Evolution was always the plan. While its history is rooted in industrial controls, Black Controls was built with the clear vision to become a full-scale systems integrator. The company now delivers on that goal daily, providing custom turnkey robotics and integrated automation—spanning everything from material handling to complex assembly.
While the company’s non-stop progress has meant significant change, the team—accustomed to big things happening fast—has taken the process in stride. With customers in Ontario and across Canada, the United States, and 14 other countries throughout Europe, the United Kingdom, and Asia, Black Controls’ appeal and impact are growing globally.
As these capabilities have grown, so has the depth of the organization. Today, Black Controls operates with specialized departments across mechanical and electrical design, in-house manufacturing teams, advanced programming, and software development. Together, they provide a unified technical perspective that ensures every automation solution is resilient, scalable, and built to perform.
The art of not standing still
While Black Controls still offers design, engineering, fabrication, mechanical, and programming services for controls, the company’s expanded capabilities have been a game-changer for customers needing a partner capable of deeply complex undertakings in this field. This momentum is fueled by the trust built into every integration, establishing the company as a trusted name in the field of automation.
This culture of innovation starts from within. By bringing its branding and technical marketing in-house, Black Controls has ensured its identity reflects the scale and range of the projects it delivers. This internal momentum is supported by the recent implementation of a comprehensive ERP system, ensuring that the company’s standards for traceability and documentation are as high-performance as the automation itself.
Alongside its main mission of developing industrial automation equipment, Black Controls provides retrofits for existing legacy systems that are facing obsolescence or are no longer performing as required.
With its popularity at a steady high, the company continues to expand. Following its rise to industry prominence when it burst onto the controls scene around six years ago, Black Controls recently took ownership of a six-acre plot of land in in Oro-Medonte, Ontario. While the current 13,000-square-foot facility houses its development, operations, engineering, assembly, and manufacturing departments, the company is now ready to plant deeper roots. Over the next three years, Black Controls will construct a new, permanent home on this site—a move that solidifies its foundation in the community and provides a dedicated space for the team’s growing scale and range.
A complete solution
While the new facility is on the horizon, Black Controls continues to build out its current operational capacity. The company has already successfully integrated a fully fledged mechanical department into its existing site, bringing expert machinists on-staff. This move allows for immediate, hands-on collaboration between departments, ensuring that the high standards established in the design phase are maintained through every stage of the physical build.
By bringing these resources in-house, Black Controls maintains complete oversight of the project lifecycle, keeping the delivery of excellence and expertise entirely within its own trusted team. “We’re able to offer the full solution now, where before we were a little limited,” says Sales Account Manager, Mike Lake.
Since 2019, Black Controls has grown to a team of nearly 30, with a focus on bringing in emerging talent from the industry. For recent recruit Zaahiya Kachwala, the company’s emphasis on career development is a significant factor. “The company recognizes that individual growth drives the company’s growth,” she says. Regular strategy sessions and professional coaching are central to this, ensuring each team member has access to the job-specific technical training and leadership skills required for their work, fostering personal development alongside the company’s overall growth.
Education, education, education
While Black Controls may be comparatively young, it has already taken big strides in establishing a legacy, underscored by providing education and training to young, soon-to-be professionals new to the field. The company’s extensive collaborations encompass working with The City of Barrie, trade shows, and local post-secondary education facilities, including Lakehead University and Georgian College—all efforts that benefit the quality of its service delivery.
Recognizing the need for continuous skill development, Black Controls provides regular training and workshops focused on both technical and strategic growth. This approach ensures the team remains proficient in the latest automation technologies and has the resources to adapt as the industry evolves.
In addition, the company emphasizes cross-training, giving the team exposure to a wider range of technical disciplines and internal processes. This strengthens their abilities and the diverse capabilities of the company, ensuring they can support one another as project requirements shift.
“The goal for us is to be able to have an energetic team that can help in many areas, because as a project progresses, there are different needs,” says Lake of consciously nurturing a multi-talented, capable staff.
Beyond the technical work, there is a strong emphasis on community, whether through team gatherings or supporting charities. This shared energy is a core part of the company’s identity. “We have a culture where everyone pushes each other to reach that next step,” says Kachwala, highlighting how the team’s drive for personal growth defines the atmosphere at Black Controls.
Getting the word out
The company also focuses on attending relevant trade shows where its people thrive on meeting new collaborators and showcasing technologies and capabilities. These include the Canadian Manufacturing Trade Show (CMTS), which was held in Toronto in 2025, and Chicago’s Automate in June of this year. Lake also attends industry forums such as A3 with owner Rick Black, who was named one of Manufacturing AUTOMATION’s ‘Top 10 Under 40’ in 2021.
These events also serve to grow the company’s network of trustworthy suppliers and other industry partners, which is invaluable, Lake tells us. “It is a huge advantage when industry partners bring us leads because they know, without question, that we’ll deliver a high-quality result. That reliability is the backbone of those relationships.”
With its capabilities having expanded. the team is looking for opportunities to push boundaries and transcend current limits. With many customers now reaching the second phase of their development and installation projects, this aim is welcomed by visionary firms looking to grow their technological capabilities.
“Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) continue to grow in popularity for their ability to navigate busy shop floors and integrate into existing systems,” says Lake. “Beyond standard AMR deployment, we’ve developed a Conveyor Top Module that automates material transfer between stationary conveyors. This motor-driven roller system handles loads up to 1100 kg, significantly reducing manual handling and freeing up floor space by eliminating the need for fixed conveyors.”
Fully customizable and accessible on the MiRGo marketplace, the module integrates seamlessly with AMR control and safety systems. Whether through programmed missions or higher-level process management, it allows for flexible, safe product transfer throughout a facility.
While the company drives innovation by continually pushing the boundaries of existing achievements, it also offers predictability. That comes together with consistency and expertise in development, design, manufacturing, and support.
“Automation is always evolving and we are growing a team to evolve with it. Through technical expertise and a commitment to shared success, the Black Controls team ensures every project serves as a foundation for the next phase of growth.”
