Austin, TX · Custom Control Panels
Custom control panels for Austin, TX facilities
A control panel should be built around the equipment it runs, and that’s how we approach every one. Lopez Electric Motor Works designs and builds custom control panels for Austin plants and facilities: motor and pump controls, PLC and VFD integration, and upgrades to panels that have outgrown the job. Each system is planned for reliable operation and straightforward service, with clean construction a technician can follow years after it’s installed.
Our controls work grew out of repairing industrial motors, which the family started in 1972. As of 2026 that’s more than five decades of seeing what happens to a motor when its controls get it wrong, and the panels are designed with that in mind. The shop is in San Antonio, and Austin is part of our service area. Call the Austin line at 512-788-4594 to talk through a panel.
The panels we design and build
The panels below cover most custom work, and many jobs combine more than one type. A pump station panel, for example, may need starters, a drive, level inputs, and a PLC to tie the sequence together:
Motor control panels
with starters, overload protection, and the start, stop, and interlock logic the equipment needs.
Pump control panels
built around how your system runs, whether that means level or pressure control, alternating duty between pumps, or alarms for the conditions that matter to you.
VFD panels
that package a variable frequency drive with its disconnect, protection, and operator controls, so a motor can run at the speed the process calls for.
PLC panels
for equipment that needs sequencing, timing, and monitoring beyond what hard-wired relay logic can do cleanly.
Upgrades and retrofits
that add a drive or a PLC to an existing panel, replace obsolete components, or clean up years of field modifications.
Panel repair
for existing panels with failed starters, contactors, overloads, or control wiring.
When a panel needs to report to a plant system or to your building’s HVAC controls, we plan the communication into the design from the start. Settling it early avoids rework on the wiring and the controller choice.
How a panel gets built
Custom work goes better when the scope is settled before anything gets built. Our process keeps decisions in front of you:
Scope.
Design.
Quote and schedule.
Build.
Handoff and support.
Follow-up.
Build time and turnaround
Build time depends mostly on parts. Drives, PLCs, and some enclosures have lead times set by the manufacturer, and the quote will reflect what’s available when you order. Repairs to an existing panel move faster. 24-hour turnaround is our specialty for repair work, and failed starters, contactors, and overloads can often be addressed quickly. If a failed panel has stopped production, 24-hour emergency service is available, and our team can troubleshoot it on site.
Upgrade the panel you have, or build new?
An upgrade usually makes sense when the enclosure is in good condition, there’s room for new components, and the change is focused, such as adding a VFD to a motor that runs across the line or replacing a failed controller with a current model. A new panel makes more sense when the enclosure is corroded or overheating, the layout is crowded with years of add-ons nobody documented, or the logic has grown into relay wiring that’s hard to troubleshoot. We’ll look at the existing panel and give you both options when both are reasonable.
A new panel is also a good moment to check the equipment it controls. If the motor or pump has been running hard on bad controls, we can look over the pump too before it goes back into service, and we can supply the drive and motor if the upgrade calls for new ones.
Details we’ll ask about
You don’t need a full specification to start the conversation, and photos of an existing panel and its nameplates help with any upgrade. These details shorten it:
- The equipment the panel controls, with horsepower, voltage, and full-load amps.
- What the panel needs to do, such as start and stop, speed control, level or pressure control, alternation, alarms, or sequencing.
- The incoming power, including voltage, phase, and available capacity.
- Where the panel will be installed (indoors, outdoors, or a wet area) and the space available.
- Any existing drawings, and whether the panel has to communicate with a plant control system or building automation.
- Your schedule, including any planned shutdown window.
Custom control panels across the Austin area
The Austin line covers custom control panels for facilities in Austin, Round Rock, Georgetown, Pflugerville, Cedar Park, Leander, Hutto, Taylor, Kyle, Buda, and San Marcos. These are service areas. Panels are designed and built at our San Antonio facility, and the Lopez family has served industrial and commercial customers since 1972.
Service area. Repairs done at our San Antonio shop.
Start a control panel project
Questions about custom control panels
What is the difference between a PLC panel and a VFD panel?
A VFD panel controls a motor’s speed. It houses a variable frequency drive that converts incoming power to a variable frequency so the motor can run slower or faster as the process needs. A PLC panel controls logic. It reads inputs such as levels, pressures, and switches and decides what the equipment should do. Many panels contain both, with the PLC telling the drive what speed to run.
Can you add a VFD to an existing motor starter panel?
Often, yes, if the enclosure has room for the drive and its heat can be managed. The motor matters too, because older motors that weren’t built for drive duty may need a filter or a replacement motor rated for inverter use. Lopez Electric Motor Works will check both the panel and the motor before recommending the retrofit.
How long does it take to build a custom control panel?
It depends on the size of the panel and on parts lead times, especially for drives, PLCs, and enclosures. You’ll get an expected build time with the quote. Repairs to existing panels move faster, and 24-hour turnaround is our specialty for repair work.
What information do you need to quote a control panel?
Start with the equipment list and nameplates, what the panel has to do, the incoming power, and where it will be installed. Photos of an existing panel help with upgrades. If you have drawings or a written sequence of operation, send those too.
More services for Austin facilities
Electric motor repair
AC and DC motor diagnostics, rewinding, rebuilding, and testing with 24-hour turnaround.
02Industrial pump repair
Inspection, rebuild, and testing of industrial and commercial pumps, plus the motor that drives each one.
03Building automation
HVAC controls integration, upgrades, and troubleshooting for Austin commercial and industrial facilities.
04Field service
On-site troubleshooting and 24-hour emergency response for motors, pumps, drives, and controls.
05Motor, pump & drive sales
New motors, pumps, and VFDs, plus hard-to-find replacements matched to your application.
06All Austin services
Every service we offer Austin facilities, the cities we cover, and how to reach the Austin line.