Industrial automation

Vanguard Systems core business: multi-vendor industrial automation engineering (Siemens, Rockwell, Beckhoff, Emerson) on pharma, biotech, microtechnology, food & beverage and OEM sites in French-speaking Switzerland. 10+ years of field experience in regulated (GMP, GAMP5) and non-regulated environments. From design to commissioning, operations support, retrofit and migration. On special machines, we take the automation, electrical and integration scope (control design, programming, wiring, commissioning), with the mechanics kept at the builder or your teams. We also modify machines already in place: new function, adaptation to new production, safety upgrade or PLC replacement.

Our Expertise

Siemens PLC programming (S7-1500, S7-400, TIA Portal, PCS7) and Rockwell (ControlLogix, Studio 5000, FactoryTalk, PlantPAx)

SCADA development with WinCC, FactoryTalk View, Wonderware AVEVA, Ignition

On-site commissioning (FAT/SAT/IQ/OQ) in regulated GMP environments

Retrofit and migration of legacy systems (PCS7 v7→v9, Rockwell ControlLogix v20→v34, Wonderware to AVEVA)

Special machines: automation, electrical and control scope (schematics, component selection, programming, commissioning), with mechanics kept at the builder or client

Custom modification and retrofit of existing machines: new function, adaptation to new production, safety upgrade, PLC replacement

ISA-88 batch architecture and MES/ERP integration via OPC UA

Industrial OT networks: Profinet, Ethernet/IP, IEC 62443 segmentation

Diagnostics and reliability hardening of production lines

Technical documentation and handover to operational teams

Technologies

SiemensRockwellBeckhoffEmerson DeltaVTIA PortalPCS7WinCCControlLogixFactoryTalk

Use Cases & References

Sterile fill & finish line commissioning

Long engagement on the full commissioning of a new pharmaceutical fill & finish line at a Swiss manufacturer, from Factory Acceptance Test at the OEM through to routine production. Coordination of multiple subcontractors (machines, utilities, automation, quality, validation, IT), mixed Siemens and Rockwell stack integration under central SCADA, GAMP5 and 21 CFR Part 11 compliant documentation.

Technologies used:

Siemens TIA PortalSiemens WinCCRockwell Studio 5000Rockwell FactoryTalkGAMP521 CFR Part 11

Multi-year automation modernization at biotech site

Long-term program at a biotech site in French-speaking Switzerland: operational leadership of multi-site automation teams, maintenance process redesign toward structured preventive approach, digitalisation of critical workflows via Power BI and Power Automate. Coordination with corporate IT, GAMP5 compliance on all PLC/SCADA changes.

Technologies used:

Siemens TIA PortalSiemens PCS7Emerson DeltaVPower BIPower AutomateGAMP5

Software automation reinforcement at special-machine OEM

Regular external reinforcement at French-speaking Swiss special-machine OEMs during tight phases: software automation development aligned with house standard, support on internal FAT and end-customer SAT, full knowledge transfer to internal team after delivery.

Technologies used:

Beckhoff TwinCAT 3Siemens TIA PortalEtherCATSafety SIL2/SIL3