Custom Automation & Control Systems

At Big Sky Engineering, Inc. we’ve been building technologically advanced custom automation and control systems known for their reliability and durability since 1998. Our skilled engineers will develop a state-of-the-art industrial automation solution and control panel design that fits perfectly into your plant floor operations. We take full responsibility for the complete system, including hardware specifications, electro-mechanical-hydraulics installation, HMI integration, as well as testing, commissioning, documentation, and training.

Our turn-key automation systems include all servo and motion positioning controls, parts feeders, conveyors, and sorting systems. We offer full engineering development, system manufacturing, PLC controls platform, factory acceptance testing, site acceptance testing, and production startup. Quality control assemblies include laser measuring and vision inspection systems, all custom tailored to meet your specific requirements. Safety features are incorporated into every system we build, and our thoughtful designs makes the equipment both easy to maintain and uncomplicated to re-tool should your needs change.

As a manufacturer and integrator of custom equipment for virtually anything that requires automation, packaging, or assembly, Big Sky Engineering is fully committed to providing our customers with well-engineered, efficient solutions at a reasonable cost.

For a comprehensive outline of our custom automation and control systems, see below and then contact Big Sky Engineering today to learn how we can streamline and improve your operations and bottom line.

What is Custom Machine Automation?

Custom automation helps to streamline industrial processes by enhancing your company’s manufacturing capabilities. Custom machine automation allows your firm to tailor each manufacturing function to the end user’s specific needs. Custom automation can be either fully automated or semi-automated, depending on the needs of the particular job. Here is what each type entails:

• Fully automated solutions feed parts into and take them out of machines without any operator intervention, so there are no manual steps involved in the process.
• Semi-automated solutions require manual loading and unloading of parts in the machines and operators must manually activate the processes, usually by pushing a button. The amount of manual intervention needed varies from system to system and ranges from minimal to extensive.

There are several types of automation machines. Among them are:

• Assembly machines drive automation systems and production lines. They are highly efficient and have complete turnkey capabilities.
• Inspection machines gauge parts for quality, assembly completeness and dimensional accuracy, which guarantees that each part is the correct shape and size, with no missing components.
• Integrated process machines are more complex, and are required for combining multiple automation processes. These machines can accommodate several different tasks, including orientation and labeling.
• Testing machines fulfill several testing requirements, including leak, flow, and function tests.
• Laser tube cutting machines have solutions for different materials and sizes.

Benefits of Custom Automation Equipment

Some benefits of custom automation include:

• Reduction in overall costs by decreasing the need for manual labor, reducing material handling, and allowing companies to generate additional revenue by taking on several projects simultaneously.
• Improving the quality of products through added attention to inspecting and functionally testing the products. Automation allows products to be tested in-process.
• Providing higher throughput and efficiency by multitasking, which allows for thousands of parts to be produced in less time.
• Improving response time, cutting down on the time gap between when an order is received and the shipment of the finished product.

Common automation equipment includes:

• Laser measurement for part inspection and completeness which picks two seals at a time and places them on a rotating spindle assembly.
• Shell assembly fixture, which provides a semi automated platform to construct assemblies.
• Tank air pressure decay test fixture, which provide inspection and processes to discover leaks in tanks.

The industries most commonly served include:

• Packaging
• Electromechanical assembly
• Software and technology
• Automotive
• Aerospace
• Life Sciences
• Medical
• Hardware manufacturers

What you get with Machine Automation

Custom automation — which can be fully automated or require some operator intervention — streamlines manufacturing processes, allowing companies to produce more products in a shorter amount of time. Automation solutions help to improve the quality of the products while reducing overall costs and generating additional revenue while making processes more efficient.

If you’re looking for custom automation solutions, be sure to contact us to request a quote because we have more than 20 years experience in the industry, so you know you can trust us to deliver high-quality systems in a timely manner.