If quality didn’t matter
we’d all drive lemons
The process of quality in Cates industrial control panels
Cates designs and manufactures industrial control panels in volume for Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) and in smaller quantities for custom control panel orders. In order to maintain high quality across orders ranging from 3 panels to 3,000 panels, Cates invests in every part of our manufacturing – our process, facility, software, machinery, safety, training and continuous improvement culture. As UL 508A panel builders with over 40 years of experience, our panels are competitively priced, delivered on time, and thoroughly tested. You’ll see the difference in our process and our panels!
Quality Industrial Control Panel Manufacturing
- Full range of services, one-stop shop
- Customized, mature quality process
- Scalable and efficient facility
- Deep UL 508A technical expertise reduces risk
- UL 508A/698A certified facilities
- Full UL 508A implementation — no shortcuts
- Custom software, specialized machinery
- On-time delivery, including for large orders
- Safety initiatives and employee training
Panel Manufacturing + Technical Support Services
Full Range of Services
- Industrial Control Panel Design
- Drawing Creation
- Control Panel Manufacturing
- Panel Testing and Configuration
- On-Site Startup Services
One-Stop Shop Convenience
- Ensures close integration with engineering and design
- Eliminates disconnects between panel fabrication and design specifications
- Saves time coordinating panel fabrication separate from process design
- Allows software, parts, and designs to be updated at the same time internally
Customized Quality Process
Quality at Any Volume
Cates has spent years customizing a process that ensures quality in every industrial control panel – in orders from 3 to 3,000 panels.
- Well-defined, scalable process based on CSIA
- Process is tailored to optimally fit our manufacturing flow
- Mature Quality Management System is revision-controlled through a custom Knowledge Base
- Differentiated processes for OEM and Custom Panels
- Internal audits are performed regularly
- Cates has successfully passed every customer audit
Proactive Approach to Quality
- Longstanding culture of continuous improvement since 1978
- Successful internal continuous improvement program fosters ideas from all departments
- Willing to change “how things have always been done”
- Consistent folder structure and document control for all projects
- Standard and Customized inspection checklists ensure critical features are always checked
- Quality tracking website ensures non-conformances are logged, corrective actions are tracked
Scalable, Efficient Facility
Production Scalability
- Scalable process and facility can be rapidly reconfigured to meet production needs
- Specialize in volume orders with customization
- Labor can be added quickly to increase production volume
- Can produce exact multiples of the same design or variations on each. For one customer we produce 130 panels with 50 variations monthly
Modular and Lean Work Areas
- Movable/reconfigurable stations on wheels arranged for maximum efficiency
- Tool outlines on carts for organization and efficiency
- Cell-based assembly ensures quality and consistency
- Clearly labeled production area facilitates order, cleanliness
- Process efficiencies, savings yield faster delivery, lower prices
UL 508A Technical Expertise
Experienced UL 508A Panel Builder
We apply decades of experience in understanding and complying with UL standards.
- We fully understand UL 508A requirements; can advise you
- Application engineer for OEM and Custom to incorporate technical knowledge into panel design
- UL 508A is large — it takes time and experience to absorb it all & it has unique terminology that must be fully understood to see the context of UL requirements
- Cates has the experience and knowledge to avoid the pitfalls that may trip up inexperienced designers
UL 508A/698A Certified Facilities
- Control panel facilities centrally located in Dallas and Houston
- 30,000 sq. ft. of environmentally controlled shop/staging space
- Can build to UL 508A, UL 698A, UL 1203
- CSIA best practices and guidelines
- Cates panel design standards
We Do UL 508A Fully — No Shortcuts!
Full UL 508A Implementation
- Thoroughly investigate the components
- Put appropriate info on drawings to facilitate installation in the field
- NEC/UL safety — we implement UL correctly and safely (not everyone does)
- Follow UL best practices
Reduce Risk in Your Panels
- Cates has the experience to eliminate risks in your design
- Avoid common issues that occur during UL Certification testing
- Ensure panels pass inspection, have proper documentation
Investment in Software and Machinery
Software
- Custom production resource planner is optimized from our manufacturing flow
- Flexibility and scalability are key features of our custom software
- Custom quoting software ensures quick, consistent and thorough proposals
Machinery
- Bulk wire processing aids in gaining efficiency for scalable wiring tasks
- Laser engraving ensures we produce professional and aesthetically pleasing assemblies
- Calibrated testing tools ensure specifications are always met
On-Time Delivery
Resources
- Dedicated Purchasing department is focused on solving supply chain issues
- Customer service representatives and project managers communicate updates
- Dedicated technical resources enable Cates to propose part substitutions
Employee Safety and Training
Safety First Initiative
- Cates works to promote the highest safety standards possible
- We are committed to the safety of our employees, customers, and communities
- We do not compromise on safety and expect that everyone we work with shares this commitment
Safety Commitment
- Safety Committee and management are always looking for ways to improve operational safety
- Our goal: Identify and manage all safety risks in our daily work to prevent incidents from occurring
- If an incident does take place, we identify the underlying causes and learn from them
- We empower everyone at Cates to actively contribute to our safety-first culture
Employee Training
Cates learning management system ensures employees have completed the appropriate training.
- Customized training is quick and easy to create
- Employees are trained to standard work that is flexible to meet customer needs
- Fabrication standards facilitate consistent and quality assemblies
- Tribal knowledge is removed from the Cates process
Leverage the Cates Quality Process for Your Panels
Whether you need high-volume OEM panel manufacturing or smaller quantities of custom control panels, Cates applies our customized process to ensure quality in every single one of your panels.
In addition to quality, we offer competitive pricing, on-time delivery, UL-508A expertise, and thorough testing. You’ll see the difference in our process and our panels!
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