Meet Ray Berning, an automation manager with Interstates. They’re a global provider of electrical, automation, and operational technology solutions and were recently designated a Rockwell Automation Platinum System Integrator partner.
Country Maid, Inc. a manufacturer of seasonal and specialty bakery items, is a long-time Interstates client. Facing growing product demand, Country Maid wanted to increase production and efficiency without having to expand their facility.
“To start, we took more of a consulting role,” Ray says. “We talked through their process, walked through the facility, met with their engineering team and discussed how we thought we could increase production and what would work best.
“While they had the needed equipment, there was no automation. It was all standalone islands of mixers, additions and other stuff. Initially they talked about building some larger mixers but that would create a problem because they'd have to increase their building size.”