Retrofits & Upgrades

Modernize the controls on equipment you already rely on — without the cost and downtime of replacing it.

A machine doesn't have to be new to work well. When a system's controls fall behind — outdated hardware, a bolted-on addition that never quite fit, or a process that's outgrown its original setup — a retrofit brings it back to full capability without tearing it out and starting over.

Why Retrofit Instead of Replace

We've retrofit controls on ovens, material handling systems, and paint systems — the kind of large equipment that would be expensive and time-consuming to remove and replace outright. An upgraded control system lets the machine keep doing its job, often better than before, without the extended downtime a full replacement would mean for your line.

What Usually Brings Us In

A retrofit typically means a control panel upgrade paired with updated code, potentially in combination with some sort of physical part replacement or update — built to restore the machine's original functionality or extend it further. Most retrofit projects start one of three ways:

Old Controls Systems

Controls that have simply fallen out of date.

Add-On

An addition made to the original system that the controls were never built to fully support.

Data Base Connection

Interlocking to a new database is needed and the existing hardware/software does not allow the communication needed in a acceptable manner.

Our Process

How a Retrofit Comes Together

Because a retrofit means working with a machine that's already in place, we start differently than a new build: with an extensive onsite assessment. We document how the existing machine and process actually work, identify what needs to change, and put together an initial plan before any design work begins. From there, the project moves through design, build, and installation.

Onsite Assessment:

We document your existing machine and process, and identify what the upgrade needs to accomplish.

Planning:

KIE Solution works with each customer individually to create an initial retrofit plan built around what we found onsite — before any design work starts.