Texas Automation Systems
Leading the Way through Automation

Because of Automation’s immense potential to enhance the whole enterprise development process, unifying operational technology and the IT systems that support it, is one of the most critical components of successful businesses. Unfortunately, there is a significant communication gap between IT and OT as each uses its own method of connectivity—physical connectors that data rides on or with the language used to convert machine bits and bytes into human readable and actionable information. With recent technology advancements, the demand for the convergence of both is gaining more traction as it improves interoperability for increased automation, efficiency, and innovation. Perfectly understanding the communication challenges and endeavoring to address them, with its competency of automation, Texas Automation Systems (TAS) is a reliable, trusted partner within the oil and gas industry, providing best-in-class automation system design, integration, programming, and commissioning services.

In the highly competitive oil and gas market, players with the lowest operating costs have the highest profitability. A robust field communications network, wired or wireless, can be the means to achieve best-in-class performance in several key areas and reduce overall operating cost. By leveraging IIoT, TAS provides real-time operational “process” intelligence both at the edge, to enable real-time local automation, as well as, remote monitoring, analysis, and optimization. It not only includes system and network architectures, wired and wireless networking, local automation, but also SCADA systems for remote monitoring, analysis, and optimization.

Since its inception in 2012, the company has been broadening its portfolio, and today TAS’s core competencies include process automation, consulting, design, build and deployment (PLCs, RTUs, etc.), SCADA System and wired and wireless network design, build and deployment alongside related fabrication services such as racks, skids, panels, VFDs, MCCs, etc.

Addressing Every Concern with Automation

“We could have added various other electrical and mechanical services, but chose not to in order to stay focused on automation,” states Brad Byrum, an entrepreneurial leader with over 16 years of senior management, executive experience—the President of TAS. This sole focus is TAS’s key differentiator from other competitors in the market. Byrum adds that their company’s aim is to enable customers to improve operational efficiencies by helping them automate their processes. As a Main Automation Partner (MAP) where the company becomes an integral part of the client’s team, TAS reduces facility capital cost, improves operational efficiency and safety, and assists companies in helping them avoid missed startup deadlines. TAS provides automation consulting services during the facility/process design phase, enabling clients to avoid costly design omissions, overbuilds, and mistakes. “Unfortunately, automation is regularly the last thing clients think about as it has one of the shortest lead-times compared to the physical plant. When we are engaged as a MAP not only do we help clients save money on the capital side, but we are ready to deploy and commission the automation/ control system as soon as we can get access to the facility, avoiding automation being the bottleneck,” explains Byrum.

By being involved early on in new facility build out discussions, TAS can create, modify and maintain the cause and effect worksheet, as well as, the control narrative throughout the design and construction phase.

Not only do we help clients save money on the capital side, but we are ready to deploy and commission the automation/control system as soon as we can get access to the facility, thereby avoiding automation being the bottleneck

This allows the startup time to be significantly shortened and improves operational uptime and efficiency right out of the gate. Equally important, this provides time to fully build out and test the control system including the safety system (emergency shutdown) processes and conditions, thereby improving health, safety, and environmental concerns. As the IT department requires building business networks which include communication methods such as Voice Over IP (VoIP) networking, TAS assists companies with an appropriate implementation strategy and helps them stay effective by enabling a secure and reliable network. With an experienced staff of field automation specialists, the company also offers troubleshooting, programming, and commissioning services. From data reconciliation between end device and the SCADA system, communication interfaces, overall system configuration, programming PLCs, RTUs, HMIs, Data Concentrators, or loop checks, panel terminations, system performance, site acceptance test, TAS does it all.

Having been an industry leader for over six years, renowned for its high quality, customer satisfaction, and technical ability; TAS caters to various industries including oil & gas, chemical, food & beverage, water & wastewater, and general industries.
As automation gets a stronghold in most industries, it is resulting in a workforce change and has created a major need for trained professionals. TAS develops client specific training courses offering Modbus, basic instrumentation, intro to PLCs courses, and other client need-based courses to add value to their enterprise.

Gearing up for the Journey Ahead

The company steers ahead into Q3, with an intent to hire more staff to support its growing customer base while continuing to bridge the communication gap between automation and IT. With a team of highly experienced automation and telemetry professionals committed to making custom solutions for its clients by leveraging advanced technology, automation, and engineering services, TAS aims to help companies thrive in today’s competitive landscape.

“The secret to our success is hiring quality people, treating them well, and doing high-quality work. Our compound annual growth rate has been greater than 75 percent over the past four years, and our goal is to keep on improving and providing effective solutions focused on automation,” states Byrum.