Engineering we've delivered

Challenge

In a hyperscale data centre, cooling is safety-critical: if primary cooling control fails, hot aisles can climb from normal operating temperature to thermal-shutdown levels in under two minutes. The site required a last line of defence — an independent emergency cooling system that takes over when things go wrong, engineered so that it activates even if its own controller has just lost power.

Solution

Maktech engineered a standalone, deliberately offline PLC system per data-hall zone, on CompactLogix with a PanelView Plus HMI. On high cold-aisle temperature — or hardwired manual activation — it commands every CRAH unit in the zone to maximum airflow and signals the site BMS through fail-safe interposing relays. Every control output uses energised-to-hold-off logic: any failure mode — controller power loss, watchdog trip, field cable break — itself triggers emergency cooling. Four independent activation paths were verified, two of which require no controller participation at all. The ISA-101 dark-palette HMI provides heatmap, trends and alarm visibility across 34 temperature sensors in 10 cold aisles, while safety-critical activation stays on physical pushbuttons.

Maktech scope

Controls architecture · fail-safe relay design · PLC software development (Studio 5000) · ISA-101 HMI design and development · alarm philosophy (74 configured alarms) · software design specifications · twin-zone deployment engineering.

Result

Worst-case trip-detection latency of 200 ms against a one-second requirement; two fully independent zones running identical verified code; and a safety function with zero dependency on the site network, SCADA or BMS availability.

Role

Across a multi-site hyperscale data centre programme, Maktech's principal engineering role is the development of the BMS application software on Rockwell PLC platforms — combined with formal design-assurance responsibility as reviewer and approver of the programme's Work Stage 3, 4 and 5 (WS3–WS5) documentation packages, and on-site support through commissioning.

Scale

To date, Maktech has contributed BMS PLC software development, documentation review and commissioning to more than 96 MW of critical IT capacity across four data centre sites in EMEA — a track record of consistent delivery at hyperscale, site after site.

What we deliver

Structured, standards-aligned BMS software developed against the approved design; independent review and approval of WS3–WS5 documentation before release, ensuring design intent, I/O and control strategies are consistent and buildable; and hands-on support for the delivery teams, providing on-site technical guidance through installation, commissioning and handover.

Result

Consistent, approved engineering from design office to site — documentation packages that pass review first time, software that commissions cleanly, and a single point of technical guidance for the teams delivering each facility.

Challenge

A live data centre required a PLC-based HVAC isolation system controlling 125 fire dampers — a life-safety-relevant controls scope that had to integrate cleanly with the facility BMS and be delivered without disruption to a continuously operating critical environment.

Solution

Maktech delivered the controls engineering for the complete system: PLC and HMI architecture on Rockwell CompactLogix and PanelView Plus, damper control and monitoring logic, operator graphics giving clear damper-by-damper status, and a robust interface to the building management system.

Maktech scope

Controls engineering · PLC/HMI architecture · PLC software development · HMI graphics development · panel engineering · BMS interface design · FAT and commissioning support.

Result

A verified, documented isolation system covering all 125 dampers, tested through structured FAT and supported through site commissioning into a live facility.

Overview

Across data centre and building-services programmes, Maktech's engineering lead has been involved in the design, review, FAT and commissioning of more than 40 BMS control panels — including an 11-panel programme delivered end-to-end.

Approach

Consistent, buildable electrical design across every panel: schematics, panel layouts, I/O engineering and component specification — plus structured design review and FAT support to carry each panel from drawing to verified hardware, to a standard that passes independent review.

Maktech scope

Panel design · electrical engineering · schematics and layouts · design review · FAT support · commissioning support.

Result

Panel programmes engineered to a consistent standard, with documentation packages that supported clean manufacture, efficient testing and straightforward site installation.

Challenge

Automation engineering in regulated life-sciences manufacturing demands more than working software — every requirement must be specified, traceable and formally verified to GAMP-aligned standards.

Solution

Maktech has delivered automation engineering within GAMP-aligned medical device manufacturing environments: PLC/HMI development against approved specifications, structured testing with documented evidence, and disciplined change control throughout.

Maktech scope

PLC/HMI development · functional specifications · structured testing and verification records · validation support · change control.

Result

Automation delivered into a regulated production environment with documentation accepted by quality and validation stakeholders.

Overview

Across data centre, building services and industrial projects, Maktech has produced control and BMS panel electrical design packages engineered for right-first-time manufacture: schematics, general arrangements, I/O and cable schedules, terminal plans and component specifications.

Approach

Designs are produced with the panel builder, the test engineer and the site electrician in mind — reducing build queries, simplifying FAT and leaving installations with documentation that genuinely reflects what was built.

Result

Design packages that pass independent review, build cleanly and commission without drawing-versus-reality surprises.