In-House Design & Control Software

Fully integrated design, control software, and data interfaces engineered for consistent performance and long-term reliability.

In-House Design & Control Software Engineering

Curtis Assemble & Test Ltd (CAT) manage every aspect of system design and software development in-house, ensuring consistent performance, seamless integration, and long-term reliability. By unifying mechanical, electrical, hydraulic, pneumatic, and control software design delivered in-house. CAT deliver efficient and fully integrated automation solutions tailored to complex production and testing environments.

Our multidisciplinary approach removes hand-offs, accelerates iteration, and ensures that design decisions align across all engineering disciplines from concept through to final commissioning. This reduces risk, protects quality, and enables faster project execution.

Integrated Mechanical, Electrical & Software Design

CAT’s integrated design process enables close collaboration between engineering teams, eliminating delays, reducing errors, and ensuring every detail of the system is aligned to customer requirements. With direct access to system designers throughout development, modifications can be implemented quickly without disrupting project schedules.

This approach supports coherent system architecture, accurate documentation, and compatibility across all major control hardware platforms, creating robust automation systems engineered for modern manufacturing and testing environments.

Control Software, HMI & Data Interfaces

CAT design and develop all machine control software and user interfaces in-house, guaranteeing compatibility with integrated equipment, sensors, and motion platforms. Software libraries, proven function blocks, and structured development processes shorten programming time, enhance reliability, and support future feature expansion without costly rework.

Systems include intelligent HMIs for operator interaction, status feedback, secure data acquisition, and traceability. This ensures operators can monitor key parameters, review measured performance, and maintain consistent product quality across production and validation environments.

In-House Design & Software Capabilities

⚙️ Multi-disciplinary Design Under One Roof — Mechanical, electrical, hydraulic, pneumatic, and software design fully integrated to support cohesive automation solutions

⚙️ PLC & Control Platform Expertise — Support for major industrial PLC and motion platforms to suit performance, validation, and scalability requirements

⚙️ Tailored Software Platforms — Aligned to customer requirements, system architecture, and lifecycle needs

⚙️ Proven Industrial Technologies — Built on industry-recognised PLC, motion, and control platforms for confidence and maintainability

⚙️ Upgrade-Ready Architectures — Designed to support future enhancements, extensions, and long-term system evolution

⚙️ In-House Machine Control Software Development — Bespoke control software using structured libraries and function blocks to reduce development time and enhance reliability

⚙️ HMI & User Interface Design — Custom operator screens for machine control, status monitoring, diagnostics, and secure access management

⚙️ Data Acquisition & Traceability Integration — Capture, store, and recall process and performance data for analysis, reporting, and compliance

⚙️ Synchronized Hardware & Software Control — Real-time coordination across motion systems, test equipment, and on-machine devices

⚙️ Change Management & Rapid Iteration — Design changes implemented quickly to reduce downtime during concept, prototyping, and commissioning

⚙️ Accurate Documentation & Version Control — Design files, software releases, and electrical schematics managed for lifecycle traceability

⚙️ Industrial Communications & Integration — Support for fieldbus, industrial Ethernet, and supervisory control connections for connected manufacturing

⚙️ Secure Data Handling & Interface Design — Protecting data integrity for quality records, test results, and manufacturing traceability

Advanced Control Platforms & Data Systems

Multi-Platform Expertise

CAT engineers work across major PLC, HMI, motion, and control platforms, allowing us to recommend the best solution for each application while supporting future upgrades and long-term support.

Data Acquisition & User Interface

Custom interfaces provide clear operator feedback, secure data capture, reporting, and traceability, tailored to the exact machine function and workflow.

Each in-house design and software capability is structured to deliver reliable performance, predictable validation behaviour, and complete compatibility across automation and test applications, supporting both standalone systems and integrated production lines.

COMMON APPLICATIONS

Custom software and system design underpins almost every bespoke automation, test, and gauging project delivered by CAT. Typical applications include:

Machine control and automation software for bespoke systems

Machine Control
& Automation

Bespoke PLC, motion, and HMI software controlling automated processes, robotic handling, actuators, and sequencing logic across production systems.

Part handling and transfer automation icon

Motion & Robotics
Coordination

Synchronised control of robotic manipulators, servo axes, conveyors, and motion-driven tooling for precise, repeatable movement.

Industrial data acquisition and test measurement software

Test & Data Acquisition
Systems

Software-driven acquisition of pressure, flow, temperature, dimensional, and performance data with secure storage for analysis and reporting.

hmi-user-interface-design-cat

HMI & User Interface
Development

Custom operator screens designed around machine function, providing status, diagnostics, secure access levels, and recipe management.

Traceability and reporting software for quality management

Traceability, QC
& Reporting

Integration of traceability, quality control, and digital reporting to support compliance, audits, and continuous improvement.

Production line and factory system integration software

Production Line Integration
& Connectivity

Software connecting machines to supervisory systems, PLC networks, and factory data systems, enabling fully integrated digital manufacturing.

Industries We Support

WHAT WE CAN DELIVER

  • Full in-house mechanical, electrical, pneumatic, hydraulic, and software design

  • Bespoke PLC, HMI, motion, and control software as standard

  • Custom user interfaces tailored to machine function and operator workflow

  • Integrated data acquisition, logging, reporting, and traceability modules

  • Secure parameter, recipe, and permission-level management

  • Testing and simulation using CAD, digital modelling, and software tools

  • Optimised control logic for cycle time, repeatability, and reliability

  • Multi-platform support across major industrial control ecosystems

  • Seamless integration with sensors, robotics, vision, and actuators

  • On-machine diagnostics, performance feedback, and fault handling

  • Full in-house commissioning, validation, and documentation packages

  • Future upgrade paths for additional stations, processes, or data layers

LET’S DEFINE YOUR CONTROL & SOFTWARE REQUIREMENTS

Whether you need standalone machine control, full line integration, or expanded data capabilities, our engineers can help specify the right solution for your application.

Talk to Our Software & Controls Engineers We’ll help define the right architecture, platform, and data strategy for your project.

Two engineers reviewing components in a factory environment

Why Choose CAT?

☑️ Complete in-house control of mechanical, electrical, and software design

☑️ Proven expertise across PLC, HMI, vision, robotics, and motion platforms

☑️ Faster development cycles with reduced risk and fewer unknowns

☑️ Modular software architecture built for future upgrades and scalability

☑️ Reliable commissioning backed by simulation, diagnostics, and testing

☑️ Integrated data, traceability, and reporting as standard

☑️ Seamless integration with new or existing production environments

☑️ Over 50 years of automation experience across regulated industries

Real-World Performance, Real-World Trust

"Solving our design problems with innovative solutions, CAT lead us in the right direction to get the best results possible."
"CAT followed a project plan and delivered on time. Clear and concise technical support was given when required."
Jim Holder
Engineer, Delphi Diesel Systems.
"For almost a decade, Curtis Assemble & Test has supplied Perkins with first‑class cleaning and flushing systems for our global engine assembly operations. They consistently deliver high‑end, bespoke solutions built to the highest standards. Our partnership with Curtis has helped us maintain exceptional levels of quality and customer satisfaction. Their team is reliable, professional, and their expert guidance has been invaluable over the years."
Perkins Engines logo – client testimonial for Curtis Assemble & Test cleaning and flushing systems
Andy Hurdman
Senior Manufacturing Engineer,   Perkins Engines Co Ltd

READY TO DISCUSS YOUR DESIGN & SOFTWARE REQUIREMENTS?

From control strategy and automation logic to data acquisition and operator interfaces, our in-house engineering team can support your next project from concept through to commissioning.