One of 13 global subsidiaries of South Korea’s Autonics (with 100 offices globally, 1,600 employees, over 35,000 SKUs, and 65 registered patents), numerous industries rely on Autonics USA for its expertise in optimizing sensors, controllers, safety products, data acquisition, and management solutions.

Through its innovative product design, Autonics USA helps its customers build smarter, more efficient factories. As the company puts it, “making the impossible possible” is achieved through a commitment to continued innovation, adapting to the needs of industry, and strong foundational relationships.

David Upton, Regional Sales Manager, says that staying at the forefront of a rapidly evolving industry is currently Autonics USA’s biggest challenge and opportunity. With the rapid growth of technologies like robotics, IIoT (Industrial Internet of Things), and smart factories, the automation market is changing quickly. “We must maintain a close relationship with our clients and be ready to adjust right away to their evolving needs if we want to stay competitive,” he says.

Rising to the occasion
Across Autonics’ global footprint is a culture of innovation and continuous improvement, which originates at its R&D Center in Seoul and radiates throughout its global network. Through this work, the company is developing technology that redefines factory automation. Its proprietary solutions and way of doing business have strengthened its competitiveness around the world.

The company invests approximately 11 percent of its annual revenue in R&D, and more than a fifth of its expertise is dedicated to research and development activities, which is why it continues to evolve in products and culture and remains a market leader. “We are in a favorable position, capitalizing on key trends in industrial automation while being mindful of challenges in supply chain management and competition,” Upton explains. “Our continued focus on technological innovation, especially in the automation and semiconductor sectors, will likely drive our growth in the coming years.”

Most recently, the launch of a modular multi-channel power controller series (SPRS) has elevated the ability to accurately control the temperature of factory equipment and machinery.

Got power? Get control
The modular design of the SPRS series offers efficient power control thanks to a power distribution control function that supports up to 36 units, with separate control and power modules and alarm functions available. Phase control includes standard control and feedback control (constant voltage, current, and power), and cycle control provides fixed/variable controls.

“Because it is a modular type, it can be configured as a single-phase or three-phase system depending on the combination. This makes it easier for both us (the manufacturer) and our customers to secure product inventory,” explains Technical Manager Jimmy Kim. The series also includes various functions from power distribution control and alarm history to self-diagnosis, alarm functions, and many more that simplify the process. Heater breaks, fuse breaks, overheating, and overcurrent are issues of the past thanks to this innovative modular solution.

The SPRS series is designed to offer easy maintenance and communication, as the modules support four types of communication options. The power modules are available in 14 models rated by current options, and users can employ up to four power modules simultaneously.

For Kim, “This new product satisfies many of the needs of the American market. The load power voltage supports up to 490VAC and has obtained UL Listed certification based on this power voltage.”

Finally, the intuitive design enables easy initial setup, and the fuse replacement process is also very straightforward, which serves the American market well, a major focus of the company.

As Kim notes, “Another task we are working on is providing PC/PLC-sample examples to support users of high-performance products. We create examples of products that can meet a variety of customer requirements, including the most popular Allen-Bradley products in the U.S. market. These examples can be downloaded from our website without the need to register contact information.”

Ease of use is always emphasized where innovation is concerned at Autonics, and beyond product innovation, the team has evolved its service delivery offering to meet its customers where they are. In October of last year, a Live Chat was launched where customers can ask technical questions about the various products without requiring a separate login process, which has been well-received and greatly utilized by the market.

Safety first, performance always
Further to improved performance, Autonics USA is also working to bring safety solutions to the market. Through its product development efforts, it has become a trusted provider of safety components for many industries, including the U.S. food and beverage industry.

“Our solutions are well-suited to this sector thanks to the reliability of our products and the availability of models with high protection ratings, including IP69K, which is essential for food-safe environments,” says Dei-Wei Lee, Regional Sales Manager.

Recently, Autonics USA partnered with a major beverage company to bring its popular soft drinks to the market more safely and efficiently. Its SFLA Series Safety Light Curtains supported the packaging process, an application for box building or carton assembly. The light curtain outperformed the competition, minimizing lead times and making replacement simpler. Autonics’ solution was compatible, reliable, and efficient, which helped the customer avoid production delays.

SFLA Series Light Curtains feature high impact resistance, which is a major advantage in environments where mechanical vibration or accidental contact is common. They offer reliable hand and body protection, which keeps the operator safe during high-speed, repetitive tasks. The installation and support of these products has also been streamlined and supported by free software that provides intuitive tools for fast setup, parameter tuning, and real-time diagnostics. Doing so, as Lee notes, “without additional licensing fees” is an ideal solution for OEMs and integrators managing tight timelines and budgets.

He adds, “Separately, in another department of the same plant, our IP69K-rated light curtains are being used in an application that involves packaging syrup, where thorough and frequent washdowns with hot water and chemicals are standard. The IP69K rating ensures the light curtain can withstand these high-pressure, high-temperature cleaning processes without compromising performance,” a feature that has gained the attention of another plant in a different state.

This is just one example of the level of commitment to innovation, industrial safety, and improved performance that Autonics USA brings to industrial operations with its robust, hygienic, and easy-to-integrate solutions, particularly in the food and beverage sector. At the same time, the company continues to strive for constant internal improvement that positions it as an award-winning industry leader.

Award-winning results
Autonics has been recognized not only as a trusted global brand but also as an employer of choice. Its deeply rooted commitment to the research and design of market-changing products and continuous improvement has also helped produce a market-leading culture.

The company has received numerous awards, including a nod in both 2019 and 2023 from the Ministry of Science and ICT for being an excellent corporate research center; numerous design awards; and countless designations that acknowledge its determination to be an empathetic employer that focuses on work-life balance, resulting in satisfied employees and customers alike. Autonics as a whole and its U.S. subsidiary have much to be proud of, which is why they confidently showcase their capabilities at industry events, bringing their automation solutions to a great number of operations, creating new connections in the market, and strengthening existing ones.

“This entails not only developing new products but also ensuring that we’re reachable and visible through marketing and sales as well as industry trade shows, where we can present our most recent solutions and keep abreast of market developments. It’s about striking a balance between innovation and solid client relations,” Upton explains.

SEMICON 2025 will be an excellent opportunity for Autonics USA to do just that. This year, the event is being held in Phoenix, which excites Upton and the team because of Arizona’s proximity to players from key semiconductor-manufacturing regions such as Austin, Texas, who may not have made the journey to the previous venue in San Francisco.

Upton says that having the opportunity to meet and converse with more customers promises “a better understanding of the industry’s evolving needs. Every show is an opportunity to learn more about new trends and challenges in the market, which helps us with both short- and long-term planning. We know that industrial trade shows don’t always lead to immediate sales, so we don’t view them as direct revenue-generating events. We see them as important opportunities to showcase our products and team, knowing that the relationships and insights we gain now will pay off down the line.”

Navigating the future
With events like SEMICON on the horizon, opportunities abound for Autonics USA, but the company is also navigating a challenge that is not unique in the market: tariffs. Before July 1, 2025, Autonics USA absorbed tariff fees, which was a competitive advantage, but given the circumstances, those costs will have to be incorporated into its prices going forward.

“We’ve done our best to shield our customers from these fees for as long as possible. As for the global impact, Autonics USA primarily focuses on the U.S. and Canadian markets, so the direct global effects of these tariffs are uncertain. Autonics is a global company with business hubs in many countries, so the broader international operations may not be as heavily impacted. The main concern for us will be the tariffs on products entering the U.S., which could affect our operations here locally. That impact is still to be determined,” notes Upton.

Fortunately for the company, its proprietary products have set the standard in industrial automation, and its commitment to relationships and customer support has reassured its customers that it is worth the investment, as it promises to remain a leader now and long into the future.

In its commitment to innovation, industry-leading products, and relationships with both customers and employees, Autonics USA sets the standard in all that it does, always committed to finding ways to improve its own performance and the performance of others.

The post Making the Impossible Possible<p class="company">Autonics USA</p> appeared first on Manufacturing In Focus.

Material of choice
With steel the material of choice for manufacturing in numerous sectors, Kapital Steel has made a name for itself as a strategic problem-solver and reliable partner, capable of providing high-quality products to meet a wide range of customer demands. Whether customers require 4140 heat-treated, annealed, or as-rolled steel, Kapital offers an unmatched experience and dedication to quality, featuring all-inclusive customer services.

In addition to offering high-quality steel products, Kapital also provides value added services that improve project results, such as using Friggi America vertical band saws for precision cutting of full-length bars to any required width, cutting waste and increasing project efficiency, or employing Ingersoll planer mills to produce decarb-free (DCF) materials that provide the best possible smooth and clean surface finish. For sectors where surface integrity is critical for additional processing or the end product’s look, this service is vital.

Cutting bars ranging from ¼” to 8” thick and from ½” to 24” wide, the company offers a broad range of American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) grades to its customers. To supplement the main AISI offering, it also provides tool steels and alloys, including AISI 1045, 1060, 4340, 8620, A-2, and A-36.

A competitive edge
Guaranteeing a superior level of finish on every one of its products, Kapital’s speedy and reliable same-day response sets it apart from competitors in the market. Additionally, since Kapital’s employees have ownership holdings, they’re genuinely committed to producing outstanding results, says President and Owner Jerome E. Kusbel II.

“We’re a small to mid-size company with 15 employees, and we’re looking to grow,” he says. “But what that allows us to be is very nimble. Our sales and operations are closely connected.”

Jerome and Carter Perusich, the company’s Sales Representative, pride themselves on timely responses to all customers, no matter the question or concern. “In the spectrum of steel companies, you have quality and service and price,” says Jerome. “I’d say that if you polled our customers on our service, they would say it’s top-notch. I think we have the best service around in response time and getting things done for our customers on a timely basis.”

Price, he adds, is also vital, with the company offering “very good and competitive” prices.

Kapital Steel is still in growth mode, says Jerome—gaining market share from competitors and making plans to add both employees and machinery in the upcoming years.

There’s steel, and then there’s 4140
Renowned for its toughness, 4140 alloy steel offers high fatigue strength and resistance to wear and abrasion. Composed of manganese, molybdenum, and chromium, it provides consistent performance under stress and outstanding hardenability, as well as the capacity to withstand harsh environments.

Kapital’s 4140 alloy steel products stand out from the crowd due to their adaptability, robustness, and numerous applications. Its 4140 heat-treated, 4140 annealed, and 4140 as-rolled products offer strength and performance for automotive, tool and die, manufacturing, oil and gas, and heavy equipment. The company’s 4140 heat-treated steel (prehard) offers improved mechanical qualities, a result of carefully regulated heating and cooling procedures. Its increased strength, hardness, and resistance to wear are well suited for gears, shafts, and heavy-duty machinery components that benefit from its exceptional durability and resistance to high-impact conditions.

4140 annealed steel results from a heat treatment procedure that softens steel, increasing its ductility and making it simpler to mold and manufacture. For industries that need materials that can be readily shaped or machined before undergoing additional processing or usage, Kapital’s 4140 annealed steel products are ideal, offering a flexible choice for applications requiring malleability, such as forging and shaping.

Finally, 4140 as-rolled steel provides strength and machinability as it doesn’t require the extra heat treatments needed for other varieties, offering rollable performance for use in industrial equipment, machinery parts, and general construction.

Walking away from corporate life
“I’ve been in the steel industry my entire career,” says Jerome. “I got my start back in December of 1990, working various roles across operations, quality, and purchasing before ultimately transitioning into sales and progressing from there.” But after years of climbing the ladder within a large organization, he realized it was time for something new.

“I started to feel disconnected from the core of the business,” he explains. “The focus was shifting away from customers and more toward new corporate policies, which made it harder to do what I loved—selling steel. I was also facing challenges with support and flexibility in growing key product lines, and that became increasingly frustrating.”

Jerome realized he had to leave, and with one of his best friends—now COO at Kapital Steel, Brian Rusin—a plan was formulated and a new business, based on obtaining specialty products at a better quality, price point, and service level than customers were getting at the time, was born.

“So far, so good,” he says. “It’s been great. We’ve got about 100 active customers and they all love doing business with Kapital. I think we’ve filled that gap for what they needed in this realm.”

As a first-step metal processor, Kapital acts as an indirect intermediary between an OEM and the mill. For instance, a John Deere or a Caterpillar, while they can go directly to the mill and purchase steel, can’t usually process it down to what they need for their end use. Kapital buys the steel from the mill and processes it down to a more usable, efficient, and beneficial size for the OEM.

“We’re focusing on more of the specialty type alloy grades of steel, but our volume is lower because we don’t need to worry about selling thousands of units; that’s not our realm,” Jerome explains. “We want to focus on the people who want the specialty type items and serve that.”

Creating value
This is a niche that his company has slotted itself into nicely over the years. Clearly, Kapital is doing something right, celebrating its 10^th anniversary this year and proud that almost all of its customers have continually bought from the company the entire time, an admirable testament to its ongoing success.

“We sell to customers all over North and South America,” says Jerome. “For a company our size, that’s pretty huge, with customers in Mexico, Canada, probably half of the United States, the East Coast, the West Coast. Our steel travels well, because a lot of people need specialty steel and they don’t know where to get it. I think we’re in a good spot here in the Midwest.”

Embracing a philosophy centered on creating value for customers, Kapital devotes time to careful conversations in order to customize solutions to meet metallurgical requirements and tolerances, enabling trial orders to guarantee alignment with customer expectations prior to moving on with full-scale manufacturing.

The business does face some challenges, however. As a fairly small company without a full-time maintenance department, when machines go down, it’s all hands on deck, with everyone working to help in any way possible. “It’s just the nature of the beast, because we keep our equipment running 24 hours a day. That is definitely a challenge for Kapital.”

“Another challenge is trying to figure out how to right-size our inventory levels,” adds Carter. “Along with tariffs being on and off every other day; the political landscape and how it affects steel is huge.”

A standout culture
Despite these ongoing uncertainties, what helps set Kapital Steel apart within the industry—aside from its dedication to unique parts—is the company’s culture and its non-stop dedication to maintaining a healthy, thriving, and productive environment.

“We have an open-door policy here. Anybody can go to any employee at any time of the day, anytime they want, and get something done,” says Jerome. “We don’t even have an HR department; we all just get along. Everyone is simply expected to do their job and pitch in. It’s a very relaxed atmosphere.”

This commitment to a harmonious workspace even includes not micromanaging vacation days or lunch hours, while expecting all employees to work hard to ensure their jobs are done well.

In the midst of celebrating 10 successful years in business, everyone at Kapital Steel is justified in feeling a little bit proud about creating and maintaining a company that produces high-quality products while growing a culture that will likely ensure many decades of success to come. But Jerome’s attitude remains down to earth. “Whatever your idea of corporate culture is, we are the opposite of that,” he says. “We want everyone to come and go as they please and enjoy walking in the door in the morning. Do your job and get paid, as simple as that.”

The post Standout Steel: Innovation That’s Forged to Last<p class="company">Kapital Steel</p> appeared first on Manufacturing In Focus.

Vectis began much the same way companies like Apple did—bootstrapped out of a garage and from the ground up. Today, the team has grown to around 35 people, with a healthy and growing market at its back. Akey says that continued growth with the right team members is exciting, and it is a joy to watch team members develop in their skills and careers. At its core, he says, the company looks at its products as tools—something that someone can use to make their job easier. By providing flexible and affordable cobot welding and cutting tools, the team seeks to empower manufacturers of all types and sizes to automate quickly, easily, and affordably.

When it comes to the field of industrial robotics, Vectis breaks it down into two main categories: traditional robots, which are fast and well-established but require caged safeguarding; and collaborative robots, or cobots, which are easier to program and whose built-in safety enables them to work in tandem with human effort. The fabrication space is full of both small-to-medium businesses and larger enterprises that face challenges in getting over the hurdles of integrating traditional automation solutions with long-term success, Pawley notes. “We wanted to make automation more accessible, approachable, and flexible,” he adds.

The company wants to make automation less intimidating for its clients from both the technical and commercial sides. In previous eras of the industry, traditional robots had a very steep learning curve and were a “big bet” often reserved for mass-production industries like automotive, whereas now, Vectis seeks to meet the customers where they are in their technology accessibility journey, with the tried-and-true method of keeping it simple.

Pawley explains that Vectis has multiple ways for its clients to acquire a Vectis tool, ranging in levels of cost and commitment. Some customers will want to purchase the system outright, wherein Vectis reduces risk by offering a 30-day money-back guarantee, something that is practically unheard of in capital equipment. Some customers opt for Vectis’ rent-to-own program that offers a “try before you commit” route.

Pawley feels that success in automation is nuanced and application-dependent, so one of the company’s core functions for customers is making sure its cobots can accomplish a customer’s parts effectively. “It’s about ensuring there’s a path to success for the customer. Welding applications are incredibly broad and nuanced, and our team of Application Engineers are uniquely positioned to help customers understand what automation is great at welding, what automation is poor at welding, how to ‘crawl, walk, run,’ and how to set up for long-term success.”

One of the core values of Vectis is the practice of continuous innovation deriving from customer feedback. The mechanical and software engineering teams have been continuously developing new projects and features for that reason, while also allowing customers to open up more application possibilities with those developments and innovations. Drew Akey and his technical engineering and product development teams go by the motto of: “I don’t want to see it just work; I want to see it not break,” especially where flashy solutions on social media can overshadow what actually works.

In the last three years, Vectis has experienced sustained growth from existing customers which, according to Pawley, is thanks to clients ‘crawling’ with their new technologies before they walk or run. Once customers begin to use automation as a tool in their operations, the fun is in seeing them grow into incorporating additional systems and evolving considerably beyond whence they started.

Akey says that, as founders and executives, he and Pawley always make time to talk to customers and find out what they think, and this makes Vectis different from others in the space. The most common customer feedback highlights Vectis’s ability to react quickly and smartly. Customers are thankful to the company for helping to keep things simple and for being their trusted advisor.

Pawley says that fabricators today have the same underlying challenges as they have for the last decade, including labor shortages, lead time needs, quality concerns, and overall “having to do more with less.” These are exacerbated with the recent national push toward re-shoring and near-shoring work to the United States, which is keeping businesses rather busy.

The market has also become quite crowded with a lot of outfits jumping into the cobot market because, to them, it looks easy. Pawley says that what looks simple may not be, and it is the job of Vectis to help its clients know who to trust. This crowded market can make prospective clients nervous to jump into solutions, but Vectis does its best to maintain its status as a trusted advisor to clients.

Another industry-wide challenge that impacts the business is the diminishing number of skilled performers in the industry, so education and getting young people into the skilled trades is an initiative the company supports both tangibly and intangibly. Akey says that something of a manufacturing renaissance is taking place at present; however, a great deal of effort is needed for the United States to absorb some of the re-shoring efforts that have taken place while Vectis and companies like it look to expand the workforce by using technology to a) make the workforce more productive and b) have that same technology attract new talent.

A lot of noise has been made across the corporate world about the American tariffs, which has created more consumer hesitation. Yet Akey feels that the best time to invest in the robotics and welding industry is now. The company is confident that 2025 will finish on a strong note, and Vectis will stay true to itself by not over-complicating things and meeting customers where they are while remaining hungry in its own journey.

Fall of 2025 will see the opening of the trade show season for Vectis. After a strong year of research and development efforts, the company does not plan to rest on its laurels and will keep evolving and helping its customers while growing and matching the market. An ongoing goal involves transitioning the company to employee-owned, which Pawley says will further strengthen Vectis as a fantastic place to work, play, and build purposeful things for decades to come.

The company lives by the golden rule: treat people the way you want to be treated. From top to bottom, everyone operates with competence, honesty, and integrity, and puts customer success before everything else. “Business growth comes from doing the right thing,” says Pawley. And when it comes to providing cobot welding and plasma cutting solutions, Vectis makes doing the right thing the easy thing.

The post Making Automation Easier<p class="company">Vectis Automation</p> appeared first on Manufacturing In Focus.