The Kankpe Electric Approach

Every facility we work with receives the same level of attention and expertise:

1. We listen first. Before we recommend anything, we understand your goals, your constraints, and your concerns. What keeps you up at night? What would make your job easier? What’s been tried before that didn’t work?

2. We plan thoroughly. Industrial work doesn’t tolerate guesswork. Every project includes detailed planning, material takeoffs, and scheduling that respects your production requirements.

3. We execute professionally. On site, we’re respectful of your operations, your team, and your facility. We clean up after ourselves, communicate clearly, and deliver what we promised.

4. We follow up. Our relationship doesn’t end when the invoice is paid. We check in, answer questions, and stand behind our work.

Our Industrial Electrical Capabilities

As a full-service industrial electrical contractor, Kankpe Electric delivers comprehensive solutions across three core areas. Unlike general electricians who handle a bit of everything, we focus exclusively on the complex electrical systems that drive industrial production. Our approach combines technical depth with practical understanding of what keeps facilities running—reliability, safety, and efficiency.

When you partner with us, you’re not just hiring an electrician. You’re engaging a team that understands how automation, power distribution, and maintenance interconnect to support your production goals. Here’s how we deliver value across every aspect of your industrial electrical infrastructure.

Automation & Control Systems

Modern industrial facilities run on automation. From simple motor starters to complex production lines with dozens of coordinated machines, control systems are the brains of your operation. As an experienced industrial electrical contractor, we design, program, and integrate control systems that improve consistency, reduce waste, and increase throughput.

Why automation matters: Manual control introduces variability. Operators fatigue, attention wanders, and small adjustments compound into quality issues. Automated systems execute the same sequence every time, with precision measured in milliseconds. The result is consistent product quality, reduced scrap, and higher overall equipment effectiveness.

PLC Programming & Integration

Programmable logic controllers are the workhorses of industrial automation. They read sensors, make decisions, and control outputs thousands of times per second. Our team brings deep expertise across all major platforms:

• Allen-Bradley: From MicroLogix to ControlLogix, we program and integrate Rockwell Automation platforms with full understanding of their networking and communication capabilities.

• Siemens: We work with S7-1200, S7-1500, and older S7-300 systems, helping facilities maintain and upgrade existing installations.

• Schneider Electric: Our experience includes Modicon controllers and Unity Pro software.

• Automation Direct: Cost-effective solutions for smaller applications without sacrificing reliability.

What sets us apart: We don’t just write code—we design solutions. Before writing a single line of ladder logic, we understand your process, your pain points, and your goals. The result is control systems that are intuitive to operate, easy to troubleshoot, and designed for future expansion.

VFD & Motor Control Installations

Variable frequency drives transform how facilities use motor-driven equipment. Instead of running motors at full speed and throttling output mechanically, VFDs adjust motor speed electronically to match actual demand.

The benefits are substantial:

• Energy savings: Fans and pumps following variable loads can reduce energy consumption by 30-50% with VFD control.

• Mechanical longevity: Soft starting eliminates the shock of across-the-line starting, reducing wear on belts, bearings, and couplings.

• Process control: Precise speed regulation improves quality in applications like mixing, conveying, and metering.

Our team specifies, installs, and programs VFDs from leading manufacturers including Allen-Bradley, Siemens, Danfoss, and Yaskawa. We ensure proper sizing, correct parameter configuration, and seamless integration with your control system.

SCADA System Implementation

Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems give you visibility into your operations that was unimaginable a generation ago. From a single screen, you can monitor production rates, equipment status, energy consumption, and alarm conditions across your entire facility.

What SCADA delivers:

• Real-time visibility: See what’s happening now, not what happened yesterday.

• Historical trending: Analyze performance over time to identify improvement opportunities.

• Alarm management: Get notified when parameters drift outside acceptable ranges.

• Reporting: Generate production reports automatically, saving administrative time.

We implement SCADA solutions that match your needs—from simple HMI panels for individual machines to facility-wide systems with multiple workstations and remote access capabilities.

Control Panel Design & Building

Custom control panels are the physical homes for your automation components. A well-designed panel is organized, accessible, and built to withstand the conditions of your facility. Our panels are:

• CSA/UL-compliant: Every panel meets applicable standards for safety and construction.

• Engineered for your application: We size components correctly, provide adequate ventilation, and layout wiring for clarity and ease of troubleshooting.

• Built for durability: Industrial environments are harsh. We select components rated for temperature, vibration, and contamination levels present in your facility.

Whether you need a simple motor starter panel or a complex PLC-based control system with dozens of I/O points, our team delivers a finished product that installs easily and performs reliably.

Industrial Networking

Modern automation depends on communication. Devices need to talk to controllers, controllers need to talk to each other, and the entire system needs to connect to business networks for data collection and analysis. We design and implement industrial networks that are:

• Robust: Built to withstand electrical noise and physical challenges of industrial environments.

• Secure: Segmented from business networks appropriately to protect control systems from external threats.

• Scalable: Designed to accommodate future expansion without requiring a complete redesign.

From Ethernet/IP to Profinet to Modbus TCP, we understand industrial protocols and how to make them work reliably in your facility.

Power Distribution & Infrastructure

Reliable power is the foundation of industrial production. Without it, nothing moves, nothing processes, nothing ships. As your trusted industrial electrical contractor, we ensure your electrical infrastructure is robust, efficient, and ready for future demands.

The stakes are high: A single failure in your distribution system can shut down an entire facility. Downtime costs mount quickly—lost production, idle labor, missed shipments, and frustrated customers. Our approach focuses on reliability first, with efficiency and capacity as complementary goals.

Electrical System Upgrades & Modernization

Facilities evolve. Production lines are added, equipment is replaced, and demands on electrical systems grow. Unfortunately, the infrastructure often stays the same—until it fails.

Signs your system may need upgrading:

• Frequent breaker trips on specific circuits

• Voltage drops when large equipment starts

• Panelboards that are full with no space for new circuits

• Equipment that’s 20+ years old with obsolete components

• Insurance or regulatory findings during inspections

We assess your current system, identify bottlenecks and risks, and design upgrades that address today’s needs while accommodating tomorrow’s growth. This might involve replacing aging switchgear, adding distribution capacity, or modernizing panelboards with current technology.

Power Factor Correction

Many industrial facilities pay more for electricity than necessary due to poor power factor. Understanding why requires a brief explanation:

The basics: Electrical power comes in two forms—real power that does useful work (measured in kilowatts) and reactive power that sustains magnetic fields in motors and transformers (measured in kVAR). Utilities must supply both, but only real power generates revenue. To recover costs, many charge penalties for low power factor.

The solution: Power factor correction adds capacitance to your system, offsetting the inductance of motors and reducing reactive power draw from the utility.

What we deliver:

• Power quality analysis: We measure your actual power factor and identify the causes of poor performance.

• Engineered solutions: Capacitor banks sized specifically for your load profile, with harmonic filtering where needed.

• Installation and integration: Properly installed correction equipment with appropriate protection and controls.

• Verification: We confirm results and document savings.

Typical projects reduce power factor penalties by 100% and pay for themselves within 12-24 months through utility savings alone.

Machinery Installation & Relocation

Adding new equipment or moving existing lines is a high-stakes project. Any misstep can result in extended downtime, damaged equipment, or safety incidents. Our team manages the electrical aspects with precision:

For new installations:

• We review equipment specifications and determine electrical requirements.

• We design the feeder and branch circuit layout, ensuring proper sizing and protection.

• We coordinate with equipment vendors and your team to schedule installation.

• We handle all connections, terminations, and testing before commissioning.

For relocations:

• We document existing connections before disconnection.

• We safely disconnect and prepare equipment for moving.

• At the new location, we reconnect and integrate with existing systems.

• We test thoroughly before production resumes.

Throughout the process, we minimize disruption by working around your production schedule whenever possible.

Switchgear & MCC Maintenance

Motor Control Centers and switchgear are the workhorses of industrial distribution. They house the breakers, contactors, and protection devices that keep your equipment running. Like any mechanical equipment, they require regular maintenance to remain reliable.

Our maintenance approach includes:

• Infrared scanning: Detect hot connections before they fail.

• Contact inspection: Check for pitting, wear, and proper alignment.

• Torque verification: Ensure connections remain tight through thermal cycles.

• Cleaning: Remove dust and contamination that can cause tracking or overheating.

• Mechanism exercise: Operate breakers and contactors to ensure they move freely.

Regular maintenance extends equipment life, reduces unplanned failures, and documents due diligence for insurance and regulatory purposes.

Emergency Power & Backup Systems

Some processes cannot tolerate power interruptions. Refrigeration must maintain temperature, critical systems must remain online, and safety equipment must function regardless of grid conditions. We design and install emergency power systems that provide:

• Generator connections: Automatic or manual transfer switches sized for your critical loads.

• UPS systems: Uninterruptible power supplies for control systems, computers, and sensitive electronics.

• Load shedding: Automatic disconnection of non-critical loads to extend backup duration.

We ensure all emergency systems meet code requirements for periodic testing and maintenance, keeping you ready for whatever comes.

Maintenance & Reliability

Proactive maintenance is the most cost-effective way to manage industrial electrical systems. Emergency repairs are expensive—not just for the repair itself, but for the production downtime that precedes it. We help you stay ahead of failures through comprehensive maintenance programs.

The philosophy: Every electrical component has a lifecycle. Connections loosen over time, contacts wear, insulation degrades. By monitoring these changes, we can predict when failures will occur and address them during planned maintenance rather than emergency shutdowns.

Thermography Imaging & Analysis

Infrared thermography is our most powerful tool for predictive maintenance. Electrical problems generate heat before they generate failures. Loose connections, overloaded circuits, failing components—all create temperature anomalies detectable with the right equipment.

Our thermography services:

• Comprehensive scanning: We image panelboards, switchgear, MCCs, motor terminals, and distribution equipment under normal load.

• Expert analysis: Not every hot spot indicates a problem. Our certified thermographers distinguish between normal operating temperatures and genuine concerns.

• Actionable reporting: You receive a detailed report with thermal images, visual images, temperature data, and prioritized recommendations.

• Trending: Year-over-year comparisons track changes and verify that repairs resolved issues.

What we find: Typical discoveries include loose connections (the most common finding), overloaded circuits, unbalanced loads, failing motor bearings, and deteriorating insulation. Each represents a failure waiting to happen—and an opportunity for prevention.

Preventive Maintenance Programs

Every facility has different needs. A food processing plant running 24/7 has different requirements than a machine shop operating single shift. We tailor maintenance programs to your specific situation:

Program components may include:

• Quarterly inspections: Visual checks of critical equipment, infrared scanning, and minor adjustments.

• Semi-annual testing: Exercise of breakers and contactors, torque verification, and control system diagnostics.

• Annual comprehensive maintenance: Full inspection, cleaning, testing, and documentation of all electrical systems.

• Priority response: Contract clients receive faster response when issues arise.

The result: Fewer surprises, longer equipment life, and predictable maintenance costs that fit your budget.

Instrumentation Calibration

Industrial processes depend on accurate measurements. Pressure, temperature, flow, and level sensors provide the data that control systems use to make decisions. If sensors drift out of calibration, everything downstream is affected.

Our calibration services:

• Pressure calibration: Transmitters and switches verified against traceable standards.

• Temperature calibration: RTDs, thermocouples, and transmitters checked at relevant points.

• Flow verification: Confirm that meters are reading accurately within their range.

• Level measurement: Calibration of ultrasonic, radar, and capacitance sensors.

We document all calibrations with certificates that satisfy quality audits and regulatory requirements.

Electrical Operating Permit Compliance

Every industrial facility in British Columbia must maintain an Electrical Operating Permit through Technical Safety BC. The process involves annual inspections and documentation of electrical safety. We help you navigate this requirement efficiently:

• Pre-inspection assessments: We review your facility before the inspector arrives, identifying and correcting potential issues.

• Inspection coordination: We work with Technical Safety BC to schedule inspections at convenient times.

• Deficiency correction: If issues are found, we provide quotes and complete repairs promptly.

• Documentation: We maintain records of permits, inspections, and approvals for your files.

Why this matters: Operating without a valid permit can result in fines, insurance complications, and even shutdown orders. We make compliance simple so you can focus on production.

Troubleshooting & Emergency Repairs

Despite our best preventive efforts, problems sometimes occur. When they do, you need a response that’s fast, accurate, and effective. Our emergency services deliver:

• 24/7 availability: Our team is on call around the clock. When you call, you reach a person who can dispatch help immediately.

• Rapid diagnosis: We arrive equipped with diagnostic tools and a systematic approach to identifying root causes.

• Efficient repairs: Once we understand the problem, we work quickly to restore operations.

• Follow-up recommendations: After repairs, we identify what failed and why, and recommend measures to prevent recurrence.

The goal: Get you back online as fast as possible, then help you stay online longer.

Industries We Serve

Our team works across diverse industrial sectors throughout the Lower Mainland. Each industry presents unique challenges, and our experience allows us to anticipate and address them effectively. As a specialized industrial electrical contractor, we bring sector-specific knowledge that general electricians simply don’t possess.

Food Processing Plants

The environment: Food facilities are among the most demanding electrical environments. Washdown requirements mean equipment must withstand high-pressure cleaning with harsh chemicals. Sanitation protocols require smooth surfaces and minimal harborage points. Temperature variations from freezers to cooking areas stress components. And any downtime risks spoilage of perishable products.

Our approach: We specify and install washdown-rated equipment throughout—NEMA 4X enclosures, waterproof connectors, and corrosion-resistant materials. Our panel designs minimize horizontal surfaces and hidden areas where bacteria could grow. We understand that production stops mean product loss, so our emergency response prioritizes food facilities to prevent spoilage.

Real-world application: At a Richmond dairy plant, we integrated washdown-rated VFDs and PLCs with full monitoring. The automation improved product consistency while meeting strict sanitation requirements, and subsequent compliance audits passed without issues.

Plastic Manufacturing

The environment: Plastics facilities combine high temperatures, precise timing, and significant energy consumption. Injection molding machines, extruders, and blow molders require coordinated control of heating zones, cooling circuits, and mechanical motion. Process upsets mean scrap—sometimes hours of production wasted.

Our approach: Our PLC programming expertise ensures precise control of heating and cooling cycles, maintaining temperatures within narrow bands. VFD installations optimize motor energy use on pumps and auxiliary equipment. We understand the sequencing requirements of complex molding processes and design controls that execute flawlessly cycle after cycle.

Real-world application: At a Delta-based plastics facility, we integrated PLCs with VFDs on injection molding machines. The automation reduced production errors by 30% and enabled predictive maintenance alerts, catching issues before they caused downtime.

High-Speed Packaging

The environment: Packaging lines move fast—hundreds of units per minute in many facilities. Conveyors, fillers, labelers, and case packers must work in perfect coordination. Changeovers between products require quick adjustments. Any hiccup causes backups, jams, and lost production.

Our approach: We integrate entire packaging lines into cohesive systems that maintain speed without sacrificing reliability. Our control systems handle the complex coordination required, with features like product tracking, rejection handling, and automatic format changes. We understand that packaging lines are often the final step before shipping, and we design for maximum uptime.

Real-world application: A Richmond packaging plant upgraded several conveyor lines with our team handling all electrical integration. The project was completed during a scheduled shutdown, and production resumed on time with zero safety incidents and immediate improvement in line efficiency.

Cold Storage Warehouses

The environment: Cold storage facilities present unique electrical challenges. Condensation inside enclosures can cause corrosion and short circuits. Refrigeration loads are critical—failure means product loss. Energy costs are substantial, making efficiency a priority. And working conditions are uncomfortable, which can affect maintenance quality.

Our approach: We design and maintain electrical systems that keep refrigeration running reliably while optimizing power usage. Our installations use components rated for low temperatures, with heaters in critical enclosures to prevent condensation. We implement monitoring systems that alert before temperatures drift outside acceptable ranges.

Real-world application: A Surrey cold storage facility was experiencing intermittent refrigeration failures. Our thermography scans identified loose connections in the main distribution that were causing voltage drops. After correction, reliability improved dramatically and energy consumption decreased.

Machine Shops

The environment: Machine shops house diverse equipment with varying electrical requirements. CNC machines need clean, stable power. Manual machines may have simpler needs but operate intermittently. Lighting, compressed air, and support equipment all add to the electrical load. And shops often expand organically, leading to electrical systems that have grown without planning.

Our approach: We ensure proper electrical supply to all equipment, with attention to power quality and safety. We assess existing systems and recommend upgrades that support current needs while accommodating future growth. Our work helps shops avoid voltage sags, nuisance trips, and equipment damage from power issues.

Real-world application: A Surrey machine shop upgraded its CNC machinery and integrated PLC control with our help. Production efficiency increased by 30%, with energy savings of 12% per month from optimized motor control.

Wastewater Treatment

The environment: Wastewater facilities run continuously, 365 days a year. Process upsets can have environmental consequences, so reliability is paramount. Equipment operates outdoors and in harsh chemical environments. Instrumentation must be accurate for regulatory reporting. And facilities are often remote, making emergency response challenging.

Our approach: Our instrumentation expertise ensures accurate monitoring of flows, levels, and chemical dosing. Control systems maintain process reliability through automated responses to changing conditions. We design for redundancy where appropriate and provide remote monitoring capabilities that alert operators to issues before they become emergencies.

Real-world application: A wastewater treatment facility needed to upgrade aging controls. We installed new PLCs and SCADA monitoring that improved process control and provided operators with real-time data accessible from anywhere.

Printing Presses

The environment: Modern printing presses are complex machines with multiple color stations, drying systems, and finishing equipment. Registration accuracy requires precise control of web tension and position. Changeovers between jobs must be fast. And quality expectations are high—even minor defects mean reprints.

Our approach: We integrate press controls with finishing equipment, ensuring smooth material flow and consistent output. Our control systems handle the complex coordination required, with features like job recipes that store settings for repeat orders. We understand the printing industry’s demands and deliver systems that help you meet them.

Real-world application: A Lower Mainland printer was struggling with registration issues on a older press. Our team integrated modern controls with the existing equipment, improving accuracy and reducing waste significantly.

Recycling Facilities

The environment: Recycling facilities are tough on electrical equipment. Dust is everywhere, settling on enclosures and getting into components. Equipment operates with shock loads as material enters shredders and balers. And facilities often run multiple shifts, leaving little time for maintenance.

Our approach: We design robust electrical systems that withstand challenging conditions while supporting sorting, shredding, and baling equipment. Our panel designs include filtration and positive pressure where needed to keep dust out. We specify components rated for the vibration and shock loads present.

Real-world application: A recycling facility was experiencing frequent motor failures on a baler. Our analysis revealed that the motor was undersized for the application and the control scheme was causing excessive starting current. We upsized the motor and installed a soft start, eliminating failures and improving productivity.