A: The market continues to grow due to three main factors. First, labor shortages continue to push the industry away from manual tasks and toward automation.
Second, global supply chains are facing increasing disruption – from geopolitical turmoil to natural disasters – which means every second counts. Companies are upgrading their material handling equipment to increase productivity as much as possible to offset any potential bottlenecks.
Finally, the growth of e-commerce and [demand for] Short delivery times are pushing automation into the mainstream. If you can’t get your products to market in a similar time frame as your competitors, you will close.
Q: I come from the automobile industry. How has the experience you gained there helped you in your current work at Interroll?
A: The automotive industry was one of the first industries to use robots, and I’ve certainly spent my fair share of time dealing with them. It gave me a unique perspective on how advanced automation can be adopted in the world of materials processing.
But my automotive experience goes beyond automation. I spent my younger years leading Kaizen [continuous improvement] Process improvement projects have enabled me to transfer that knowledge to enhance and improve what we do at Interroll. From removing operational bottlenecks to overseeing Interroll’s ISO certifications, we have become a cleaner, more agile organization.
Q: What do you think are the most important developments that have been made in the field of automation over the past few years?
A: Aside from autonomous technologies, one of the most important developments has been the development of modular transportation systems. Through flexible design to mix and match systems, companies of any size can ramp up operations faster and at a lower cost than ever before.
Q: As a global company headquartered in Switzerland, how does Interroll deal with fluctuations in US tariffs and trade policies?
A: Interroll’s strategy has always been to leverage its global footprint while serving clients through regional centers of excellence. This approach insulates us from changing trade policies, currency fluctuations, and supply chain disruptions. It’s the best of both worlds: we achieve efficiencies that few can match and we remain exceptionally responsive to the needs of the local market.
Q: Has AI impacted your automation products, and if so, how has it been applied to system designs?
A: Artificial intelligence is something we think about every day. In fact, Interroll designs all of its automation products to be AI-compatible, data-enabled, and easy to integrate. For example, Interroll Drum Motors come sensor-ready and are fully compatible with predictive maintenance platforms, enabling users to anticipate potential breakdowns, proactively schedule maintenance and maximize uptime while minimizing repair and service costs.
Q: How have distributed energy and modular design impacted material handling systems?
A: Distributed energy and modular design have had a tremendous positive impact on the industry. Previously, upgrading the system or replacing the motor required shutting down the entire line. Now users can replace parts or even add entire units without downtime. In addition, maintenance is simplified, as you replace individual components compared to a very large engine. It has given the industry more uptime, more flexibility, and simpler maintenance procedures, which is what users want.
