Industrial Automation Retrofit Solutions for Western Canada
BP Automation delivers industrial automation retrofit solutions for manufacturers across Western Canada, including Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. Our retrofit engineering team modernizes aging production equipment with updated controls, drives, safety systems, and automation technology — extending machine life and improving performance without the disruption and cost of full equipment replacement. We ship completed retrofit systems from our Edmonton facility and provide on-site installation and commissioning at your plant.
Manufacturers across Western Canada choose BP Automation for automation retrofits because we have in-house capability for mechanical engineering, electrical design, PLC programming, HMI development, and machine assembly. This means a single point of accountability for your retrofit project from scope development through final commissioning, rather than coordinating multiple vendors and integrators.
Common Applications for Industrial Automation Retrofit Solutions
BP Automation has delivered automation retrofit solutions across a wide range of industrial applications, including welding systems, cladding machines, conveyors, presses, CNC machine tools, packaging equipment, and custom production machinery. Common retrofit triggers include obsolete PLC or motion controllers with no replacement parts available, aging servo drives that are no longer supported, outdated HMIs that are difficult to operate and maintain, safety systems that do not meet current standards, and mechanical systems that are still serviceable but need updated controls to run at target productivity.
Our engineers assess your existing machine to determine what components can be retained and what needs to be replaced or upgraded. In many cases, the mechanical frame, tooling, and process components still have years of useful life — only the controls and electrical systems need modernization. BP Automation can deliver an automation retrofit solution that brings the machine up to current standards at a fraction of the cost of new equipment.
Benefits of Choosing BP Automation for Automation Retrofits
An industrial automation retrofit solution from BP Automation typically delivers significant improvements in machine uptime, operator usability, maintenance accessibility, and production output. Modern PLC platforms offer faster scan times, better diagnostics, and remote monitoring capabilities that older controls cannot match. Updated servo drives improve motion accuracy and reduce cycle times. New HMI systems give operators better process visibility and make fault diagnosis faster and easier.
For manufacturers operating older custom or semi-custom equipment — the kind that is not available off-the-shelf and would be expensive to replace — an automation retrofit is often the most practical path to keeping critical production capacity running reliably. BP Automation has the engineering depth to reverse-engineer mechanical components, develop new control architectures, and deliver a retrofit solution that your team can operate and maintain long-term.
Machine Retrofit FAQs
When should an industrial machine be retrofitted instead of replaced?
A retrofit is usually the better option when the machine frame, tooling, or core mechanical system is still useful, but the controls, drives, HMI, safety system, or replacement parts are limiting production. BP Automation evaluates the existing equipment and recommends whether a retrofit, rebuild, or full replacement makes the most sense.
Can BP Automation retrofit older PLC and HMI systems?
Yes. BP Automation upgrades obsolete PLCs, HMIs, servo drives, motion controls, panels, sensors, and related electrical systems. These upgrades can improve diagnostics, operator usability, reliability, and long-term supportability for older production equipment.
Do machine retrofits require long production shutdowns?
Retrofit downtime depends on the machine and project scope, but planning is built around reducing disruption. BP Automation can complete engineering, panel builds, programming, and testing before installation so the on-site shutdown window is as efficient as possible.
Can safety upgrades be included in a machine retrofit?
Yes. Machine safeguarding, risk assessment, emergency stops, guarding, interlocks, and updated control architecture can be included as part of a retrofit project to help older equipment operate more safely and reliably.
