Cairns Control & Automation
SAE Engineering designs, programs and commissions industrial control and automation across Cairns, the Tablelands and Far North Queensland. PLC programming, variable-speed drive (VSD) setup, HMIs, SCADA, control-panel builds and machine automation — we get plant running reliably and keep it that way.
We work the full control stack, primarily on Schneider and other major platforms — building new systems or retrofitting modern control onto older machinery to extend its life. Everything is commissioned and fault-found on site, under real operating conditions, not signed off on a bench.
A recent example: the complete control system for an industrial banana-drying plant — PLC, drives, HMI and on-site commissioning, end to end. And because we fabricate structural steel too, we can build the plant and the controls that run it. For control and automation across Far North Queensland, get in touch.
Our Control & Automation Capabilities
PLC Programming & Integration
Programmable logic controller programming and integration for process and machine control — new builds and upgrades alike, primarily on Schneider.
Variable-Speed Drives (VSDs)
Selection, setup and commissioning of VSDs for motors, pumps and fans — tuned for reliable, efficient running.
Control-Panel Builds
Control and switchboard panels built to suit the plant — the physical box behind the automation, wired and labelled properly.
HMIs & SCADA
Clear operator interfaces and SCADA so your people can run, monitor and trust the process at a glance.
Machine Automation & Retrofits
Automating existing plant, or retrofitting modern control onto older machinery to extend its working life.
On-Site Commissioning & Fault-Finding
Commissioning, testing and fault-finding on site, under load — so it works in the real world and downtime stays low.
Live demo — click around, it's a simulation
Drive One of Our Control Systems
This is the kind of operator screen SAE builds and commissions: interlocked drives, burner management, live temperatures and trends. Start the combustion fan, light the burner, push a speed up — or hit the E-stop and watch the interlocks do their job.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you automate our existing machinery?
Yes — retrofitting modern control and automation onto existing plant is core work for us. It extends the life of machinery you already own without the cost of a full replacement, and it's commissioned on site so it actually runs.
Do you program PLCs and variable speed drives?
Yes — PLC programming and VSD setup and commissioning are the heart of what we do, primarily on Schneider and other major platforms. From a single drive to a full process line.
Do you commission on site?
Always. We commission, test and fault-find on site so the system performs under real operating conditions and load — not just on the bench. If something plays up later, the engineer who built it is the one who comes back.
Got a project worth doing properly?
Structural steel, control & automation, design to on-site commissioning — based in Cairns, serving all of Far North Queensland. Send it through.