• Helping McMaster University Adapt its Buildings for the Future

    Helping McMaster University Adapt its Buildings for the Future

    McMaster University is using technology to better control and manage its legacy thermal systems and create smarter buildings. Carmichael Engineering Ltd., a Canadian systems integrator, worked closely with ABB Canada’s experts and its highly adaptable smart building platform, ABB Cylon, to improve energy efficiency, enhance user adaptability, and leverage innovative technologies in locations across campus.

    Read More…



Sponsored Content
IO-Link Safety: Transforming the future of safety communication and diagnostics

IO-link Safety is the upcoming expansion of the already well-accepted universal industrial smart device communication standard. With IO-link Safety, a new vendor-neutral method will be available to wire, monitor, configure, and expand the function of safety components in the ever-growing machine safety market. Stay tuned for the launch of IO-link safety with Pilz.

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Sponsored Content
5 Best Practices for Effective Group Lockout Tagout

Creating an effective group lockout tagout can feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have be that way. Read more to find out the five best practices as it relates to group lockout, along with common challenges.


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Maximizing Motor Efficiency: Navigating the Impact of VFDs on Motors

VFD’s are great, but what about the power quality issues they present? Damaged equipment due to differential mode voltage spikes, common mode noise, and high peak voltages due to the reflected wave phenomenon jeopardize productivity and decrease profitability. Moreover, these effects are often difficult to diagnose and extremely problematic for everyday operations. 

Discover the options you can use to reduce these effects and find the right level of motor protection for your application. Learn more


Changing Scene

  • Meet Jeremy Warnock, Brave’s New Vice President of Engineering

    Meet Jeremy Warnock, Brave’s New Vice President of Engineering

    Brave Control Solutions Inc. was recently pleased to announce that Jeremy Warnock has joined the team as Vice President of Operations. Jeremy will lead the delivery teams and be responsible for services and solution delivery. Jeremy’s career started at Ford Motor Company as an engineer, then later at JMP Solutions where he served as a… Read More…

  • Westburne and Kinova Announce Groundbreaking Partnership

    Westburne and Kinova Announce Groundbreaking Partnership

    Westburne is thrilled to announce a groundbreaking partnership that is set to redefine the landscape of collaborative robotics. Westburne has joined forces with Kinova, a global provider in robotics innovation, to deliver cutting-edge solutions that will transform industries and elevate Westburne’s commitment to technological advancement. This partnership marks a significant milestone in Westburne’s journey towards… Read More…



Sponsored Content
Unleash the Power of 1500 Volt Disconnect Switches

NOARK Electric is now offering two families of 1500VDC disconnect switches as new additions to our DC product catalog. The new disconnect switches are dc voltage rated up to 1500V (volts) and offer short time withstand ratings up to 150kA (kilo-amperes).

NOARK’s disconnect switches enable the safe connection or isolation of electrical equipment from a power supply.

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Sponsored Content
GIGAMEDIA New Line of Security Products Available Now, Only at NEDCO

GIGAMEDIA provides a full range of innovative solutions for small and medium contractors, dedicated to the distribution of wiring systems, IT and telecommunications networks. Their brand new line of security products are available now, only at NEDCO!

Purchase $500 of GIGAMEDIA Security products on one invoice and you will be automatically entered to win a GIGAMEDIA Surveillance Kit. Monthly draws in March and April. Learn More


Sponsored Content
MOXA Futureproof Industrial Network Solutions

The vision of a unified IT/OT network isn’t just about efficiency and reliability; it’s about simplifying network structures and reducing the total cost of ownership (TCO). MOXA is unwavering in its commitment to steer industrial networks into the future.

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Latest Articles

  • Maximizing Motor Efficiency: Navigating the Impact of VFDs on Motors

    Maximizing Motor Efficiency: Navigating the Impact of VFDs on Motors

    Running a motor directly from the power source produces uniform, sinusoidal waveforms but wastes energy due to continuous speed operation regardless of the load requirements. To enhance efficiency, variable frequency drives (VFDs) control motor speed, reduce energy consumption, and minimize equipment wear. However, VFDs use pulse-width modulation (PWM) to supply electrical pulses instead of a… Read More…

  • The Path to Net Zero with Smart Building Technologies from ABB

    The Path to Net Zero with Smart Building Technologies from ABB

    By Krystie Johnston – Building operations account for 30% of global final energy consumption and 26% of global energy-related emissions. This sector, if entirely net zero, would contribute a significant percentage to reduced CO2 emissions worldwide1. In fact, technologies exist already to help buildings reach net zero today. Robert Palajsa, Territory manager for the smart… Read More…


Sponsored Content
VeriSafe 2.0 – Absence of Voltage Testing

Safety is everything. So, being sure the power is off before you open electrical equipment and start handling matters. But how can you be safe and be sure the circuit is de-energized? What if the only acceptable method is a complex testing process that potentially exposes you to the very danger you’re trying to avoid? Panduit introduces a new solution – absence of voltage testers (AVTs) – to prove that the power is off.

Panduit’s Safety Business is focused on innovating groundbreaking new electrical safety technology that reduces risk, increases safety, and helps industry leaders achieve operational goals.

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Innovation Talk: Robotics Day

Industrial robots play a key role in the future of smart manufacturing and smart factories. However, robotics deployments must be coupled with digitization and advanced automation to help solve manufacturers production, flexibility, and sustainability challenges. 

Machine builders (OEMs) can create value by equipping machines with automation and digitization, enabling both machines and robots to be more connected and data driven.

Due to a change in scheduling, the planned event in Montreal will now take place on Thursday, March 14. Registration for the Montreal event will close on March 11.

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Sponsored Content
Siemens Canada: Automate The Future Tour 2024

Automate the Future Tour is coming to a city near you soon. This cross-Canada tour showcases the latest in manufacturing and process technologies. Explore all aspects of factory automation, motion, and process automation– from the hardware and software that drive it, the newest technologies, and fully integrated solutions – that can transform your operations to win in this highly competitive market…

Learn More…


Product News

  • Festo Electric and Pneumatic Intralogistics Solutions Push/Sort, Grip/Pick, and Lift/Convey

    Festo Electric and Pneumatic Intralogistics Solutions Push/Sort, Grip/Pick, and Lift/Convey

    Festo introduces the company’s comprehensive selection of electric and pneumatic components for intralogistics motion automation – pushing and sorting, gripping and picking, and lifting and conveying. “No material handling competitor comes close to Festo’s breadth of electric and pneumatic components and systems, robust supply chain, and ease of commissioning systems into the top control architectures,”… Read More…

  • Phoenix Contact: Safe I/O Modules for Failsafe Over EtherCAT (FSoE)

    Phoenix Contact: Safe I/O Modules for Failsafe Over EtherCAT (FSoE)

    To implement a safe system, Phoenix Contact offers two new safety I/O modules for Safety over EtherCAT (FSoE) in a compact design. Safety over EtherCAT (FSoE) has established itself as an important safety protocol alongside Profisafe. Phoenix Contact supports this market trend with the compact AXL SE family. Safety solutions based on FSoE can be implemented easily and… Read More…


Panel Builder & Systems Integrator Platform

Panel Builder & Systems Integrator’s Bimonthly Digest and related website panelbuildersystemsintegrator.ca is produced for those involved in the design, specification, build, manufacture, installation and commissioning of control panels and systems. With content targeted at the panel building and systems integration segment Panel Builder & Systems Integrator delivers targeted editorial content to the automation and control markets within Canada. Our content offering includes news, features, case studies, proprietary research, best practices and white papers. We overview the latest available products including components, enclosures, drives and controls, circuit and surge protection and full solution offerings. If you are a control or automation consultant, control panel builder, electrical contractor, mechanical contractor, control panel OEM, systems integrator or supply panel and automation components in Canada sign up today for our Bimonthly Digest. Published the second and fourth Wednesday of every month.