CRB on integration solutions at Rockwell Automation Fair

CRB attended the 2024 Rockwell Automation Fair, held November 18–21 in Anaheim, California. The annual event brought together industry leaders, innovators, and professionals to explore the latest trends, technologies, and strategies in industrial automation. As a member of Rockwell’s Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) Partner Program, CRB’s team was on hand to share how they are driving innovation in manufacturing facilities.

CRB in booth 600 at Rockwell Automation Fair

CRB’s team of engineers, project managers and automation specialists were in booth 600 in the exhibit hall to discuss our Control Systems Integration group’s delivery of tailored integration solutions to address industry challenges such as labor productivity, product safety, regulatory compliance and operational capacity.

Vortherms on Building your Ecosystem

CRB’s Senior Director of Automation Delivery, Jim Vortherms, participated in the Capacity Excellence Summit. He joined a panel discussion titled “Build Your Ecosystem with Members of the Rockwell Automation Partner Network™” on Monday, November 18, from 10:00–10:50 am.

The panel featured industry experts from EPC firms, system integrators (SI) and original equipment manufacturer (OEM) partners, who discussed strategies for building a collaborative ecosystem to improve capacity and operational excellence. As a seasoned leader with more than 30 years of experience in automation and integration, Jim Vortherms provided invaluable insights on using data-driven automation solutions to optimize manufacturing processes, drive efficiency, and make informed decisions.

The panelists emphasized the importance of involving integrators early to meet project goals, as covered by Control magazine’s “Involve integrators early on new capacity projects.” Early collaboration with system integrators and EPC firms is crucial for defining project scopes, mitigating scope creep, and integrating advanced technologies effectively. Vortherms shared insights into the increasing complexity of projects, noting that assembling dedicated teams early helped align budgets, timelines, and goals. Vortherms highlighted the importance of client commitment and forward-looking strategies, such as developing a controls philosophy, which positions companies to build future-ready factories and accelerate project timelines in the face of growing challenges in manufacturing.