OnRobot held its "Build Your Automation Roadmap" event on February 19, 2026, in Dallas, offering manufacturers structured approaches to measure return on investment (ROI), ensure system interoperability, and deploy automation at enterprise scale. The event convened key industry stakeholders-including specialists in robotics, tooling, and integration-to support manufacturers in advancing from pilot automation projects to scalable strategies. Presentations emphasized the critical role of open interfaces and versatile end-of-arm tooling for efficient, adaptable automation.
Background
Ongoing labor shortages and challenging technical talent recruitment are prompting manufacturers to accelerate automation initiatives. Data from the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas' Texas Business Outlook Survey indicate North Texas firms continue to struggle filling production positions amid low applicant numbers and increasing wage requirements. As wage pressure builds, automation is gaining traction as a solution to sustain throughput. The event focused on advancing pilot projects to full-scale deployments by leveraging interoperable systems and ROI-focused frameworks, reducing reliance on single-vendor solutions. OnRobot's platform supports this shift with open interfaces, plug-and-produce end-of-arm tools, and collaborative integration standards.1News: Event Automation Industrial Robotics | OnRobot
Details
"Build Your Automation Roadmap" took place from 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM Central Time at The Westin Irving Convention Center at Las Colinas2Build Your Automation Roadmap Event in Dallas. The event targeted manufacturers in metal fabrication, CNC machining, packaging, assembly, electronics, aerospace, and food and beverage, aiming to bridge the divide between pilot projects and enterprise-wide automation2Build Your Automation Roadmap Event in Dallas. Attendees observed live demonstrations of FANUC robots fitted with OnRobot's tooling in applications such as machine tending, material handling, assembly, packaging, and inspection2Build Your Automation Roadmap Event in Dallas.
Among the speakers, Kristian Hulgard, General Manager, Americas, at OnRobot, addressed the Dallas-Fort Worth region's manufacturing labor shortfall and positioned the event as a platform for practical automation solutions1News: Event Automation Industrial Robotics | OnRobot. The agenda also featured a FANUC representative discussing the automation adoption process, a lead from Adaptive Vision and Robotics on procurement strategies, and a systems integration expert from AWC, Inc. who explored risk mitigation and integration value3Industrial_Robot_Event.
Attendance was free with prior registration and included lunch. Space was limited due to venue capacity2Build Your Automation Roadmap Event in Dallas.
Outlook
Manufacturers leveraging insights from the event are likely to pursue automation strategies centered on open architecture, modular tooling, and ROI-based evaluation. Vendor-led forums promoting open design could drive industry-wide standards, limiting reliance on proprietary systems and enabling more agile automation deployments.
