MAGAZINE The official magazine of Automate Canada. Issue 3, Fall 2023 Leading and Advocating for the Canadian Automation Industry Canada Post Publications Agreement Number: 40609661The official publication of Automate Canada |www.automatecanada.ca 5 Fall 2023 Published For: Automate Canada Institute for Border Logistics and Security 5844 Malden Road, Unit #140, Mailbox #302 Windsor, Ontario N9J 1S4 Email: info@automatecanada.ca Tel: (519) 818-8866 Published By: Matrix Group Publishing Inc. Return all undeliverable addresses to: 309 Youville Street Winnipeg, MB R2H 2S9 Toll-Free: (866) 999-1299 Toll-Free Fax: (866) 244-2544 sales@matrixgroupinc.net www.matrixgroupinc.net President & CEO Jack Andress Operations Manager Shoshana Weinberg sweinberg@matrixgroupinc.net Senior Publisher Jessica Potter jpotter@matrixgroupinc.net Editor-in-Chief Shannon Savory ssavory@matrixgroupinc.net Senior Editor Alexandra Kozub akozub@matrixgroupinc.net Editor / Social Media Manager Jenna Collignon Finance / Administration Lloyd Weinberg, Nathan Redekop accounting@matrixgroupinc.net Director of Circulation & Distribution Lloyd Weinberg distribution@matrixgroupinc.net Sales Manager - Winnipeg Neil Gottfred Sales Manager - Hamilton Jeff Cash Matrix Group Publishing Inc. Account Executives Colleen Bell, Rob Gibson, Jim Hamilton, Scott Hendren, Touhid Kahn, Frank Kenyeres, Sandra Kirby, Cheryl Klassen, Charlie Langsford, Andrew Lee, Brian MacIntyre, Shaun Minett, Caitlin Nakamura, Vlada Radchenko, Wilma Gray-Rose, Luke Stevens, Julie Welsh Layout & Design Kayti McDonald Advertising Design James Robinson ©2023 Matrix Group Publishing Inc. All rights reserved. Contents may not be reproduced by any means, in whole or in part, without the prior written permission of the publisher. To advertise in the next edition of Automate Canada Magazine, please e-mail sales@matrixgroupinc.net or call (866) 999-1299. contents 11 Modernizing Manufacturing 13 Industry Trends and Challenges up front 7 Greetings from the Chair of Automate Canada 8 Greetings from the Executive Director of Automate Canada 9 All About Automate Canada 10 Board of Directors / Why Should You Join Automate Canada 22 Index to Advertisers features Member Showcases 15 DataRealm 17 Mirka 20 The Morrell Group Cover photo courtesy of Mirka (www.mirka.com)The official publication of Automate Canada |www.automatecanada.ca 7 hese are indeed interesting times, to say the least. This is the year that AI (ChatGPT in particular) jolted the world to really take notice of AI.I cannot remember when one piece of technology had such a sudden and profound impact as did ChatGPT! We are still here in the summer of 2023 wondering what jobs it will replace or whose job it will impact next! The rate of new generative AI-type applications coming out is astounding! This is also a year with unprecedented heat, wildfires, housing prices that are out of control, inflation and interest rates in flux, labour shortages, war in Ukraine, U.S. politics (omg!) – it all seems a bit chaotic and depressing! It reminds me of that Billy Joel song... “We didn’t start the fire!” FYI,speaking of wildfires, I am writing this editorialamidst the beauty of the Alberta Rockies (in Canmore), and I am still amazed at the size and breadth of our country. It seems that there is opportunity everywhere. One very bright spot for our association and its members is the resurgence of manufacturing and an increasing need (in almost all industries) for robotics and automation. There is a greater need now, than ever before, for our expertise, products, and services! With the pandemic well behind us, Automate Canada is poised to grow significantly in the years to come. Part of achieving that growth will depend on our current members (yes, that means you) to find at least one of your Canadian partners, competitors*, or suppliers to join our organization. (*Most of us have few Canadian competitors anyway). I personally feel that Automate Canada can provide great value to its membership if we are all willing to share a little bit of our wisdom, some of our best practices, and our success stories and even our greatest failures and mishaps. If you can learn one useful thing a year, or make one new customer or develop one new partnership or find one money saving idea or one valuable piece of wisdom, then the cost of your invested time and membership in Automate Canada will be well worthwhile. SHARE. LEARN. GROW! That’s how I see it! See you around! Greetings from the Chair of Automate Canada I personally feel that Automate Canada can provide great value to its membership if we are all willing to share a little bit of our wisdom, UpFront Attention members of Automate Canada, as well as sector experts – we are looking for articles for future issues of the magazine! If you have knowledge and a story to share, please email Editor, Shannon Savory (shannon.savory@matrixgroupinc.net) and copy Automate Canada’s Executive Director, Nicole Vlanich (nicole@automatecanada.ca) with a 100- word abstract and the name / title of the author(s). If your topic is approved, you will be provided with a word count and deadline. Please note that articles cannot be product or company promotional. They can mention products and companies, but articles cannot “sell” their use. Authors’ names will be included on the byline and each article contributed and approved will include space for an author biography and contact information. Write for Automate Canada Magazine – Share Your Expertise! Dave Fortin Chair, Board of Directors Automate Canada8 Fall 2023 Greetings from the Executive Director of Automate Canada UpFront Nicole Vlanich Executive Director Automate Canada t is with great pleasure that I introduce the third edition of our magazine, Automate Canada Magazine. What a testament to our dedication to providing informative and captivating content that deeply resonates with both our esteemed members and the wider industry. As we navigate the ever-evolving landscape before us, I am proud to share the impressive progress we have made in 2023, and the exciting initiatives that lie ahead. Within the pages of each magazine issue, our primary objective is to cultivate awareness of critical topics that hold significance for our valued members. Our commitment lies in shedding a focused light on emerging trends that are shaping the industry and uncovering their far-reaching impact across diverse sectors. We look to the latest advancements in industrial automation and offer insights into prospective challenges and opportunities on the horizon. Our unwavering commitment remains centered on ensuring that our members are well-informed about the trends that hold paramount importance. We also take pride in highlighting the accomplishments attributed to the seamless integration of Industry 4.0 technologies, such as Internet of Things (IoT) and artificial intelligence (AI), into industrial processes, consequently driving innovation and fostering competitive advantage across sectors. These statistics eloquently illustrate that the Canadian automation sector is not only flourishing but also significantly shaping the future of the industry through its transformative influence. As a membership association, our goal is to ensure that we are providing the content, services, programs, and opportunities that our members need. Some of our current initiatives include bringing members together to share successes, challenges, and best practices, providing learning opportunities, and connecting businesses with opportunities. We rely on the feedback of our members and industry to assist us in our strategic priorities to ensure that we are providing the answers our members need and facilitating valuable connections. We have had a successful 2023, with an increase in activity, a successful AGM, a growing membership, and continued dedication to further growth and success, for our association and member companies. None of our accomplishments could have been achieved without the unwavering support we receive from our esteemed members, dedicated Board of Directors, and valued partners. Your enthusiasm, active participation, and unwavering dedication drive our relentless pursuit of excellence and we extend our gratitude for accompanying us on this journey. As we set our sights on the horizon, I am filled with anticipation as we embark on uncharted territories, broaden our horizons, and introduce our members to a wealth of value-added services, benefits, and content. Warm regards. of our member companies that wield significant influence in the industry. Industrial automation stands as a pivotal pillar of modern industry, fundamentally transforming the landscape of manufacturing, production, and operations. Its significance surpasses mere efficiency gains; it encompasses heightened precision, elevated safety measures, and accelerated innovation. Through mechanization and streamlined processes, industrial automation mitigates variability and high-quality output. Furthermore, automation empowers us to explore frontiers that were once deemed unattainable, pushing the boundaries of what can be achieved in terms of speed, complexity, and scale. As industries continue to evolve, the implementation of automation transcends being a mere competitive advantage – it is now a strategic imperative. It equips us to remain agile in the face of a rapidly changing world, while concurrently enhancing productivity, fostering sustainability, and shaping the trajectory of global manufacturing. The Canadian automation sector emerges as a potent force within the nation’s industrial landscape, fortified by compelling statistics that underscore its profound impact. Recent data showcases a steady rise in the Canadian manufacturing industry’s adoption of automation, with an impressive 42 per cent growth in industrial robot installations over the past five years. This surge in automation technology translates to notable efficiency gains, with manufacturers reporting up to a 20 per cent reduction in production costs and a marked improvement in overall output quality. Additionally, projections indicate that the Canadian industrial automation market will maintain its upward trajectory, with an estimated compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately eight per cent over the next five years. This growth can be The official publication of Automate Canada |www.automatecanada.ca 9 utomate Canada is a Canadian industry association representing Canada’s industrial automation sector, service providers, and suppliers. Founded in 2018 by the Canadian Association of Moldmakers (CAMM) and supported by Invest Windsor- Essex and NRC-IRAP, Automate Canada is an informative community of vibrant industry leaders who are facilitating the development and adoption of technology. Canada has established a reputation as a hub for innovation in manufacturing automation and we are proud to be a part of such an impressive industry. Representing one of Canada’s most essential technology industries, industrial automation contributes an estimated $7 billion to Canada’s economy yearly and creates approximately 40,000 jobs per year. Our industry contributions continue to grow and expand as technology continues to advance. Automate Canada leads, advocates, and showcases the Canadian automation industry strengths and capabilities. We assist and promote our members and engage in activities that support business success and innovation expertise. We invest in market and industry research to identify emerging trends and issues within our industry and assist our members with any challenges. We have fostered relationships with trade commissioners, government officials, and international companies to ensure our place as a voice for our members and industry. Our strategic pillars provide a roadmap to represent our industry locally, nationally, and globally and structures our focus when advocating to government and developing new programs. Our pillars and roadmap also ensure that we are addressing the needs of our member companies. One of our pillars is Skill and Talent Development within which we work to address skilled labour shortages and provide our members with the knowledge to transition to Industry 4.0 practices and digital transformations. Our efforts are geared towards methods of developing a talent pipeline of skilled and ready personnel interested in advanced manufacturing. We work with partners, such as We Build a Dream and the YMCA, to attract under-represented groups to our industry and to All About Automate Canada UpFront develop programs to encourage their involvement. We create and provide access to learning and training programs for our members and promote upskilling and reskilling opportunities to ensure our members and their employees are ready to adopt new technologies. Automate Canada also embraces equality, diversity, and inclusion practices and provides information for our members to adopt these practices. We work with federal and provincial governments to advocate for the importance of skill development in our industry. We develop youth-focused initiatives and work with secondary and post-secondary institutions on curriculum development to ensure the training being provided is keeping up with innovation and preparing youth to enter the workforce, while cultivating an interest in advanced manufacturing. Another one of our strategic pillars is Branding and Collaboration. Within this pillar we develop partnerships to promote ‘Made in Canada’products as good value with high quality. We work with our partners to ensure Canadian industrial automation maintains their reputation as innovative and reliable while promoting our members to increase global relationships and foster business opportunities. Our strategic pillar, Technology and Innovation, aims to support our members in their transition to Industry 4.0 practices and digital transformations. We promote a culture of innovation and ensure our members have access to funding information, resources, and tools to facilitate their transition. We promote and participate in research and development projects, as well as emerging technologies. We work with our members while developing new technologies and IPs, while performing research and development activities or commercialization plans. We continue to add programs and services for our members including discount and affinity programs, training and development opportunities, and marketing and promotion support. We have a full calendar of upcoming events, including networking opportunities, trade shows, and learning and training events. We will continue to develop creative and innovative ways to benefit our members. Please contact info@automatecanada.ca if you have any questions.Next >