Our Founding
1971
Datek Industries founded by Peter Van Der Zee
1973
Created the first electronics teletype
(for NAR – now CN Rail)
What is an Electronics Teletype?
Teletype was the next big thing after Morse Code for train line communication. Teletype is an typewriter used to communicate typed messages from point to point through a simple electrical communications channel.
1978
Project: Digital Flow Computer
(for Hudson’s Bay Oil & Gas)
Flow computers are used to measure the flow of oil or gas through a pipeline. Early designs were proprietary until 1989 with the use of the multibus platform standard. Components were maunfactured in-house.
1978
Project: Master Terminal Unit (MTU)
(for NAR – now CN Rail)
A Master Terminal Unit (MTU)’s job is to host the control software that communicates with Remote Terminal Units (RTUs) and Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs). So an MTU is the central controller/server.
A Start in SCADA
1979
Project: Data Acquisition & Control System
(for Edmonton Power – now EPCOR)
A Data Acquisition and Control System (or DAC System) is essentially an early SCADA System. SCADA stands for Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition. SCADA Systems are essentially the brains controlling industrial automated operations, from power plants, to electrical grids, to pipelines, to metro rail lines. In this case the DAC controlled the electrical grid of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
1982
Project: VISTA
(for ICG Resources)
VISTA was our second SCADA system.
1983
Project: Totalizer flow computer
(for Interprovincial Pipeline – now Enbridge)
1984
Project: MTU
(for Gulf Canada – now Keyera)
1984
Project: Real-Time Measurement System
(for NOVA – now TransCanada Pipelines)
1985
Project: Changeover Switch
(for Home Oil)
What is a Changeover Switch?
Allowed an edge device to talk to more than one computer. This made fail-over from one computer to another possible, thus allowing for redundancy. Redundancy is essential for mission critical applications. This allows for the system to keep working even if one piece of hardware fails.
1985
Project: Model 800 Data Logger
(for Edmonton Power – now EPCOR)
Our Model 800 was built in-house with Intel 8080 microprocessors, which were cutting edge technology at the time.
1986
Project: SCADA System
(for NB Power)
1986
Project: Tank Gauging System
(for Imperial Oil)
1989
Project: Custody Transfer System
(for Alberta Natural Gas)
1990
FLEXCIM Services
FLEXCIM Services split out of Datek separating the manufacturing and engineering arms of the company. FLEXCIM Services is still in operation out of our first location.
1990
Project: VISTA-II
(for ESSO Petroleum)
VISTA-II was the third version of our SCADA system.
1990
Project: 8016 RTU
(for Gulf Canada)
RTU stands for Remote Terminal Unit. They are essentially mini computers that live on location in indoor or outdoor cabinets. RTUs transmit field data to the SCADA Master Station.