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Industrial Automation

Greenfield Automation

Plan new facilities and expansions with industrial automation engineering that defines control requirements early, coordinates systems, and supports testing, startup, and handoff.

Why Direct

Automation Planned From the Start

Greenfield projects give you a chance to solve automation decisions before they become field problems. Direct works from the process outward, defining control requirements, architecture, I/O, communications, field interfaces, and startup expectations early so the automation scope stays coordinated with the rest of the facility.

Direct Automation technician supporting industrial automation engineering and control system implementation

Our Capabilities

Industrial Automation Engineering Services

From front-end planning and functional design through controls architecture, field coordination, validation, commissioning, and startup, Direct Automation supports greenfield projects from early concept to operation.

Front-End Automation Planning and Functional Design

Our team defines automation requirements, system boundaries, control philosophy, standards, and functional requirements before engineering begins. Control narratives, specifications, I/O plans, and equipment interfaces give the project a clear foundation for design and construction.

Controls Architecture and Network Design

Direct Automation develops PLC, DCS, SCADA, server, remote I/O, network, communications, and redundancy architecture around facility needs. System layouts and interfaces are planned for constructability, maintainability, expansion, and the availability requirements of the process.

System, Field, and Vendor Coordination

Our engineers coordinate instrumentation, I/O, control panels, drives, OEM equipment, electrical interfaces, signals, communications, and field requirements. Aligning those details with contractors and suppliers early helps reduce missed signals, interface conflicts, and field rework.

Testing, Startup, and Project Handoff

We support project-required FAT/SAT, loop checks, commissioning, startup, and operator handoff while verifying control functionality, communications, field interfaces, alarms, and operating sequences. Final documentation and backups give the plant a more complete system to operate and support.

Project Engineering

Engineered Around the Entire Facility

The earlier controls, networks, field systems, and equipment interfaces are coordinated, the fewer issues are left for commissioning teams to resolve in the field. Early coordination gives the project a clearer path into testing, startup, and long-term operation.

Reduce Field Rework

Clear I/O, interfaces, communications, device requirements, and system boundaries help identify conflicts before field startup.

Start Commissioning Better Prepared

Defined validation, documentation, operator requirements, and handoff expectations give commissioning teams a clearer picture of expected system behavior.

Build for Future Growth

Scalable architecture, network capacity, system boundaries, and expansion paths leave room for future equipment and production needs.

Greenfield automation engineering for industrial facility projects

Your Plant. Your Technology Choice.

Connect With Direct

Planning a New Automation Project?

Our team can help define next steps for front-end automation planning, controls architecture, I/O and field coordination, validation, commissioning, and startup based on your project goals.

Contact Our Team

(866) 583-3377

Direct Automation Office

3405 N Louise Ave, Sioux Falls, SD 57107

Email Our Team

info@directcompanies.com

Tell Us About Your Project

Ready to Move Forward

Build Automation Into the Plan

Planning a new facility or major expansion? Our engineers can establish controls and system requirements early so automation supports the process from design through startup and long-term operation.

Operational Data Assessment

Use our free 20-point operational data assessment to uncover disconnected systems, manual reporting, visibility gaps, and opportunities to improve your operation.

Instant access after submission.

How Strong Is Your Cybersecurity?

Use our free 20-point cybersecurity assessment to uncover security gaps, overlooked risks, and areas where stronger protection is needed.

Instant access after submission.

Is Your Control System a Downtime Risk

Use the free 10-point checklist to uncover reliability gaps, aging components, documentation issues, and modernization risks before they lead to unexpected downtime.

Instant access after submission.

Get the Operational Technology Assessment

Evaluate 20 areas across systems, infrastructure, data, security, and support to identify gaps and opportunities to improve.

Instant access after submission.

Get the Panel Project Readiness Guide

Plan your control panel project with fewer surprises. Get the free guide to organize key requirements and prepare for fabrication with confidence.

Instant access after submission.

7 Common Tank Gauging System Headaches

Download the Emerson white paper on tank gauging accuracy, safety compliance, and modernization.