Industrial Automation and Control Panels
A machine is only as good as its controls. Without a flexible and intuitive way of operating it, a cutting-edge piece of equipment is no more useful than one from decades past.
At INDUS Engineering, we understand the key to creating first-class control and automation systems. We work with some of the industry’s most respected component suppliers to design, manufacture, and install easy-to-use control systems for businesses in all sectors.
Our control panels are fully tailored to your requirements, and we pride ourselves on our flexibility. No matter how unusual or complex the machinery, you can rely on us to deliver the perfect control solution for it.
Book a consultation online or call us on 01202 942637 to get started!
Bespoke Control Panel Design, Build, and Installation
With both build-only and design-and-build options available, the skilled engineers at INDUS can be trusted to handle any kind of control panel project thrown at them.
Control Panel Design
Before planning out your panel’s design, we’ll assess your machinery and discuss your requirements in depth. This allows us to design a system specifically tailored to meeting your needs. We’ll consult with you on every step of the design process, making sure the end result is exactly what you had in mind.
Read through our case studies to see the quality of our control panel designs for yourself!
Control Panel Build
We know that the reliability and accuracy of your control panel are critical to the smooth running of your machinery. That's why we’re committed to using only premium-quality components sourced from the industry's top manufacturers.
Not only will your new control system meet your exact specifications, but it’ll be durable enough to perform as needed even after decades of use. Even better, using well-established manufacturers makes it easy to source replacement parts if needed.
Already have a design planned out? We can also manufacture control panels based on your own blueprints. Simply supply us with your designs, bill of materials (BOM), and requirements, and we’ll manufacture your panels on your behalf.
Control Panel Programming
We are also able to offer PLC programming for Siemens S7 and Direct Automation systems.
After taking into account factors like the system's environment, inputs, outputs, and control logic, we’ll develop a customised solution optimised for machine performance. We’ll adhere to best practices throughout, using the latest technologies to develop a program that’s efficient, user-friendly, and easy to update.
Types of Control Panel We Manufacture
We can design, build, and install a variety of control panel types, suitable for all kinds of sectors. Panels we manufacture include:
- Electrical Control Panels: An electrical enclosure that houses various components responsible for regulating and supervising multiple mechanical procedures.
- Hydraulic Control Panels: An assembly of hydraulic components that are mounted within an enclosure, designed to regulate, control, and monitor hydraulic systems.
- Automation Panel: A centralised interface used to monitor and control various components in an automated process.
- HVAC Control Panels: An assembly used to regulate and manage the heating, cooling, and ventilation systems in a building. It is typically a central control point for various HVAC components, such as air handlers, chillers, boilers, and pumps.
Book a Consultation
INDUS Engineering are the South’s go-to choice for industrial engineering services, including control and automation panels, special purpose machinery, electrical contracting, and maintenance. With countless projects under our belts, we have the skills and experience needed to provide the high-quality engineering service you’re looking for.
Book a consultation online or call us on 01202 942637 - we’re happy to answer your question and explain our services in more detail.
Control Panel FAQs
Like any machine, there are countless reasons a control panel can fail. The most common are unexpected electrical surges, external damage, and age-related wear and tear.
How long a panel can last varies massively. Depending on the specific machine the panel controls, how frequently it’s used, and whether regular maintenance is carried out, you can expect a panel to last anywhere between 20 to 50 years.
Definitely. A damaged or malfunctioning control panel could jeopardise your entire automation system, sending your operations to a screeching halt. Proper maintenance will help prevent this and keep your system running smoothly.
It’s good practice to have your control system serviced at least once a year. This way, you’ll be able to detect and fix any potential problems before they get worse.
A control panel is either a flat surface where control or monitoring instruments are displayed, or an enclosed unit that’s accessible to users. An essential component in industrial automation, a control panel provides advanced monitoring and control of the various functions of production machinery. It allows operators to organise and achieve production targets much more efficiently than they would be able to otherwise.
A good control panel prioritises two things: organisation and ease of use. It features a logical layout, clear labelling, smart component placement and panel sizing, and efficient wireway design. A human-centred design makes it more intuitive and flexible to use, streamlining productivity.
There are virtually countless types of control panel out there, but most fall into one of three categories:
- Physical control panel: A physical control panel is a tangible interface used to interact with an automation system. You can use it to carry out various operations, such as powering the system on or off. The functionality of physical control panels vary - some can simply display status information, while others allow you to control almost every aspect of an automation system.
- Remote control panel: A remote control panel is a way to operate machinery through a computer. The graphical user interface (GUI) of the remote control panel is usually identical or similar to the physical control panel.
- Virtual control panel: A type of software you can use to control machine functions through a computer. The main difference between a virtual panel and a remote one is that a virtual panel connects using the console's serial cable.
By streamlining the process of controlling different machines, control panels increase the efficiency of your operations, improve safety, reduce manual intervention, and allow for remote monitoring and control. All of this translates to lower operating costs and increased profitability.
SCCR stands for Short-Circuit Current Rating, and refers to the ability of an electrical system to withstand and safely interrupt the energy of a short circuit. Generally speaking, any industrial control panel that contains branch circuits or control circuits capable of delivering more than 10,000 amperes of short-circuit current require a SCCR rating.
As with most machinery, industrial control panels must abide by various safety and performance standards. Depending on the country, region, and industry in which your panel will be used, you’ll need to comply with one or more of the following: UL Listing, CSA Certification, UK CE Marking, NEC Compliance, and NEMA Enclosure Rating.
If you’re not sure which applies to you, don’t worry. We’d be happy to advise you on the compliance standards you’ll need to follow in your specific region and sector.
You can usually add new features to your existing control panel, but it depends on the architecture and tools used to build it. If the panel was designed to be modular and extensible, extending its functionality with new modules or plugins is relatively easy.
However, if your control panel was not designed with extensibility in mind, adding new features may require significant alterations. In this case, switching your panel out for a more advanced model may be the easiest and most cost-effective option.
We can provide you with a variety of scheduled maintenance plans to keep your panel working its best. We’ll adhere to the most up-to-date best practices and guidelines when working on your panel, and will personalise our approach to meet your specific panel’s type and purpose. We can also respond quickly to emergency breakdowns.
You can usually access an industrial control panel remotely, assuming the necessary remote access technologies and protocols are in place. Remote control can make your system vulnerable to cyber-attacks, however, so it’s important to have strong security measures in place to protect the control panel and its network from potential threats.
It’s difficult to give an exact figure, as the cost of an industrial control panel can vary wildly depending on its size, functionality, and purpose. For a more accurate estimate, get in touch - we’ll be able to provide you with a precise quote after assessing your panel requirements.
For more information about any of our services, please don’t hesitate to contact our friendly team today.