Manufacturing IT Support in Calgary: plant networks built to stay up

Plant machines and office computers don’t belong on one network

A local team for plants, yards and warehouses, including the automation at Ecco Recycling. From $55 per PC per month.

24/7 emergency line

Monday to Friday, 7am to 5pm MT. Emergencies 24/7 on (604) 813-7881, always answered by a person.

Who provides manufacturing IT support in Calgary?

Benson Hunt provides manufacturing IT support in Calgary through a local team of IT specialists and technicians who come to your plant, yard or warehouse. We look after servers, plant networks, ERP and warehouse systems, backups and security, and smaller fixes happen in a group chat with remote access.

  • 3cities with a local team
  • 24/7emergency line, always a person
  • Since 2013serving Alberta and BC

What happens when plant machines share the office network?

Ecco Recycling found out. The Allen-Bradley HMI on their cardboard baler was wiped, then the baler’s programming was deleted, and the line stopped. The cause was inside their own network, not an outside attack. We put the machines on their own VLANs, backed up the HMI and redesigned the PLC software.

HMI and PLC backups

Where the equipment allows it, alongside your equipment vendor.

ERP and warehouse systems

NetSuite, NextERP, Sage ERP, Sage MRP, Accellos WMS and HighJump.

One shared network compared with separate lanesOn one shared network, a problem inside reached the baler's HMI, the panel was wiped, the programming was deleted and the line stopped. With separate lanes, PLCs and HMIs sit on their own VLANs behind a firewall, and the HMI is backed up so it can be restored rather than rebuilt.ONE SHARED NETWORKSEPARATE LANESOffice, guests and machinestogetherEverything can reach everything.The baler's HMI is wipedThen its programming is deleted.The line stopsFrom a problem inside, not an outsideattack.PLCs and HMIs on their own VLANsAway from office and guest traffic.A firewall decides what crossesProblems stay in their lane.The HMI is backed upA restore, not a rebuild.What happened at Ecco Recycling.What we built, with a redesigned PLC program.One shared network compared with separate lanesOn one shared network, a problem inside reached the baler's HMI, the panel was wiped, the programming was deleted and the line stopped. With separate lanes, PLCs and HMIs sit on their own VLANs behind a firewall, and the HMI is backed up so it can be restored rather than rebuilt.ONE SHARED NETWORKOffice, guests and machines togetherEverything can reach everything.The baler's HMI is wipedThen its programming is deleted.The line stopsFrom a problem inside, not an outside attack.What happened at Ecco Recycling.SEPARATE LANESPLCs and HMIs on their own VLANsAway from office and guest traffic.A firewall decides what crossesProblems stay in their lane.The HMI is backed upA restore, not a rebuild.What we built, with a redesigned PLC program.

How do you connect several sites and yards safely?

Every person and device proves who it is before it gets in, which IT people call zero trust. For the Ecco Recycling build-out across Balzac, Aldersyde and Lethbridge, fibre runs inside the buildings and point-to-point links tie the sites and yards together. We plan the cabling from the blueprints.

Hyper-V and Veeam

Servers that come back on other hardware, backed up 3-2-1.

Read the guide about Hyper-V for manufacturers

Alberta PIPA and staff records

Report to the Commissioner when a breach creates a real risk of significant harm (s.34.1).

Sites tied together with zero trustBalzac, Aldersyde and Lethbridge sites linked by point-to-point links, with fibre inside the buildings. Every person and device proves who it is before it gets in.SITES AND YARDS, TIED TOGETHERZero trustEvery person and device proves who it is.BalzacNorth of CalgaryAldersydeSouth of CalgaryLethbridgeSouthern AlbertaPoint-to-point links between sites, fibre inside the buildingsFrom the Ecco Recycling four-site build-out. We plan the cabling from the blueprints.Sites tied together with zero trustBalzac, Aldersyde and Lethbridge sites linked by point-to-point links, with fibre inside the buildings. Every person and device proves who it is before it gets in.SITES AND YARDS, TIED TOGETHERZero trustEvery person and device proves who it is.BalzacNorth of CalgaryAldersydeSouth of CalgaryLethbridgeSouthern AlbertaPoint-to-point links between sites, fibre inside the buildingsFrom the Ecco Recycling four-site build-out. We plan thecabling from the blueprints.

Clients we’ve worked with

Ecco Recycling

We look after their automation, and helped with a four-site build-out including Balzac, Aldersyde and Lethbridge. Tony took these photos in Aldersyde.

The Ecco Recycling site in Aldersyde, Alberta, under a wide prairie sky
The Aldersyde site, one of four in the build-out.Ecco Recycling · Taken by Tony ‘Fung’ Phung · Aldersyde, Alberta
Inside the Ecco Recycling facility in Aldersyde, Alberta, with conveyor lines and equipment being set up
Equipment on the line, set up as smart, connected IIoT devices.Ecco Recycling · Taken by Tony ‘Fung’ Phung · Aldersyde, Alberta
  • Machines walled off. Plant equipment on its own VLANs.
  • A backup to restore from. The touchscreen rebuilt and backed up.
  • A better running baler. We redesigned the PLC software. It still runs today.

How does manufacturing IT support in Calgary work?

  1. 1Reach us by the channel that suits you
  2. 2We fix what we can quickly
  3. 3A technician comes on site

Every plant gets its own group chat with dedicated IT specialists, on WhatsApp, Slack, Google Chat or Microsoft Teams.

Areas we serve near Calgary

Same local team, same number.

  • Airdrie
  • Cochrane
  • Balzac
  • Aldersyde

Manufacturing IT questions from Calgary

Do you offer manufacturing IT support in Calgary?

Yes. Our Calgary IT specialists and technicians come to plants, yards and warehouses, and smaller fixes happen in your group chat. Call (604) 813-7881, our main line for all three cities.

Do you have a Calgary office?

No. Our IT specialists are local in Calgary, and they come to you.

Do you look after PLCs and HMIs?

Tell us what you run. For Ecco Recycling we backed up the HMI and redesigned the baler’s PLC software, alongside the equipment vendor.

Can our ERP run on a virtual server?

Often, yes. We check your vendor’s requirements first and plan the move around production. See Hyper-V for manufacturers.

What does it cost?

From $55 per PC per month, fixed, with remote and on-site help included. We confirm your number in writing before you sign.

Talk to us about your Calgary plant

One number for Vancouver, Edmonton and Calgary. Weekdays 7am to 5pm MT, and 24/7 for emergencies.

Or email hello <at> bensonhunt <dot> com.

Vancouver office: Benson Hunt Technologies, #250-1766, 997 Seymour St, Vancouver BC V6B 3M1. Edmonton mailing address: 1312 Webber Greens Drive NW, Edmonton, AB T5T 7C5 (mail only).