Schneider Electric, the leader in the digital transformation of energy management and automation, today opened the company’s latest design and demonstration lab in Raleigh, North Carolina. The state-of-the-art Robotics and Motion Center of Excellence focuses on innovations in AI, digitalization, and automation technologies. This new center, housed in Schneider Electric’s existing Raleigh Hub facility, builds on the company’s growing regional presence of more than 1,700 North Carolina employees.
The ribbon cutting event, attended by industry partners, local government officials, and area business leaders, comes at a time of significant growth for U.S. manufacturing, including in North Carolina where it contributes $104.8 billion to the state’s economy. Whether building new facilities or expanding existing operations, manufacturers are looking to new solutions to provide more agile and resilient domestic production capabilities. This new lab allows customers to explore these next generation technologies firsthand, collaborating with experts to optimize production, enhance competitiveness, and increase their operational profitability.
“A transformation is currently taking place in U.S. manufacturing as the industry seeks new solutions to solve the business challenges brought about by its unprecedented growth,” said Andre Marino, Senior Vice President, Industrial Automation North America, Schneider Electric. “Our new Robotics and Motion Center of Excellence enables customers to explore new levels of automation, advanced robotics, and AI-driven solutions, and build strategies to transform their operations enhancing system agility, boosting energy savings, and increasing workforce efficiency.”
Schneider Electric is enabling the digital transformation of manufacturing, supporting partners across the industry in segments including consumer packaged goods, life sciences, water/wastewater, and warehouse/logistics. Partners visiting the new lab will experience the latest software and hardware solutions, including:
- EcoStruxure Digital Twin to create digital models of real machines for virtual design and commissioning, as well as agile development and optimization.
- EcoStruxure Automation Expert, the world’s first open software-defined automation solution, to unlock proprietary hardware and software elements to orchestrate one cohesive system.
- Lexium MC12 Multi Carrier system to boost flexibility by moving, positioning, or grouping objects, reducing changeover time, and minimizing footprint.
- Lexium Cobot range, collaborative robots designed to work alongside humans as part of a fully integrated robotic system to improve efficiency and productivity and reduce downtime.
“Innovations developed in our Raleigh facility are already being leveraged by customers across the country, helping them to build more energy efficient, secure, and resilient operations,” said Gregory Magdanz, Vice President, OEM Sales, Schneider Electric. “The Robotics and Motion Center of Excellence allows us to expand that local development and provides a space to share the technology with our community partners and students, educating them on new solutions shaping the industry.”
The Robotics and Motion Center of Excellence opening is part of Schneider Electric’s recently announced U.S. investment plan to support the nation’s energy and AI infrastructure, boost domestic manufacturing, and strengthen national energy security. The investment planned across the U.S. is the largest single capital expenditure commitment by Schneider Electric in its 135+ year history in the U.S. and is expected to create over 1,000 new jobs nationwide.
Tagged with AI, robotics, Schneider Electric