Session Catalog

Join us for an exciting session exploring Superior Trim's sustainability initiatives. Learn how Superior Trim reduced its carbon footprint through energy efficiency, waste improvements, and peak consumption strategies. Discover the innovative tech architecture integrating internal and external systems, powered by FactoryTalk® DataMosaix™ and Plex Smart Manufacturing Platform™ for advanced machine learning. Attendees will gain insights into strategic drivers, system integration challenges, and real-world applications that enhance environmental and financial outcomes.

Discover the new Armor™ PowerFlex® 330 integrated drive motor, an eco-friendly On-Machine™ solution that's revolutionizing material handling applications. See how DeviceTools™, our new mobile app, makes it easier than ever to commission, operate and maintain drives. And learn how Advisor, our new web-based tool, can help you select products and design drive systems.

For Food & Beverage manufacturers, controlling costs and product quality is essential to business success. Join this session to explore how Rockwell Automation's technologies at the edge and in the cloud can be leveraged together to maximize productivity. Plex Elastic MES provides a flexible package of modular, interoperable capabilities that can be deployed from the cloud to manage production planning and scheduling, production execution, quality, yield and more. At the edge, Rockwell Automation solutions such as FactoryTalk® Batch, FactoryTalk® Pavilion8 and more execute and optimize automated production processes. Together, the edge-to-cloud solutions from Rockwell Automation are a potent tool to plan, execute, analyze, and optimize Food & Beverage and other process industry automated manufacturing processes to gain maximum throughput, yield and quality while minimizing costs. 

If you're responsible for driving manufacturing process improvements, your role is critical in turning goals into results. Many manufacturers turn to autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) not just for isolated tasks, but as part of an integration strategy that brings autonomy and centralized control to material movement from dock to dock. In this session, learn how to integrate AMRs and align them with your operational goals to build a business case that supports long-term success.

Discover how manufacturers are enabling supply chain transparency to meet sustainability goals and comply with emerging regulations like the Digital Product Passport. This session examines how the traceability of raw materials and components, from source to final product, facilitates Scope 3 emissions reporting, mitigates risk, and provides the trusted data companies require to construct resilient, responsible and competitive global supply chains. 

Companies aren't failing at digital transformation because it's flawed — they're applying outdated mindsets to a digital-first world. Learn how Simmons Foods used a value-driven approach to define its IT/OT strategy, align stakeholders and turn plans into action. This session shares how our digital value accelerator helps prioritize investments, build roadmaps and accelerate value from digital initiatives — even with limited resources.

Join us to explore Rockwell Automation's commitment to Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) pillars and our continuous efforts to enhance our products and processes. This session will delve into Rockwell Automation's innovative Design for Sustainability and Circularity approach in new product development. Attendees will gain valuable insights from examples of carbon footprint calculations for various products of ours. Additionally, we will discuss the emerging Eco Design for Sustainable Product Regulation (ESPR) and our progress in meeting these standards. Learn how ESPR aims to enhance product information and data transparency through Digital Product Passports (DPP), while promoting circularity and sustainability. By attending, you'll discover practical strategies to advance your sustainability goals and stay ahead in the evolving regulatory landscape.

Demo the new FactoryTalk® Design Workbench™ software to program a Micro870® controller application. Use the familiar user interface and consistent Rockwell Automation software user experience with the same project organizer and uniform ladder code illustration. Discover the power of this micro control software and its enhanced performance to reduce download/upload time for creating, building and testing programs. Be among the first to try this modern and user-friendly software.

Be one of the first to try their hand at experiencing the new PointMax™ I/O platform. Learn what we mean by maximum design freedom and grab the opportunity to configure different I/O module types from our extensive portfolio that provides flexibility for diverse application needs. See how PointMax™ I/O can help elevate your Integrated Architecture® experience via Premier Integration. Discover how digital tools like Integrated Architecture® Builder can help save time and get to the market faster.

This session introduces a comprehensive DataCenter automation framework that shows how you can integrate EPMS and BMS systems for greenfield deployments. Learn how this architecture enhances operational efficiency and improves reliability through unified monitoring and control. Attendees gain practical knowledge on implementation strategies, integration standards and automation workflows that minimize commissioning time while maximizing operational performance. Walk away with actionable architectural blueprints and integration methods ready for immediate application.

Faced with navigating large swings in customer behavior, rising labor costs, and misalignment of existing infrastructure, retailers and manufacturers alike are looking to drive productivity and flexibility throughout their supply chain operations by adding advanced warehouse automation and information solutions. Join us to learn how Rockwell Automation helps customers plan and deliver this physical and digital transformation at scale, connecting the value chain between manufacturing and the consumer.

One plant is down. Can you help secure the next? Learn how to help protect Rockwell Automation devices based on zero trust. Through instructor-led discussions, participants will learn about zone planning, certificate management strategies and how to implement CIP Security. Put the final configuration to the test with an instructor-led hacking demonstration. Gain practical experience highlighting the importance of implementing the last layer of defense for devices to help protect themselves.

Learn how to create, configure and run an SIS system that leverages our safety controllers and Studio 5000® environment. This hands-on lab will expose you to the world of Logix SIS, a safety solution built on the familiar Logix platform. Through practical exercises, you'll gain experience building and simulating safety logic programs, achieving a strong foundation for safeguarding your processes.

This project demonstrates a real-time smart monitoring application using the HCC2 edge controller and a Reolink RLC-520A security camera. Leveraging the camera's built-in person detection — or optionally applying lightweight AI inference on the RTSP video stream — the system detects human presence in a designated zone. Upon detection, the HCC2 triggers a local output (e.g., LED or buzzer), logs the event via REST API and publishes alerts over OPC UA. The application showcases key HCC2 features, including digital I/O control, protocol interoperability, AI integration and local dashboard visualization, providing a powerful example of edge intelligence for industrial or safety automation scenarios.

In this hands-on lab session, learn how to employ the new EtherNet/IP In-cabinet solution to help make configuration, commissioning and troubleshooting of your components all less complex with reduced in-cabinet wiring and simplified programming. You will have the opportunity to build and configure an in-cabinet network using the new flat media cable, then see how easy it is to commission and troubleshoot the local network with Studio 5000 Logix Designer® application.

Join us in this hands-on lab to experience how we're bringing modern software development efficiency to control system design. Discover how cloud collaboration enhances teamwork and accelerates productivity, learn how generative AI can save time in your existing system design processes, and answer your questions on how cloud-based design will help you deliver value now and in the future.

Join us to get first-hand experience using AI to develop models that can help you better understand your production performance. Attendees of this lab will have the opportunity to use FactoryTalk® Analytics™ LogixAI® to build a soft sensor® model that predicts a key system variable. Then we'll show how the soft sensor models can be applied to address critical operations challenges such as improving quality and increasing throughput.

Join us for this new hands-on lab about our innovative predictive maintenance solution, FactoryTalk® Analytics™ GuardianAI™ software. Attendees of this lab will experience the entire product workflow from the configuration of the software and training a baseline model through monitoring an asset and resolving a failure risk, getting a clear understanding of how FactoryTalk® Analytics™ GuardianAI™ software can be used to reduce unplanned downtime and improve maintenance planning with PowerFlex® drives.

Save time and reduce errors when designing and commissioning your next discrete control system. In this lab, we will use Emulate3D® digital twin to design and test an example automotive conveyor skid system using Allen-Bradley® PowerFlex® drive emulators, 1734 Point I/O emulators, CIP Safety and 3D control panel visuals. We will also design a testing scenario and diagnostic report using the new Emulate3D® Fault Framework.

Participants will explore Plex's new Document Composer, a code-based tool for editing and customizing shipping and production documents. You'll learn how to navigate the embedded XML editor, explore live document previews, and tailor layouts, logic and content for common documents like packing slips and bills of lading. Whether you're looking to change formatting, insert barcodes, or display custom data, this session will equip you with foundational skills for delivering precise, professional documents directly from Plex.

Learn to integrate Stratix® switches into your plant network to improve reliability and manageability. Become familiar with Stratix® switches, management and diagnostic tools, including WebUI, Studio 5000® Add-on Profiles (AOP) and FactoryTalk® faceplates. Learn how to configure and monitor a Device Level Ring (DLR) for network resiliency.

Experience the latest addition to our compute module portfolio. This ASEM™ enabled device now hosts a Docker Engine in addition to FactoryTalk® Optix™ and FactoryTalk® Remote Access™ solution. This lab will give you hands-on experience with common Embedded Edge Compute Module workflows using FactoryTalk® Optix™ and containerized app solutions.

Discover how automation workflows through APIs translate to more productivity for engineers. This newly-extended, two-part lab will explore leveraging APIs for device management and offer a chance to sling C# code that adopts modern development practices. Gain direct experience in automated testing of Logix code to improve quality and efficiency. Learn to remove repetitive, manual tasks in Studio 5000® Logix Designer application, ControlFLASH Plus™ and FactoryTalk® Logix Echo, saving engineering time.

Join us for a candid panel exploring how to accelerate women’s advancement into leadership and technical roles in manufacturing. We’ll discuss barriers to promotion, the power of visibility and strategies beyond mentorship to build lasting career pathways. Hear insights on equity, feedback, allyship and how to break through when effort alone isn’t enough. All are welcome to join the conversation and help move from awareness to meaningful action.

Sponsored by Control+M Solutions

Kick off your week with Automation Fair Orientation following the Keynote on Monday, November 17. Is this your first time, or first time in a long time, at Automation Fair? If so, this is a can’t miss opportunity. Discover all the tips and tricks to make the most out of your week and have your questions answered by Automation Fair insiders and veterans. Get ready to capitalize on your time in Chicago and connect with other newcomers and the Automation Fair community. 

Take a private tour of Chicago's original craft brewery. Since 1988, Goose Island Beer Co. has been brewing in Illinois with industry-leading technology. Hear how their culture of quality, process and packaging automation has enabled Goose Island to successfully scale from local brewer to international brand. You'll explore the production brewery and follow the brewing process that relies on Rockwell Automation to get the most barrels out of every batch and achieve world-class packaging OEE.

Step into the role of a plant operator and see the future of plant operations in action at the PTU® (Process Training Unit), powered by Endress+Hauser instrumentation and seamlessly integrated with the Rockwell Automation PlantPAx® system. Dive into the inner workings of a plant and interact with a full suite of the latest instrumentation, advanced controls, integrated intelligent motor control center and sophisticated analytics and diagnostics. The PTU at George E. Booth Co. was built with access to data in mind, immersing you in the types of operations, diagnostics and troubleshooting found in real-life process plants.

Experience remanufacturing like you've never seen it before. Tour Rockwell Automation's Remanufacturing & Repair Center for a firsthand look at the industry's preeminent reman house for Allen‑Bradley® products and thousands of third-party brands. See smart testing equipment and advanced diagnostics in action for component-level repair and in-house product certification that takes cybersecurity and safety into account. You'll learn about the early days of machine control and how legacy equipment is made new to help protect your investment and integrate with modern technology and data.

Spend the day in Milwaukee touring production lines, labs and demo experiences at Rockwell Automation's headquarters in the historic Allen Bradley building. See digital transformation in action at the 100-C Contactor Production Line showcasing cutting-edge technology and featuring our PartnerNetwork® ecosystem. Explore where innovation begins at state-of-the-art lab facilities. Get behind-the-scenes insights from our Customer Experience Centers full of interactive demos on sustainability, flexible manufacturing, Ethernet/IP In-cabinet Solutions and cybersecurity. Cap it off with a sneak peek at the new OTTO Autonomous Mobile Robot production line in development.

Case study of a manufacturing operation running the Plex by Rockwell MES and ERP. In this session Control+M Solutions and JH2 Performance Group will show how we were able to turn around an underperforming company, rife with information silos, lack of discipline, disjointed systems and lack of cohesiveness into a high performing, profitable manufacturing center. We'll cover the technical aspects of the Plex software, as well as our process to stabilize and optimize the operating system to rapidly pivot to profitability.

In this session with Cumulus Consulting LLC, attendees will learn how Koller Craft transitioned from IQMS to Plex, reusing existing infrastructure to enhance functionality. By utilizing wiring from the IQMS box, they quickly resumed cycle counting and recreated their IQMS dashboard through Plex Automation and Orchestration. They not only replicated IQMS features but also added capabilities such as automated production, machine state tracking, real-time label printing, and shift-level OEE monitoring. Attendees will gain insights into hardware reuse, Plex tools, and techniques for improving workflows and reporting.

You are invited to join The Falcon Group Dubai to understand the implementation of a robotic assembly line integrated with the ControlLogix® system, using KUKA robots, Omron FH7 cameras, QR Code cameras, Schunk grippers, and Hantas screwdrivers. This assembly line combines advanced robotic technology and vision systems while offering real-time data integration with SAP via FactoryTalk® Optix™. This solution boosts productivity, ensures high-quality output and optimizes revenue generation through labor cost savings while minimizing error rates.

Change can be a scary thing, especially in an industrial control system environment. However, change must happen within our plants and processing facilities to keep up with the constant evolution of malicious users. Join Interstates to learn about a proven method for preparing and implementing changes within systems for your facilities. Let's see how we can reduce your likelihood of unplanned downtime from system changes and help increase your cybersecurity posture.

It's time to program an independent cart technology (ICT) system you are about to install — now what? In this session, we'll go over how to take a track or facility layout and convert that to a program using our Application Code Manager Libraries. We'll discuss how to identify stations and what areas of the track you need to control and which you can leave to us. We will plan vehicle flow and use that flow to help design your station logic and make decisions. Finally, we'll talk through handling abnormal situations like machine down, test rejects and maintenance and how to recover from those situations. This will be an interactive discussion, as we work through an example system and its programming together. Once you have the plan, the programming follows.

This paper explores how an integrated platform, encompassing secure control, edge computing, Internet of Things (IoT), and a software development kit (SDK), can significantly reduce the time-to-market for OEMs to realize their concepts based on their domain expertise. The platform's capabilities enable rapid prototyping, testing and deployment of new applications and services. This reduction in development cycles empowers OEMs to generate new revenue streams by quickly introducing innovative products and enhancing customer loyalty through tailored, cutting-edge solutions and value added on top of their core products. The presentation examines the key components of such a platform, its impact on the product development lifecycle and the resultant business benefits for OEMs.

For over 20 years, the Process Solutions User Group has brought peers together sharing best practices and uncovering insights. If your operations consist of level, flow, temperature, or pressure control, you belong at PSUG. Join us to share your own successes and benchmark against your peers, all while learning about the PlantPAx®, Integrated Architecture® system and Unified Process Control.

Sponsored by Endress+Hauser.