.

Robotics Integration

We work with OEM's and Manufacturers to integrate robotics into different applications including programming, design, and life time support.

Emergency RESPONSE

When you need it most, we are here to help. Our experienced technicians are ready with the latest testing instruments, tools and software to get your production back up and running.

CONTROL SYSTEM UPGRADES

Automation Upgrades and Retrofits

We can upgrade almost all types of control platforms to present-day technology, increasing reliability and adding additional functionality. Our industrial automation team is experienced in the upgrading of legacy systems, and we are proficient in all major platforms (including Siemens, Allen Bradley, and others).

  • PLC + HMI + Drives
  • Drive & Motor Upgrades 
  • Robotics
  • System Backups
  • Engineering & Design
  • UI Development
  • Minimized Downtime
  • Increased Functionality

INDUSTRIAL Automation: Upgrades and Retrofits

We can upgrade almost all types of control platforms to present-day technology, increasing reliability and adding additional functionality. Our industrial automation team is experienced in the upgrading of legacy systems, and we are proficient in all major platforms (including Siemens, Allen Bradley, and others).

  • PLC + HMI + Drives: Your system probably has a combination of these features. We can work with you to develop an upgrade plan that fits your budget and long-term needs.
  • Robotics: We work with leading manufacturers of industrial robots (including Fanuc, ABB, and Motoman). Whether you simply need some programming changes to a cell, or are considering more extensive upgrades – we can help.
  • VFD/Soft Starter + Motor Upgrades: The use of VFDs or Soft Starters can greatly improve the lifespan, reliability and functionality of most equipment. Our engineering team can review your application and design a solution around your budget.
  • Backups: If you have obsolete PC-based systems, or fear you don’t have the latest copies of machine programs on file, our team can help. We can audit your facility, and provide back-up programs and maintenance programs to provide you peace of mind.
  • Engineering: Before any work starts, we conduct thorough site visits to gather information (such as programs, drawings and pictures). We then produce electrical schematics and drawings of the new system. Finally, our programmers will work with your team to ensure any requested changes are made.
  • User Interface: When upgrading your system, there is an opportunity to add touch-screen user interfaces, replacing push-buttons and dials or enhancing what you currently have. Intuitive HMI designs can help operators make better decisions and address problems faster.
  • Downtime: In manufacturing, downtime means lost revenue. We have experience working and planning around downtime schedules and shutdowns, to get your system upgraded while not sacrificing production.
  • Functionality: A new system opens up new opportunities for process improvements, higher throughput, better data tracking, and more.

PROCESS CONTROL INTEGRATION

Automation of process control

Our industrial automation & engineering team can work from your P&ID or production specifications to help define the project scope, design a unique solution to meet your plants’ needs, and implement the solution in a timely manner to minimize production downtime.  

  • Batching Control
  • Material Processing (Dry and Liquid)
  • Receipt Formulation & Control
  • Clean in Place (CIP) Systems
  • Automation Information Flow to (MES/ERP/SCADA)

Automation of process control

Our industrial automation & engineering team can work from your P&ID or production specifications to help define the project scope, design a unique solution to meet your plant’s needs, and implement the solution in a timely manner to minimize production downtime.

  • Batching Control
  • Material Processing (Dry and Liquid)
  • Receipt Formulation & Control
  • Clean in Place (CIP) Systems
  • Automation Information Flow to (MES/ERP/SCADA)

SCADA SYSTEMS

do more with your data

As information becomes more critical to decision-making, plants require faster ways to gather and report on large quantities of data. SCADA systems can be deployed to help different departments (including quality assurance, production, and management) make informed decisions, contributing to better profits.

  • All Your Data in One Spot
  • Downtime vs Uptime Analysis
  • Quality Assurance Data
  • Custom Reporting
  • Alarm Notifications
  • MES and ERP Integration
  • Wonderware and Ignition
  • Factory Floor Displays

do more with your data

As information becomes more critical to decision-making, plants require faster ways to gather and report on large quantities of data. SCADA systems can be deployed to help different departments (including quality assurance, production, and management) make informed decisions, contributing to better profits.

  • All Your Data in One Spot: See, control, and manage all your data in one place. SCADA gives you one centralized hub to monitor all plant floor equipment in real time.
  • Downtime vs Uptime: Gather and analyze plant equipment usage and production output versus targets. We can determine reasons your machine isn’t running, so you can take steps to improve productivity and efficiency. 
  • Quality Assurance Data: To facilitate trending & reporting, use any machine IO to help monitor critical QA data (including temperature controllers, motor speed, and more). We can use this data to create custom trending screens and reporting, so you can easily see if operations are out of range. This data can be automatically pushed to MES systems, eliminating manual operator inputs.
  • Custom Reporting: Use data to create customer OEE (Overall Equipment Effectiveness) reports, or any other reports that can contribute to better decision-making.
  • Alarm Notifications: It is no longer necessary to wait for a daily report to know there is a problem or to verify compliance. We can take any data point and create alarm triggers, notifying you via email or text if there is a problem, or letting you view your equipment on your mobile.
  • MES and ERP Integration: We can transform your data from the PLC level and push it to your internal software systems, automating data entry and avoiding duplication of data, or using the data in the manufacturing process (for example, tying machine data to a job number). Our programmers can work with your IT staff to ensure a safe and secure transfer of data.
  • Wonderware and Ignition: We are experienced in both of these common plant SCADA software packages; so can start from scratch, or add on to your in-house system.
  • Factory Floor Displays: Have you ever wanted production output vs target, machine status, or even alarm information to be visible to operators from a long distance? We can install and program large ‘smart’-sized displays wherever you need them.

ROBOTICS INTEGRATION

turn-key robotic cell integration

With conveyor design & installation, the mechanical design in any automated cell must consider the available floor space and PPM requirements, must be robust enough to handle 24/7 operation, and must be designed to achieve the required results while being as cost-effective as possible. Our industrial automation mechanical engineers have the experience to take a project concept and design a solution to meet your needs.

  • Mechanical Design
  • End of Arm Tooling
  • Programming (including Fanuc, ABB and Motoman)
  • Automation
  • Support & Service

INDUSTRIAL AUTOMATION: turn-key robotic cell integration

With conveyor design & installation, the mechanical design in any automated cell must consider the available floor space and PPM requirements, must be robust enough to handle 24/7 operation, and must be designed to achieve the required results while being as cost-effective as possible. Our industrial automation mechanical engineers have the experience to take a project concept and design a solution to meet your needs.

  • Mechanical Design: All mechanical designs are done in Solid CAD and AutoCAD and presented during the quoting stage, along with reach studies and any other information your team needs.
  • End of Arm Tooling: Our mechanical engineering team can design, build and install in 3D Solid Works CAD EOAT to meet the unique needs of your project.
  • Programming: We work with all leading robotics manufacturers including Fanuc, ABB, and Motoman.
  • Automation: Our automation team works with our mechanical team to design a system from the ground up (including electrical schematics, panel-building in our in-house CSA-approved panel shop, PLC + HMI programming, SCADA integration and commissioning support).
  • Support and Service: When the job ends, we do not disappear! Our 24/7 technical support means our automation engineers can be onsite in less than an hour any time of day. You will never have to wait days to get support.

PHSR AND ELECTRICAL SAFETY UPGRADES

MACHINE SAFETY COMPLIANCE UPGRADES

Pre-Start Health and Safety Compliance: We work with you to achieve the safety required while ensuring the machine stays functional. 

  • PHSR compliance report and recommendations
  • Light curtains and area scanner installation and integration
  • Machine guarding supply and installation
  • Locking gate switches installation (mechanical and electrical)
  • Safety PLC programming and integration
  • LEL gas monitoring integration into safety circuit

Local Approval (CSA/ESA) of Machinery: Equipment in Ontario/Canada must have a CSA (or equivalent) approval to be able to operate. We work closely with local approval agencies to bring both new or old equipment to CSA standards, quickly and in a cost-effective manner. Our services include the initial consultation, engineering, drawings updates, onsite field installation, and commissioning.

MACHINE SAFETY COMPLIANCE UPGRADES

If you have machinery that needs to be upgraded to meet compliance standards, we can help. With any safety upgrade,  it’s critical that the functionality of the machine is not adversely affected. We work closely with the PHSR engineer or local inspector to develop a cost-effective and robust controls solution to meet safety regulations. We have experience in many application types across different industries (including Food and Beverage, Plastics, Packaging/Corrugating, Pharmaceuticals, and more).

Pre-Start Health and Safety Compliance: Our team can work from an existing PHSR report; or together with our partners we can generate one for you. We then work with you to achieve the safety required, while ensuring the machine stays functional.

  • PHSR compliance report and recommendations
  • Light curtains and area scanner installation and integration
  • Machine guarding supply and installation
  • Locking gate switches installation (mechanical and electrical)
  • Safety PLC programming and integration
  • LEL gas monitoring integration into safety circuit

Local Approval (CSA/ESA) of Machinery: Equipment in Ontario/Canada must have a CSA (or equivalent) approval to be able to operate. We work closely with local approval agencies to bring both new or old equipment to CSA standards, quickly and in a cost-effective manner. Our services include the initial consultation, engineering, drawings updates, onsite field installation, and commissioning.

health & Safety

 

Safety is our number one priority. We are committed to ensuring the health & safety of every employee and to performing all operations in a safe and effective manner. The safety of every employee is an integral component of our business practice, and accident prevention and quality of working life are essential parts of our business operations.

Management, supervisors and all employees are responsible for contributing to the upkeep and constant betterment of our health & safety program and standards. We believe that by working together, maintaining open lines of communication, and giving the most careful attention to health & safety, we will meet our shared objective of a healthy and safe working environment.

We are accredited and working with multiple contractor safety compliance companies.