This August, NorthWind hosted our 2nd annual AI & Digital Transformation Seminar. Over the course of three days, attendees from across many industries gathered to explore transformative technologies, share use cases, and engage in hands-on experiences that showcased the power of AI and automation.
With a packed agenda that included live demonstrations, thought-provoking case studies, and networking with industry leaders, this year’s event reaffirmed our commitment to empowering manufacturers with the tools and knowledge they need to evolve in the digital age.
The event kicked off at our headquarters in Sabetha, KS, where attendees toured six key innovation stations, each highlighting advancements in manufacturing technology:
- Product Handling with AMRs – Autonomous Mobile Robots in live application
- BatchLOGIX with AI analytics – A new web-based interface with integrated AI insights
- Quality Assurance Station – Enhancements for real-time monitoring
- EXPRO AI Demo – Digital twin and predictive production insights
- AI-Driven Business Use Cases – NorthWind’s practical applications of AI across clients
- Automated Panel Shop – Showcasing NorthWind’s automated control panel manufacturing
The tours offered a first-hand look at smart factory solutions, sparking meaningful discussions about integration, scalability, and operational ROI.
The following day was filled with insightful presentations and collaborative knowledge sharing:
- “A Digital Transformation Journey” with Schwan’s Food Company and NorthWind – This collaborative session provided perspectives from both the customer and the implementation team, offering practical insights into managing large-scale industrial modernization projects.
- Fairview Mills and NorthWind shared “The Right MES Tools for Your Operations,” detailing how data visibility and automation are driving strategic decision-making on the plant floor.
- Matthew Leonard (Northslope Technologies) and Rob Infinger (Barrett Petfood) closed the day with “The AI Journey – A Production Use Case”, highlighting practical AI deployment of a scheduling tool for smarter manufacturing.
- Dan Racklyeft (Rockwell Automation) demonstrated how Digital Twin Simulation with Emulate3D is reshaping production modeling and scenario testing.
- Jacob Dill (OTTO Motors) and Brandon Johnson (HaFSBX) examined the future of AMRs in material handling, with a look into strategy, deployment, and scaling.
- A panel on Cybersecurity in Industry 4.0 featured experts from NorthWind, KLN Family Brands, and Inductive Automation, underscoring the urgency of protecting data as AI systems grow more integrated.
A sincere thank you to the sponsors who helped make this year’s seminar a success:
- Platinum Sponsors: Haf Equipment, Northslope Technologies, Extru-Tech, D1 Resources
- Gold Sponsors: Rittal, EPLAN, Vortex, Horizon Systems
- Silver Sponsors: Scan American Corp, Rensenhouse Sabetha
Their support enables us to continue delivering value and fostering innovation in the manufacturing space.