News and Events

Rockwell Automation Announces MESNAC Co., Ltd. as its First Asia-Pacific Platinum OEM Partner

A joint collaboration in promoting smart manufacturing of rubber machinery industry and embrace a new future

Rockwell Automation announced MESNAC Co., Ltd. as the first Platinum Partner to its Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) Partner Program, in Asia-Pacific. MESNAC is one of the world’s top three high-tech enterprise groups concentrated in the field of rubber machinery.  

Rockwell Automation works with OEMs across the globe to design, develop, and deliver innovative equipment with Rockwell Automation solutions. In late 2020, Rockwell Automation evolved its OEM Partner Program globally, establishing levels of participation based on need and output. First established in 2010 as the Machine and Equipment Builders Program, the OEM Partner Program now includes almost 3,300 manufacturers worldwide.

“We are excited to welcome MESNAC as our OEM Partner within Rockwell Automation’s OEM Partner Program,” said Scott Wooldridge, president, Asia-Pacific, Rockwell Automation. “Participation in Rockwell Automation’s partner ecosystem enables MESNAC and Rockwell Automation to deliver integrated solutions based on our advanced technologies, IT/OT convergence, and advantages in smart management and control for the rubber machinery industry.”

As the enhanced offering now provides increased market access opportunities, simplification, and standardized product alignment for manufacturers, enabling participants to fully leverage Rockwell Automation technologies, the company expects more platinum level partners, as well as a number of gold, silver, and bronze, to join the program, making it a world-class opportunity for original equipment manufacturers.

“MESNAC is pleased to join Rockwell Automation’s OEM Partner Program,” said MESNAC senior vice president, Xiang Kunhong. “This designation level is especially important to us because it is the first Asia-Pacific designation within the OEM program, which further supports our equipment and technology solutions that are primarily built around Rockwell Automation controls and automation technology.”

For more information on Rockwell Automation’s OEM Partner Program or to request more information from your local sales office, please click here.

Rockwell Automation Announces the First Platinum System Integrator Partner, SAGE Automation, to its PartnerNetwork™

Top-level Rockwell Automation Platinum Partnership helps industry address current issues and prevents future ones

Rockwell Automation announced SAGE Automation as the first organization globally to be designated as a Platinum System Integrator Partner as part of the PartnerNetwork program. Based in Australia and India, SAGE Automation is an independent industrial automation and control systems integrator, delivering industrial automation design, delivery, and support globally.

The program brings robust commercial and technical enablement to maximize system integrators’ skills, recognize and reward performances, and provide the ability to find the right system integrator for a project to meet our customers’ needs and achieve mutual success. As a Platinum System Integrator Partner, SAGE Automation will receive benefits including gaining enhanced recognition with customers and in the industry, as well as receiving incentives and product and technical support.

“The partnership between Rockwell Automation and SAGE Automation aims to deliver the full benefits of world-class automation to Australia, helping local industries obtain the widest possible breadth of expertise to make the most productive automation choices and avoid the high costs of uninformed decisions,” said Anthony Wong, managing director, South Pacific, Rockwell Automation.

“Automation is no longer an option for many companies who wish to remain competitive – it is an imperative – and Rockwell Automation’s collaboration with SAGE will simplify programming and lifecycle management, accelerating time to value for our customers,” he added.

Machine builders, system integrators, and others will gain development and deployment efficiencies through the use of digital engineering tools. The combined Rockwell and SAGE Automation solutions will also offer benefits beyond enhanced integration. For example, end users can use analytics and digital twin tools to gain deeper insights into machine performance and potential production optimization. They can also use safety and security solutions to reduce business risks.

“SAGE Automation is proud to be the first recognized Platinum Partner globally in Rockwell’s System Integrator Partner Program. SAGE’s industrial digitalization services – through a data-driven approach combined with automation, scalable support and enabling internal capability – have accelerated thousands of client journeys around the world,” said Adrian Fahey, group managing director, SAGE Group of companies. “Our partnership with Rockwell brings the technical experience and best thinking to these critical industries and projects, from supporting Australia’s most iconic manufacturers, to the energy systems that power our homes, the safety solutions that protect workers in high-risk environments, and the systems that provide Australians with clean drinking water.”

Rockwell Automation Australia’s key focus industries in Australia and New Zealand include manufacturing, particularly food and beverage, resources, including mining, oil and gas, energy, transport, including automotive and metal working, water and smart wastewater and sustainability solutions.

“Achieving this level of partnership with Rockwell cements our position as a world leader, supporting our clients through times of change, and always delivering the certainty they rely on,” concluded Fahey.

For more information on Rockwell Automation’s System Integrator Program, or to request more information from your local sales office, please click here.

Rockwell Automation Named a Visionary; Plex Systems Named a Leader in 2022 Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ for Manufacturing Execution Systems

Rockwell’s comprehensive portfolio accelerates Manufacturing Execution Systems transformation for more clients globally

Rockwell Automation has been named as a Visionary for its FactoryTalk^® ProductionCentre and Plex Systems named as a Leader for its Smart Manufacturing Platform in the Gartner Magic Quadrant evaluation of Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES).

Rockwell believes the positioning in the 2022 Gartner Magic Quadrant demonstrates fast-growing market reach and industry recognition for its overall MES portfolio. Rockwell customers can now benefit from an evolving “greater than the sum of its parts” perspective reaching a wide range of industries.

“We welcome the recognition of Rockwell’s MES portfolio in the 2022 Gartner Magic Quadrant report,” said Brian Shepherd, Rockwell Automation senior vice president, Software & Control, who noted the interpretation of MES functionality by Gartner now expands beyond the traditional definition to include all plant-level functionality between enterprise-level business operations, engineering systems, and plant automation.

"We’re proud to see the Rockwell FactoryTalk solution recognized as a Visionary for its game-changing orchestration of MES functions,” Shepherd continued. “We believe the positioning of Plex as a Leader also showcases the impact and value the Smart Manufacturing Platform delivers to customers. We feel this recognition of Rockwell’s comprehensive portfolio by Gartner further demonstrates the synergy between these offerings.”

Rockwell's complete operations management portfolio includes Plex Systems and FactoryTalk ProductionCentre solutions with capabilities including MES, QMS, Supply Chain Planning, Production Monitoring, and Asset Performance Management. FactoryTalk ProductionCentre offers the deep feature and functionality required by highly regulated industries. Plex offers the only single-instance, multi-tenant software as a service (SaaS) manufacturing platform operating at scale, serving over 700 customers and managing more than eight billion transactions per day. Together, the Rockwell operations management portfolio provides the best solutions for the widest array of customers to achieve their operational digital transformation journey.

Learn more about Rockwell’s position as a Visionary here and Plex’s position as a Leader here, in the 2022 Magic Quadrant for Manufacturing Execution Systems.

Rockwell Automation Names Tessa Myers Senior Vice President, Intelligent Devices

Tessa Myers has been named senior vice president, Intelligent Devices, effective June 6. She reports to Rockwell Automation Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Blake Moret.

In this role, Myers is responsible for leading strategy, product and talent development for the Intelligent Devices business segment. Myers succeeds Fran Wlodarczyk, who is retiring in early 2023 after more than 35 years with Rockwell.

“Tessa’s deep industrial automation background, business leadership experience, and understanding of global customers are extremely valuable as we look toward the future,” said Moret. “Throughout her Rockwell career, Tessa has transformed go-to market strategies and delivered product innovation. She will work with the other members of a talented executive team to accelerate our profitable growth.”

Most recently, Myers was vice president and general manager for the Production Operations Management Software business unit within the company’s Software & Control operating segment, overseeing product strategy, product management, and business operations. Since joining Rockwell in 1999, she has built broad global industry expertise with leadership roles in sales, channel and partner management, business unit leadership, and product development across hardware and software, working in the United States, Canada, and Singapore. Myers holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Engineering from Purdue University and an MBA from the University of Michigan.

Rockwell’s Intelligent Devices segment includes drives, motion, safety, sensing, industrial components, and configured-to-order products that are the foundation of smart production systems providing automation, control, and information to power operational excellence.

Rockwell Automation Announces Strategic Agreement with Start-Up ZEVx to Accelerate the Adoption of Commercial Electric Vehicles

 Rockwell Automation and ZEVx, Inc. (formerly Zero Electric Vehicles) announced a three-year strategic agreement to work together to use advanced technology to accelerate the adoption of Electric Vehicles (EVs). ZEVx, specializes in the electrification of small and medium duty fleet vehicles, converting its customers’ customized Internal Combustion Engines (ICE) to EVs in one day. By leveraging Rockwell Automation’s solutions, and a network of legacy automotive service partners, ZEVx will be able to assemble specialized kits for their customers’ fleets to accelerate the pace of conversions.

To best capture the in-house expertise needed for its legacy automotive service partners to utilize the company’s ICE to EV conversion kits in the most efficient manner, ZEVx has made the strategic decision to leverage Vuforia Expert Capture, a FactoryTalk Innovation Suite solution powered by PTC. This technology will allow for the imperative distribution of knowledge to ZEVx’s partners, ultimately increasing the overall rate of conversion from ICE to EV and accelerating the time to market. Additionally, utilizing Vuforia Expert Capture will help ZEVx to ensure consistency among its partners as they perform conversions for customers.

In addition, Vuforia Chalk, an Augmented Reality (AR) remote assistance application, will help ZEVx collaborate in the ever-evolving EV environment. This innovative solution is a powerful collaboration and communication tool that provides real-time assistance to technicians facing complex or unfamiliar challenges. Vuforia Chalk delivers faster resolution without the time and expense of expert travel or repeat technician visits.

“The Electric Vehicle revolution is here, and Rockwell Automation is proud to offer innovative start-up companies like ZEVx the advanced technology needed to accelerate the manufacturing and distribution of their EV powertrain kits while maximizing safety and production efficiency,” said John Kacsur, vice president, enterprise accounts, auto & tire, Rockwell Automation. “The Vuforia solutions provide companies, from start-ups to established automakers, the tools and technology needed to enhance information-driven operations, thereby ensuring faster production, decreasing downtime, and saving valuable resources.”

Charles Maury, founder and chief data officer, ZEVx, stated, “Working with the Rockwell Automation team has been incredibly beneficial to the ZEVx production team. Rockwell Automation understands ZEVx’s vision to adopt advanced manufacturing techniques that will further optimize powertrain kit production and configurability. We look forward to our continued collaboration and learning from Rockwell while we rapidly expand global powertrain kit deliveries.”

To learn more about Rockwell Automation’s electric vehicle production solutions, click here.

Rockwell Automation Announced as 2022 CIO 100 Awards Winner

Foundry’s CIO 100 award recognizes enterprise excellence and innovation in IT

Foundry’s CIO has named Rockwell Automation as a 2022 CIO 100 award winner. For more than 30 years, the CIO 100 Awards have recognized innovative organizations around the world that exemplify the highest level of strategic and operational excellence in IT.

“This year’s CIO 100 class demonstrates grit, innovation and deep teamwork. Many projects are related to streamlining data flows and insights to drive the business, bringing innovations like the metaverse to life, and driving value during the pandemic in myriad ways,” said Anne McCrory, Group VP, Customer Experience & Operations, Foundry, formerly IDG Communications, Inc. “We are honored to showcase these achievements and the people behind them as we gather in person once again for a team-based experience at the CIO 100 Symposium & Awards in California in August.”

“The CIO 100 Awards is a widely respected program, and for Rockwell Automation to be recognized for our enterprise-wide transformation efforts that: 1) delivers outcomes based on intelligent and connected products/services; 2) redefines the employee and customer experience; and 3) realigns our business operating model (processes and technologies) to support subscription-based offerings, is truly an honor,” said Chris Nardecchia, senior vice president and Chief Digital & Information Officer. 

“Transformation is never easy and requires engagement and change leadership from all functions in the organization. No one group, or individual, can deliver on a transformation agenda – it requires the entire executive leadership team and their organizations. Knowing how disruptive as transformation can be, on top of the necessity of performing daily operations, it is one that we knew was necessary to excel as an enterprise. This award underscores how impactful our cross-functional approach and alignment to the company strategy is in advancing Rockwell Automation on behalf of our customers on their transformation journeys."

Rockwell Automation is the largest company in the world that is dedicated to industrial automation and information. Across the globe, the flagship Allen-Bradley® and FactoryTalk® product brands continue to receive recognition for excellence. Rockwell Automation works with organizations to optimize plant or operation performance with flexible service options or application-specific configurations of industrial automation technology. Executives from the winning companies will be recognized at the CIO 100 Symposium & Awards.