Drive System Integration for Automation

Reach Out for a Practical Retrofit or Upgrade Plan Before Your Next Downtime Event

Drives, controls and programming engineered to run as one system

SAF engineers and integrates AC and DC drive systems to provide precise control of motors, machines and process lines. Each drive system is engineered as part of the overall automation solution, incorporating the PLC controls, HMI, industrial communications and programming required for coordinated operation.

SAF engineers, builds, programs, tests and commissions the complete solution under one roof, backed by 24/7 support.

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SAF Drives: 50 years of solving the problems no one else can

OUR CUSTOMERS

What drive system integration includes

One system, one team, one point of accountability.

Drives	AC and DC drives, from single drives to coordinated multi-drive systems in the thousands of horsepower.
Controls	PLC programming and closed-loop control of speed, tension, position, temperature and flow, using Rockwell, Siemens, Schneider and other major platforms.
Operator interfaces	HMIs using FactoryTalk View, WinCC, AVEVA InTouch and other major platforms for operation, monitoring, diagnostics and trending.
Networks	From legacy networks such as Allen-Bradley Data Highway to modern industrial Ethernet and plant-wide network integration.
Panels and power	Drive, PLC and power distribution panels from SAF’s UL 508A / cUL certified panel shop.
Plant systems	Safety, vision, data acquisition and production reporting, tied into the same architecture.

The bottom line: when one team owns every layer, there’s no confusion at startup.

When to bring SAF in

New drives, aging controls. The PLC, HMI or network around your drives is old or poorly documented.
Lines that won’t stay coordinated. Speed or tension drifts, and nuisance trips are routine.
Automation goals, unready foundation. You want remote monitoring or better data, but the architecture can’t support it.
Too many vendors. Mixed platforms and no single owner when something fails.
A live plant. The work has to fit around production and a tight shutdown window.

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Project Scope: From Design to 24/7 Support

Phase	What SAF delivers
1. Define	System review, project management and a functional spec you approve first.
2. Design	Electrical design, drafting, BOM and procurement.
3. Build	Panels built and wired in our UL 508A / cUL certified shop.
4. Program	PLC, HMI and drive programming.
5. Test	In-house testing and simulation before anything ships.
6. Commission	Installation and startup, phased where possible to protect production.
7. Support	Training and 24/7 support. No service contract required.

Explore SAF Engineering

CASE STUDY

Slab Yard Crane DC Drive Retrofit & Controls Modernization

OVERVIEW

See how SAF Drives modernized a 50T slab yard crane for a major Canadian steel producer with new controls and regenerative DC drives to improve reliability.

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Industries we serve

SAF integrates drive and automation systems for the heaviest duty cycles in North American industry:

Steel & metals
Mining
Pulp & paper
Cranes & material handling, forestry, and wire & cable

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Why teams choose SAF for integration

Drive specialists first

SAF has engineered drives & automation systems since 1976 and still supports its own DC drive line.

Not tied to one platform

We recommend what fits your plant, not a single vendor’s catalogue.

Everything under one roof

Design, panels, programming and testing in-house.

Trusted for decades

ArcelorMittal, Algoma, Stelco, Evraz, Cascades and 3M. Evraz has worked with SAF for close to 30 years.

“The differentiator is no longer only the controller. It is the process and control knowledge behind the system.”

Derek Klaassen, Senior Application Engineer, SAF Drives

Your next step? Talk to an Engineer.

Tell us what you’re running and when your next shutdown is. We’ll cover:

Your current drive and control architecture
Where integration gaps are costing you uptime
What to keep, upgrade or replace, and in what order

1-800-3-ASK-SAF

Frequently Asked Questions

A drive is a component. Drive system integration makes it work with your PLC logic, HMI, network and panels. Most multi-drive problems live in those connections, which is why SAF engineers and takes responsibility for the whole system.

Heavy industrial drive integration is drive system integration for high-duty equipment such as rolling mills, cranes, hoists, conveyors and paper machines. It often involves high horsepower, coordinated multi-drive control and harsh conditions, which SAF has handled for 50 years.

Yes. SAF ties new drives and controls into existing equipment and networks, from legacy protocols to current Ethernet. On our slab yard crane retrofit, the existing DC motors stayed in service.

No. SAF integrates AC and DC drives from major vendors, as well as its own DC drive line, and recommends what best fits your application.

Systems are built and tested in-house before they ship. Cutover is planned around your production schedule and phased where possible.

Your equipment and application, current drive and control details, any drawings, known problem areas and your shutdown windows. Missing documentation is common with legacy systems. Share what you have.

SAF Drives: What can we build for you?

New drives on old controls or a system built from scratch: we’ll engineer it, test it and stand behind it

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