SMK Control

Automation & Control Systems

Feel free to browse some of our completed projects.

If something meets yours requirements, contact us for more info!

Don't see any projects that meet your needs? Fear not, we are always open to new processes & we approach all enquiries with a positive 'can do' attitude!

Project 1
Flavour & Oil Sprayer

Industry: Food Processing

Location: Down, N.Ireland

Finish Date: Sep 2020

PLC & HMIAllen Bradley

This innovative system was used to spray flavour over multiple food products. PID's used to ensure accurate & reliable flow throughput.


Ethernet messaging to allow remote communication & interfacing with other factory machinery.

Project 4
Crate De-Stacker

Industry: Material Handling

Location: Cambridge, England

Finish Date: Jan 2019

PLC & HMIOmron

This machine took full batches of crates, de-stacked them one at a time & delivered them to a high speed food production line.


High precision motion control was required via a servo drive. The PLC & HMI also included recipes, pneumatics & motor control.

Project 7
Allen Bradley SLC 500 Upgrade

Industry: Meat Processing

Location: Tyrone, N.Ireland

Finish Date: Sep 2018

PLC & HMIAllen Bradley

The Allen Bradley SLC 500 controller is a robust logic controller used in factories for more than 20+ years. However, the SLC is now discontinued, meaning that spare parts are harder to find.


We successfully upgraded our client's SLC system to an AB CompactLogix controller, future proofing them for the next 20+ years.

Project 10
Crate Washing System

Industry: Material Handling

Location: Toronto, Canada

Finish Date: Feb 2020

PLC & HMIMitsubishi

This plant took stacked crates full of used compost, de-stacked them, tipped & emptied them, washed them, & then restacked them.


Multiple motors, sensors & hydraulics used. CC Link remote IO network was used as this was a large system with multiple junction boxes. 

Project 13
Concrete Silo System

Industry: Concrete

Location: Tyrone, N.Ireland

Finish Date: Sep 2018

PLC & HMISchneider

This control system was used for the filling & emptying of silos used for the making of concrete. The operator would select what bin they want to fill up, the control system would automatically traverse conveyors into position to begin filling.


Analogue ultrasonic sensors were used to monitor bin level. Level & warnings were displayed on the HMI. A forward/reverse shuttle conveyor had to be precisely controlled to ensure it stopped in the correct position. Remote access provided to allow remote diagnostics & support.

Project 2
Quarry Washing Plant

Industry: Quarry

Location: London, England

Finish Date: Dec 2018

PLC & HMIAllen Bradley

This system was used to wash sand & gravel & to separate them into different grades.


Sequence start up & shutdown including alarms & status. Hand control provided to allow individual running of each motor.


Ethernet remote IO used to cover large site.

Project 5
Chemical Dosing (Compost)

Industry: Compost Treatment

Location: Tyrone, N.Ireland

Finish Date: Aug 2019

PLC & HMIAllen Bradley

This ingenious plant treats compost by blending ingredients & dosing it with specific amounts of acid & water.


The amount of water & acid added is critical. This was achieved with PID's & multiple feedback from flow-meters & pH meters. 


Ethernet remote IO used to cover large site.

Project 8
Cheese Batching

Industry: Food Processing

Location: Yorkshire, England

Finish Date: Aug 2019

PLC & HMISiemens

This machine fed cheese curd into a hopper  & then dumped it into a mould, which would then get pressed.


The PLC & HMI had to achieve accurate weights using loadcells over a Modbus network.



Project 11
Compost Blending

Industry: Mushrooms & Compost

Location: Toronto, Canada

Finish Date: Dec 2020

PLC & HMIMitsubishi

This mobile machine is used for the treatment & agitation of compost before it can be used to grow mushrooms.


Motor sequence start & stop, HOA control, hours run, etc. Remote Access VPN to allow remote support & monitoring to Canada from Ireland.


Project 14
Lamb Carcass Leg Cutter

Industry: Meat Processing

Location: Down, N.Ireland

Finish Date: Mar 2020

PLC & HMIMitsubishi

A lot of time & money  goes into  lamb & beef  processing before it arrives on your plate. This system replaces the need for an operator to hold & operate a cumbersome cutting blade by automating the process.


Using an 'index' & 'product in place' sensor this system is able to track the main Abattoir Dressing Line. The system will recognise when a carcass is in position & perform the relevant cut via the precise & high speed control of a hydraulic cutting blade.  Between each cut the blade is sterilised automatically.

Project 3
Factory HVAC

Industry: Building Management (BMS)

Location: Tyrone, N.Ireland

Finish Date: Aug 2020

PLC & HMIAllen Bradley

This modern system was used to control & monitor the water heating for an entire factory.


Multiple PID's, analogue sensors & trend graphs were used to ensure full functionality.


Project 6
Abattoir Boning Hall

Industry: Food Processing

Location: Glasgow, Scotland

Finish Date: Jun 2019

PLC & HMISiemens

This system controls a factory production room full of food grade conveyors used for the processing of meat.


The PLC & HMI has alarms, conveyor status & control, speed control, wash mode & EStop PB location indicators.


Project 9
Crate Delivery System

Industry: Material Handling

Location: Antrim, N.Ireland

Finish Date: Dec 2019

PLC & HMIMitsubishi

This system delivered crates to multiple high speed production lines. Multiple sensors & pneumatic cylinders required. 


CC Link remote IO network was used as this was a large system with multiple junction boxes.


Project 12
Water Treatment

Industry: Water Treatment

Location: Tyrone, N.Ireland

Finish Date: Jan 2018

PLC & HMIAllen Bradley

This system was used in an effluent plant used for the treatment of waste water used in a Meat Processing Factory.


The correct dosing of chemicals (ferric acid, caustic acid & flocculant) was critical using pH meters & flow-meters.


Project 15
Food Factory Conveyor System

Industry: Food Processing

Location: Wicklow, Ireland

Finish Date: Apr 2018

PLC & HMISiemens

This PLC & HMI controlled a conveyor system for an entire factory production floor. Interface signals were required with multiple machinery such as Metal Detectors, Bagging Machines, Freezers, Cookers & Weighing Hoppers.


Hand, Off & Auto control, speed control & status for every conveyor along with E-Stop PB locations.

24/7 Breakdown & Maintenance Support

We also provide 24/7 breakdown & maintenance support. This can include :
  • PLC & SCADA maintenance
  • Motor, valve & sensor rewiring or replacement
  • IT, Profibus & Ethernet network management & maintenance 
  • Electrical fault finding

Project 1
Anaerobic Digestion (AD) Plant

Industry: Renewable Energy

Location: Tyrone, N.Ireland

Electrical Support:

Fault finding on engines, generators, pumps motors, valves & sensors, etc.


Automation Support:

Maintenance of PLC & SCADA network. Manage & maintain Profibus network. (Flow-meters, Simocodes, etc.)


Project 2
Meat Processor

Industry: Food Processing

Location: Tyrone, N.Ireland

Electrical Support:

Fault finding on high speed food production lines.


Automation Support:

Maintenance of PLC's, HMI's & SCADA network.


Project 3
Water Treatment Facility

Industry: Water Treatment

Location: Tyrone, N.Ireland

Electrical Support:

Fault finding on pumps, valves & sensors.


Automation Support:

Maintenance of PLC, HMI, remote IO & VSD network.

Remote Access communications & network cameras.