Automatic Controls

What Automatic Controls does

Automatic Controls Ltd. is a privately held, family-owned HVAC building automation systems integrator headquartered in Edmonton, Alberta. Founded in 1967 by Art Leahy and now led by second-generation President Jeremy Leahy, the company designs, supplies, installs, and services HVAC controls and equipment for commercial, institutional, and industrial construction projects across Alberta, the Yukon, and the Northwest Territories. It operates as the official regional distributor for Schneider Electric Building Management Systems, a relationship held continuously since 1980, and carries the TAC I/A Series, EcoStruxure Building Operation, Network 8000, and Building Expert product lines alongside legacy Invensys, SIEBE, Barber-Colman, and Robertshaw products.

The company's technical stack is built on Schneider Electric's Niagara Framework-powered platforms supporting LON, BACnet, OPC, and Modbus protocols, with LonMark-certified and BACnet-compliant controllers, valves, actuators, sensors, and miscellaneous field equipment. Service offerings extend beyond installation to include preventative maintenance contracts, 24/7 repair and retrofit, system design and drafting, software programming across Niagara Framework, Java, LUA, and HTML, and remote monitoring and diagnostics. More recently, the company has added AI-enabled building analytics through EcoStruxure Building Advisor and integration capabilities across competing BAS platforms (Johnson Controls Metasys, Carrier, Trane, York, Danfoss), positioning it as a vendor-agnostic consolidator.

Revenue is generated through four streams: project-based HVAC controls design, supply, and installation contracts; recurring preventative maintenance and service contracts; counter sales of controls products and parts; and managed services including upgrades and remote monitoring. Go-to-market is enterprise field sales targeting building owners, with direct toll-free phone access for service and a walk-in counter for parts procurement. Customers span enterprise (HSBC Place, University of Alberta, Edmonton International Airport, Syncrude Canada, Saskatchewan Power Corporation) and government/education segments (multiple Alberta school divisions, waste water treatment plants). Field installers are I.B.E.W. Local 424 union members and graduates of NAIT or University Engineering programs, with the company holding COR safety certification.

Name

Automatic Controls

Legal name

Automatic Controls Ltd.

Website

https://automatic-controls.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1967

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Automatic Controls Ltd. is a family-owned Edmonton-based HVAC building automation integrator that designs, supplies, installs, and services Schneider Electric BAS systems for commercial, institutional, and industrial clients across Alberta, Yukon, and Northwest Territories.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Building Automation & HVAC Controls Services

NAICS

Automatic Environmental Control Manufacturing for Residential, Commercial, and Appliance Use (334512)

SIC

Auto Controls For Regulating Residential & Comml Environments (3822), Electrical Work (1731)

akta.pro primary industry

Building Automation & Controls (BAS/BMS, HVAC Controls) (IMAIABAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Building Management System (BMS)/Controls Maintenance & Commissioning (BPABACAE), Building Thermal Controls & Building Management Systems (HVAC BMS) (IMAHAKAK), Commissioning, Retro-Commissioning & Controls Tuning (BPABAGAL)

Keywords

• HVAC controls
• Building automation systems
• Building management systems
• HVAC installation services
• Preventative maintenance

Headquarters

HQ city

Edmonton

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. HVAC Controls Design, Supply & Installation: Designs, supplies, installs, and services HVAC controls and equipment for new and existing Commercial, Institutional, and Industrial construction projects. Revenue generated through project-based contracts.
2. Maintenance & Service Contracts: Preventative maintenance with scheduled checkouts, repair & retrofit services, and 24-hour emergency service. Offers customized maintenance inspections, deficiency reports, and software backup services.
3. Control Products & Parts Sales: Sales of full line of Schneider Electric products including building automation systems, valves, actuators, sensors, and miscellaneous equipment. Counter sales with extensive stock of controls and automation equipment.
4. System Support Program: Offers upgrades at minimal and predictable costs, compliance verification, remote equipment monitoring and diagnostics, and access to reliable operations and maintenance services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Automatic Controls designs, supplies, installs, and services HVAC controls and equipment for commercial, institutional, and industrial construction projects in Western Canada. As the official Schneider Electric Building Management Systems supplier for Alberta, Yukon, and Northwest Territories, the company delivers Direct Digital Control Systems along with preventative maintenance, repair/retrofit, and building analytics services.

Product overview

Automatic Controls provides a comprehensive HVAC building management ecosystem comprising three distinct Building Automation Systems (EcoStruxure Building Operation, TAC I/A Series, and Network 8000), a dedicated small-to-medium building solution (Building Expert), and building analytics services (EcoStruxure Building Advisor). The company operates as the official Schneider Electric Building Management Systems supplier for Alberta, the Yukon, and Northwest Territories. EcoStruxure Building Operation serves as the primary enterprise platform with Automation Server hardware, while TAC I/A Series offers open interoperable solutions supporting LON, BACnet, OPC, and Modbus protocols powered by Niagara Framework. Network 8000 is a legacy system with established migration paths to SmartStruxure. Building Expert targets small to medium commercial buildings with a no-license-fee web interface using Multi-purpose Management devices. The portfolio extends to complete component lines including SpaceLogic, WorkPlace Tech Tool, BACnet/LON Controllers, Valves & Actuators, Sensors, and miscellaneous equipment. Services encompass preventative maintenance, 24/7 repair & retrofit, system design, software programming, and remote monitoring.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• HVAC Controls and Equipment Design, Supply & Installation Designs, supplies, and installs HVAC control systems and equipment for commercial, institutional, and industrial construction projects in new and existing buildings across Alberta, Yukon, and Northwest Territories. Includes energy audits, on-site system analysis, and recommendations to improve building environmental conditions with energy-efficient strategies.
• EcoStruxure Building Operation A comprehensive building management system deployed by Automatic Controls that monitors, measures, and optimizes building performance across its lifecycle through data exchange and analysis from energy, lighting, fire safety, and HVAC systems. Powered by an Automation Server acting as standalone server or controller of I/O modules and field bus devices.
• TAC I/A Series Building Automation System A Schneider Electric Building Automation System providing cost-effective, scalable solutions for any size job with open interoperable control via LON, BACnet, OPC, and Modbus protocols powered by Niagara Framework. Includes LON Series Controllers and BACnet Series Controllers for full building access and control from anywhere.
• Network 8000 Facility Management System A legacy 5th Generation Facility Management System consisting of MicroZone II Area Controllers, Global Control Modules, MicroNet 2000 VAV and Zone Controllers, and MicroFlo II VAV Controllers with SIGNAL Graphical User Interface or InVue user interface. Upgrade paths available to SmartStruxure or TAC I/A Series.
• Building Expert An affordable building management solution for small to medium-sized buildings providing anytime, anywhere access to building information via a no-license-fee web interface using Multi-purpose Management devices (MPM) that combine programmable controller, gateway, and web server functionality.
• Building Analytics (EcoStruxure Building Advisor) Managed analytics service combining advanced analytics, performance trending, and diagnostics with cloud-based automated diagnostics and artificial intelligence to identify problem conditions in building systems and guide resolution through suggested actions. Includes periodic engineering reviews for efficient repairs and commissioning.
• Control Products & Parts (Valves, Actuators, Sensors, Controllers) Sales of the full line of Schneider Electric controls and automation equipment including BACnet and LON controllers, valves and actuators (Explosion Proof, Two-Position, Modulating, VAV, Damper, Globe, Ball, Butterfly), sensors (Space Thermostats, Temperature/Humidity, Pressure, Flow, Energy Meters, Lighting/Motion/Security), and miscellaneous equipment (Switches, Pneumatic Tubing, Wire, Compressors, Air Dryers, Dampers, VFDs, Gas Detection) through counter sales.
• Preventative Maintenance Service Scheduled checkouts of building control systems including BAS overview, alarm review, minor repairs, deficiency reports, software backup, and on-site training for building automation system personnel, delivered under multi-year customized maintenance contracts.
• Repair and Retrofit Service 24-hour emergency repair services with trained technicians, on-call support, and spare parts inventory, plus retrofit services to upgrade systems for improved performance, uptime, and lower operating costs with professional enhancement backed by a one-year parts and labour warranty.
• System Design and Drafting Technical design and drafting services for HVAC control systems using top-of-the-line CAD tools and current design methodologies, backed by over twenty years of technical design and drafting experience.
• Software Design and Programming HVAC controls software development using EcoStruxure for Buildings, Niagara Framework, Java, LUA, and HTML, covering controls programming, networking, and integration.
• Remote Monitoring and Diagnostics Remote monitoring and diagnostics services enabling off-site access to building operations, equipment monitoring, and maintenance support through the System Support Program with predictable upgrade costs and compliance verification.
• Multi-Vendor BAS Integration (Web-Based Platform) Integration of third-party Building Automation Systems including Johnson Controls Metasys, Carrier, Trane, York, and Danfoss into a common web-based building automation platform alongside Schneider Electric systems.

Quantifiable outcome

• Maximum comfort at minimum energy cost

Named customers13 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

AI capability3 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Schneider Electric Building Management SystemscoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 1980Official supplier of Schneider Electric Building Management Systems products in Alberta, the Yukon, and the Northwest Territories since 1980. Partnership provides access to EcoStruxure Building Operation, TAC I/A Series, Network 8000, and Building Expert platforms. Also distributes Schneider Electric products through counter sales.
• LonMark AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLonMark certification ensures interoperability of LonMark certified controls products. Automatic Controls displays the LonMark symbol as commitment to excellence and uses LonMark compliant equipment controllers (MNL series) and VAV controllers.
• Alberta Construction Safety AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember of Alberta Construction Safety Association. Company is COR (Certificate of Recognition) certified, ensuring dynamic and comprehensive safety program.
• Niagara FrameworkcoreTechnology or IntegrationTAC I/A Series and Building Expert are powered by the Niagara Framework, enabling open interoperable solutions through the Internet. Software design team has experience in Niagara Framework programming.
• IBEW Local 424minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional field installers are proud members of I.B.E.W. Local 424 union, ensuring quality installation using high standards.
• NAIT (Northern Alberta Institute of Technology)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerField installers are graduates of NAIT Engineering Technology and Trades programs, providing trained personnel for installation work.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Schneider Electric: Global incumbent and core technology partner; supplier of EcoStruxure, TAC I/A Series, Network 8000, and Building Expert that Automatic Controls distributes and integrates in Western Canada. Comparable as both partner and indirect competitor (direct enterprise sales force and global integrator network).
• Johnson Controls: Global incumbent in building automation (Metasys), HVAC equipment, and integrated building solutions. Comparable as a vendor Automatic Controls integrates (along with Carrier, Trane, York, Danfoss) and as a broad market competitor with deeper resources on mega-projects.
• Honeywell Building Technologies: Global building automation incumbent with the Niagara Framework at the core of its commercial BAS offering. Highly comparable technology overlap and a broad-competitor dynamic on large enterprise and institutional deployments.

Direct peers

• Greystone Energy Systems: Canadian building automation and energy management integrator focused on HVAC controls and building analytics for institutional and commercial clients. Directly comparable in scope, vendor-agnostic integration model, and recurring service offering.
• Modern Niagara: Large Canadian mechanical and building services contractor with BAS and controls capabilities across commercial, institutional, and industrial customers. Comparable end-to-end service model though larger scale; relevant as a regional competitor on integrated HVAC and controls projects.
• Houle Electric: Western Canadian multi-trade contractor with a dedicated building automation and controls division. Directly comparable to Automatic Controls as a regional BAS design-supply-install-service integrator serving commercial, institutional and healthcare customers in BC and Alberta.
• ESC Automation: Canadian controls and building automation integrator offering design, installation, and service for HVAC and process controls. Comparable in niche regional integrator profile and institutional/industrial customer mix.
• Ainsworth: Canadian multi-discipline provider with a building technologies and BAS practice delivering HVAC controls, lighting, and security integration. Direct peer along business model (design-supply-install-service) and customer base (institutional, commercial, industrial).
• Vipond: Canadian systems integrator delivering fire, security, and building automation solutions. Closely comparable as a regional BAS integrator serving institutional and commercial customers with multi-vendor platform expertise.
• Reliable Controls: Canadian BAS manufacturer and authorized dealer network operator (headquartered on Vancouver Island). Directly comparable as a vendor-agnostic BAS provider with dealer/integrator model serving small-to-medium commercial buildings across Canada.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/automatic-controls

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Automatic Controls