Control systems for can making, built in Bristol, commissioned worldwide
Washers, ovens, cuppers, decorators and full line control for the world’s can makers. Designed, built, tested and commissioned by one team.
20+ countries · 60+ machines · 30+ can lines · ISO 9001, 45001, 14001
Canning is where we started
DelaControl's founders came from canning-industry control installations. We set up the company in 2017 to bring design, build, test and installation under one roof, and our team's experience now covers every stage of a two-piece can line, from the cupper to the palletiser, plus line control across the whole plant, for the world's largest beverage can makers.
Much of our oven and washer work has been as controls partner to a leading UK can-line OEM, and we work directly with can plants on upgrades, safety and commissioning.
How we can help with your canning line
From the cupper to the palletiser, we design, build, upgrade and commission control systems for every stage of a two-piece can line, and the line control that ties them together. Click a stage to see what we do.
Why can makers use DelaControl
More life from good machines
We replace obsolete controls and bring older presses up to current safety standards, which can add 15 to 20 years to mechanically sound machines.
Tested before it ships
Full factory acceptance testing to BS EN 60204-1 in our Bristol workshop, with matched motors, encoders and field equipment, so site time goes on commissioning, not fault-finding.
We stay until you're making cans
Our engineers commission on site worldwide and support start-up until the line is in production.
Example Can Line Projects
Full line control for a new can plant in Central Asia
A new beverage can line needed one control system covering front end, mid line and back end, with a large number of conveyor drives to bring up on site. What we did : – Wrote the PLC and HMI software for all three line sections on Allen-Bradley ControlLogix with FactoryTalk View HMIs – Commissioned every PowerFlex conveyor drive on site, checking direction, speed, motor current and EtherNet/IP communications – Supported the line through start-up, making code updates live on site The result: One integrated control system across the whole can line, commissioned and handed over on site.
Washer, pin oven and IBO for a new line in Serbia
Three major machines on one new line: a flagship can washer and dryer, a 14-pass pin oven and an internal bake oven, built in Slovakia and installed in Serbia. What we did: – Developed the full electrical and software design for the washer on Siemens TIA Portal, with IO-Link instrumentation and servo-driven can-height adjustment – Ran factory acceptance tests to BS EN 60204-1 on all three machines, including a customer-witnessed washer FAT – Machine-wired both ovens on site, including burners and junction boxes – Commissioned the washer, dryer and both ovens, and stayed for start-up support The result: The flagship washer delivered end to end, plus both ovens, all commissioned on site.
Extending the life of proven machines in a UK can plant
The plant's cuppers were mechanically sound but had run for more than 20 years without modern guarding, and its decorators ran on obsolete control systems. What we did: – Cupper safety upgrades (three lines): locking guard switches, standstill monitoring and a Pilz safety system isolating the main press drive, plus a safe interface to new servo infeeds, rated PLe and validated in SISTEMA – Decorator control replacements (four lines): ControlLogix PLC, a 90 kW PowerFlex 755 main drive with Safe Torque Off, and Pilz PNOZmulti safety with guard locking – Fitted every installation into the plant's planned shutdowns, with full documentation: substantiation reports, RAMS, test schedules and as-installed drawings The result: The cuppers now meet current safety standards, and the decorators have a modern control system that could extend their working life by 15 to 20 years.
Engineers on site until the line is in production, across four continents.
New ovens, washers and line control systems often have to be commissioned far from home, against a fixed production start date. What we did: – USA and Brazil: two plants had new washers installed with no working control software. We developed the software and commissioned it on site, within the time each plant needed – North Africa: commissioned a new internal bake oven on site – Middle East: wrote and commissioned line control software for the conveyor subsystems, from cup system to palletiser – Provided floating engineers and start-up support until each line was in production The result: Lines brought into production on schedule, with our engineers on site through start-up.
What we can do for can makers
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Electrical design (AutoCAD, EPLAN)
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Panel build in our ISO 9001 workshop
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PLC, HMI and SCADA software (Allen-Bradley ControlLogix, Siemens TIA Portal)
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Certified drives experts
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Obsolescence upgrades for existing machines
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Machine safety to ISO 13849 (Pilz, SISTEMA)
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Factory acceptance testing to BS EN 60204-1
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Site installation
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Commissioning and start-up support
Frequently asked questions
Do you work with machine builders or directly with can plants?
Both. We supply complete control systems to OEMs building can-making equipment, and work directly with can manufacturers on upgrades, safety and commissioning.
Can you match the platform we already use on site?
Yes. We work on both Allen-Bradley and
Siemens platforms, so upgrades fit your existing standards and spares.
Can you fit installation into our planned shutdowns?
Yes. Our cupper and decorator upgrades for a UK can plant were all installed within the plant's planned shutdowns, with testing done in Bristol beforehand to keep site time short.
