About Practicon
Industrial Weighing, Batching and Automation Expertise Since 1978
For more than 48 years, Practicon has helped manufacturers improve the accuracy, reliability and efficiency of their production processes.
Established in 1978, we are a UK-based industrial automation specialist providing weighing products, batching systems, PLC and SCADA control solutions, concrete batching technology and electrical control panel design and manufacture.
Our experience extends from individual weighing instruments and controllers to complete, integrated process automation systems. Whether a customer needs to modernise existing plant, automate a new production line or improve the performance of a critical process, our engineers deliver practical solutions designed to perform reliably in real operating environments.
Engineering Experience Built Over More Than Four Decades
Manufacturing technology has changed significantly since Practicon was incorporated in 1978. Throughout that time, we have continued to develop our products, software and engineering capabilities to meet the changing requirements of industrial customers.
Today, Practicon combines long-established process knowledge with modern PLC, HMI, SCADA, industrial networking and data-management technologies.
Our multidisciplinary team includes control system engineers, software developers, electrical designers, product development engineers, manufacturing technicians, panel builders and support specialists. This breadth of expertise allows us to manage projects from the initial concept and site survey through to design, manufacture, testing, installation, commissioning and ongoing support.
The result is an integrated engineering service focused on:
- Improving production accuracy and consistency
- Increasing plant throughput and availability
- Reducing manual intervention and process errors
- Providing clearer production data and traceability
- Minimising downtime and commissioning risk
- Supporting compliance and quality-management requirements
- Creating scalable systems that can evolve with the business
Our Core Capabilities
Industrial Weighing Products
Practicon designs and manufactures intelligent instrumentation for industrial weighing and process-control applications.
Our product range includes load cell amplifiers, weight indicators, belt weighing controllers, loss-in-weight feed rate controllers, throughput weighing controllers and batch weighing controllers.
Alongside our standard product range, we can provide customised and customer-branded instrumentation for OEMs, system integrators and distributors. Our products support established analogue, serial and industrial communication technologies, helping them integrate with both existing equipment and modern automation platforms.
Process Control Systems and Industrial Automation
We design bespoke PLC, HMI and SCADA control systems for new installations, plant expansions, machinery upgrades and legacy control-system replacements.
Our engineers work with established industrial automation platforms, including Siemens and Allen-Bradley PLC technologies and Ignition SCADA solutions. Systems can incorporate recipe management, automated batching, material transfer, alarm management, reporting, process visualisation and integration with wider production or business systems.
Every solution is developed around the customer’s equipment, operating requirements, site standards and plans for future expansion.
Weighing, Dosing and Recipe Batching Systems
Accurate ingredient control is essential to consistent manufacturing.
Practicon develops automated weighing, dosing and recipe management systems for processes involving powders, liquids and bulk materials. Applications range from controlled dispensary weighing and single-vessel batching to fully automated mixing plants and production-wide recipe control.
These systems help manufacturers reduce formulation errors, improve repeatability, manage tolerances and create reliable production records for traceability and quality assurance.
Concrete Batching Systems
Practicon has specialised in automated concrete batching systems for more than 35 years.
Our concrete control systems support ready-mix, precast, site-mixing and specialist concrete production. Solutions are designed to improve batching accuracy, plant throughput, operator usability, production reporting and overall plant management.
Our capabilities extend beyond plant control to office-management software, order processing, shipping, truck scheduling, technical records and reporting. Bespoke systems can also be provided for silo monitoring, aggregate handling, admixture dispensing and other concrete-production applications.
Electrical Control Panel Design and Manufacture
Our in-house panel workshop designs, manufactures and tests electrical and pneumatic control panels for industrial applications.
We offer both build-to-print and complete design-to-build services, including PLC cabinets, motor control centres, operator desks, remote I/O enclosures and pneumatic control panels.
Each panel is manufactured using controlled wiring and inspection procedures, with recorded electrical testing and functional testing where applicable. This approach improves build consistency, reduces commissioning risk and makes future maintenance and fault-finding easier.
Supporting a Wide Range of Industries
Practicon products and control systems are used across a diverse range of manufacturing and process industries, including:
- Food and beverage manufacturing
- Chemicals and speciality chemicals
- Paints, coatings and road-marking materials
- Personal care and consumer-product manufacturing
- Rubber and plastics compounding
- Concrete, ready-mix and precast production
- Fertiliser and agricultural-product processing
- Bulk-material handling
- Glass and mineral processing
- OEM machinery and equipment manufacture
Although the products and production requirements vary between sectors, the underlying objectives are often the same: accurate control, repeatable quality, dependable throughput, clear information and minimum downtime.
Our broad industry experience allows us to understand these operational priorities while engineering each system around the specific application.
From Individual Products to Complete Automation Systems
One of Practicon’s key strengths is our ability to provide multiple elements of an automation project from a single engineering partner.
A project may begin with an individual weighing controller or load cell amplifier. It may also require a complete package incorporating:
- Process and control-system design
- Electrical schematics and panel layouts
- PLC programming
- HMI and SCADA development
- Recipe and batch-management software
- Industrial communications and system integration
- Control panel manufacture
- Factory acceptance testing
- Installation and commissioning
- Production data capture and reporting
- Remote and on-site technical support
Because these disciplines can be coordinated within one organisation, customers benefit from clearer communication, better system integration and greater accountability throughout the project lifecycle.
Designed for Real Production Environments
A successful automation system must do more than operate correctly during testing. It must remain reliable, understandable and maintainable throughout its working life.
We therefore design systems with production operators, maintenance engineers and future requirements in mind.
Our approach prioritises:
Reliability
Robust hardware, structured software and disciplined testing help reduce unplanned downtime.
Usability
Clear operator interfaces and logical controls make systems easier to operate across different shifts and experience levels.
Maintainability
Consistent panel layouts, documented designs and structured programming support faster fault-finding and long-term maintenance.
Scalability
Where practical, systems are developed with future production changes, additional equipment and plant expansion in mind.
Integration
Open communication technologies allow weighing equipment, PLCs, SCADA platforms and production-management systems to exchange information effectively.
Traceability
Batch records, alarms, trends, material usage and production data can be captured to support operational analysis, quality control and regulatory requirements.
More Than an Equipment Supplier
We regard long-term support as an essential part of every system we provide.
Our involvement does not end when a product is delivered or a control system is commissioned. We continue to support customers through technical assistance, system modifications, production changes, software upgrades, repairs, refurbishment and plant modernisation.
Many of our customer relationships have continued for decades, developing from an initial product or project into ongoing engineering partnerships.
This long-term approach gives our engineers a deeper understanding of each customer’s process and allows us to recommend practical improvements as their production requirements evolve.
Why Choose Practicon?
Established in 1978
More than 48 years of industrial engineering and process-control experience.
Specialist Knowledge
Extensive expertise in weighing, dosing, batching, recipe control, PLC automation, SCADA systems and concrete production.
Integrated In-House Capability
Product development, software engineering, electrical design, panel manufacture, testing and technical support within one organisation.
Bespoke and Standard Solutions
A comprehensive range of proven weighing products combined with the ability to engineer systems around specific applications.
Lifecycle Support
Support from initial consultation and system design through to commissioning, maintenance, upgrades and future expansion.
Global Product Reach
Long-established relationships with OEMs, distributors and industrial customers in the UK and international markets.
Focused on Operational Results
Every solution is developed to improve reliability, accuracy, throughput, traceability and operator confidence.
Talk to Practicon About Your Next Project
Whether you are replacing an ageing control system, improving batching accuracy, increasing plant throughput or planning a new automated production process, our engineers can help you identify the right approach.
Speak to Practicon about industrial weighing products, batching automation, PLC and SCADA systems, concrete batching controls or electrical control panel manufacture.
