Custom automation engineering
Custom Automation Solutions in Guatemala
When the standard catalog doesn't solve the problem, we design the solution from scratch. E3 Solutions builds custom automation projects for industrial processes and operations that need something specific: control software designed for your process, integration of legacy systems with modern platforms, operations dashboards, or IoT devices that don't exist in any catalog. We have a local technical team in Guatemala and direct access to the Emotron line — official distributor for Central America — when the project requires motor control.
When the standard isn't enough
Standard automation systems solve most cases — and when they do, they are the right answer. But there are situations where the catalog falls short: processes with variables that no off-the-shelf equipment measures natively, legacy equipment from the 80s or 90s still in operation that needs modern visibility without being replaced, specific traceability or safety requirements that no packaged SCADA implements exactly the way the process needs, or physical site constraints that prevent the use of standard hardware.
For those cases, there is custom automation engineering. E3 designs the solution together with your technical team: we understand the process, size the scope honestly, and develop what's needed — no more, no less.
Types of custom projects
Custom industrial software
We develop control and management applications designed for a specific process: data-acquisition systems, sequence logic, operator interfaces, and custom development on industrial and web platforms. When the standard SCADA doesn't fit the process logic, or when the corporate ERP needs to reach the plant floor, custom software is the way.
Process engineering
We survey the process in the field, analyze existing control logic, identify inefficiencies, and propose a redesign. We then implement and validate it in the plant with the operations team. We don't propose changing what works — only what limits it.
Legacy systems integration
We connect older equipment — PLCs without a network, 4–20 mA sensors, discrete controllers from previous-generation technology — to modern supervisory systems, web dashboards, or IoT platforms. Without replacing equipment that's still operational. Legacy industrial systems integration is one of the most frequent custom projects in Guatemalan plants with a history of investment in automation.
Operations dashboards and monitoring
We build operational and executive dashboards: real-time KPIs, condition-based alarms, historians of process variables, energy consumption, OEE, and scheduled reports. Custom industrial monitoring gives management the information it needs without having to ask the plant manager.
Process-specific IoT devices
When no off-the-shelf device measures or controls exactly what the process needs, we design the hardware: specialized sensors, protocol gateways, embedded controllers. The resulting device integrates into the central system via standard industrial communication protocols — Modbus RTU/TCP, Profibus, Profinet, EtherCAT, DeviceNet — the same protocols supported by the Emotron line we distribute.
How we work
Every custom project follows the same five-stage process. No dark rooms.
- 1
Discovery
We start every project with a discovery session — on-site or virtual, depending on the case. We listen to the problem, review the existing equipment, understand the physical and operational constraints, and set the project goals. The output is a preliminary scope document.
- 2
Design and proposal
With the scope clear, we prepare the functional design: control architecture, system diagrams, technology selection, and time and cost estimates. We iterate until the scope is clear on both sides — we don't sign until both parties share the same picture of the project.
- 3
Development and integration
We code, fabricate hardware if applicable, and run bench tests before going to the plant. We keep continuous communication with the client during development — you know where the project stands at all times.
- 4
On-site commissioning
We install in the plant, perform start-up, fine-tune with the real process, and validate with the client's operations team. We deliver as-built system documentation.
- 5
Support and maintenance
The project doesn't end at delivery. E3 offers scheduled maintenance and support for future system updates. Warranty conditions and the scope of post-delivery support are set in the contract.
Capabilities and technologies
We work with the main industrial platforms on the market. If your plant already has a PLC brand installed, ask about compatibility — legacy integration is precisely one of our project archetypes.
- Control and automation: PLCs from the main industrial brands — we recommend according to the application and your plant's context
- Drives and motors: complete Emotron line (official Central America distributor) — TSA soft starters, FDU and VFX drives — plus integration with third-party motors
- Software: control and operator-interface applications, web dashboards, industrial data integrations, IoT connectivity
- Embedded hardware: microcontrollers and embedded systems for process-specific IoT measurement and control devices
- Industrial communication: Profibus, Profinet, Modbus RTU/TCP, EtherCAT, DeviceNet — protocols supported by the Emotron line and the main PLCs on the market
Frequently asked questions about custom solutions
Tell us about your project
Every custom project starts with a conversation. Tell us what you need to solve and we'll tell you honestly whether we can — and how.