From Concept to Commissioning: Driving Industrial Efficiency

April, 2026

Author: Carlos Barboza

Classroom to the Floor: My Start at Black Controls

My journey into mechatronics began at Georgian College, where the classroom provided the foundational “how” of robotics, automation, and circuit design. However, it was a piece of advice from my instructor that defined my “where”. He urged me to start my career with an integrator rather than a large corporation, arguing that the diversity of projects would accelerate my growth. He was right. Joining Black Controls has allowed me to see exactly how classroom theory translates into industrial reality.

The Challenge: Bridging the Gap

In a recent project at a plywood manufacturing facility in Northern Ontario, I saw firsthand the gap between manual labor and optimized production. The facility faced significant hurdles: labor shortages and the extreme physical toll of repetitive, heavy lifting. Workers were manually transferring large plywood sheets across the floor, a high-strain, low-efficiency process that limited the plant’s capacity.

At Black Controls, our role is to act as partners in progress. For this facility, the goal was clear: automate the most demanding aspects of the job to improve safety and ensure consistent, high-volume production.

The Impact of Targeted Automation

The implementation of a robotic system changed the dynamic of the floor. What I found most impactful was that automation didn’t replace the workforce; it enhanced it. By removing the ergonomic strain of heavy lifting, the process became safer and more reliable. This allowed the facility to repurpose its talent toward higher-value tasks, directly addressing labor shortages while increasing daily output.

Watching the system go from a concept in the office to a fully operational robotic cell on the floor was a defining moment for me. It’s one thing to talk about “increased production” in a classroom, and another thing entirely to watch a robot hit its cycle time while making the job safer for the people around it.

Black Controls takes pride in taking on the creative challenges. I am excited to keep growing with a team that prioritizes quality solutions and long-term partnership, ensuring our customers always stay at the forefront of their industry.