Robotic Machine Tending: Free Manufacturer Workshop
Join the ARM Institute's Robotics Manufacturing Hub and Catalyst Connection on February 25 for a free workshop exploring machine tending! Note that breakfast & lunch will be provided at no cost.
Space is limited - reserve your spot today!
Space is limited - reserve your spot today!
Robotic machine tending has the potential to boost your efficiency, reduce your waste, and augment your workforce gaps, among other benefits, but how do you get started? Our workshop will take you through tangible use cases, best practices, resources available to help you get started, and more. This is not a sales event - you'll leave with tangible best practices and lessons learned to help you increase your business opportunities and enhance your operations.
Our workshop, featuring expert-led panels, an exhibit hall of suppliers, and live robotics demos, will answer common questions, including:
- How to know if you're ready to explore robotic machine tending and what benefits you can expect to achieve from it
- The Do's and Don'ts of integrating robotic machine tending into your existing operations
- Is lights-out manufacturing possible
- Is your existing workforce ready and prepared for robotic machine tending and how you can get your workforce ready
- How to keep your machine tending system fed
- What's new in the robotic machine tending market and what's been tried and tested
Explore our working agenda below!
Our workshop, featuring expert-led panels, an exhibit hall of suppliers, and live robotics demos, will answer common questions, including:
- How to know if you're ready to explore robotic machine tending and what benefits you can expect to achieve from it
- The Do's and Don'ts of integrating robotic machine tending into your existing operations
- Is lights-out manufacturing possible
- Is your existing workforce ready and prepared for robotic machine tending and how you can get your workforce ready
- How to keep your machine tending system fed
- What's new in the robotic machine tending market and what's been tried and tested
Explore our working agenda below!
Location
ARM Institute
4501 Lytle Street, Mill 19A, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
4501 Lytle Street, Mill 19A, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
Date & Time
February 25, 2026, 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Agenda
9:00 AM - 9:30 AM
Networking Breakfast & Exhibit Hall Open
Join us for a free breakfast, network with your fellow attendees, and explore our exhibit hall of robotic suppliers and live robotics demonstrations! Our exhibit hall will feature live demonstrations in the ARM Institute's Robotics Manufacturing Hub, as well as tables staffed by:
Universal Robots
Yaskawa
FANUC
Schunk
ATI
RIDC's Innovation Accelerators
NEFF Automation
Catalyst Connection
RoboticsCareer.org
Universal Robots
Yaskawa
FANUC
Schunk
ATI
RIDC's Innovation Accelerators
NEFF Automation
Catalyst Connection
RoboticsCareer.org
9:30 AM - 9:45 AM
Robotics Manufacturing Hub Overview
In this session, we'll review resources available from the ARM Institute to help manufacturers develop an automation plan, implement robotics, and address your workforce gaps. We'll center on real use cases and tangible results we've generated for manufacturers.
9:45 AM - 10:00 AM
Catalyst Connection Overview
In this session, you'll hear from Catalyst Connection, a Pittsburgh-based Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) about resources available to help you on your journey to manufacturing competitiveness.
10:00 AM - 10:15 AM
Coffee & Networking Break
Grab some coffee before we dive deeper into robotic machine tending.
10:15 AM - 11:15 AM
Manufacturer Panel Discussion: Lessons Learned from Robotic Machine Tending
Matt Minner, Catalyst Connection, will lead a panel discussion with manufacturers who have implemented robotic machine tending. We'll explore lessons learned, best practices, advice for others considering robotic machine tending, and give you the opportunity to ask questions of your peers.
11:15 AM - 11:45 AM
Closing the Skills Gap: Machine Tending with Cobots - Universal Robots
Kevin Cabaniss, Universal Robots, will discuss how Universal Robots and its partners address the automation skills gap in applications like machine tending as well as best practices for implementing collaborative robotics for machine tending.
11:45 AM - 1:00 PM
Networking Lunch & Exhibit Hall / Robotics Demonstrations Open
Grab your free lunch, network with attendees, meet robotics suppliers in our exhibit hall, connect to workforce resources, and explore live robotics demonstrations in the Robotics Manufacturing Hub! For this part of our event, you'll get out of the presentation room and have the opportunity to get hands-on.
1:00 PM - 1:30 PM
Automation that Works: Fast‑Start Robot Solutions for Machine and Brake Press Tending- FANUC
Joe Baldiga, National Education Account Manager, highlights how FANUC — the global leader in automation, CNC, and robotics—removes barriers to automation by developing a trained talent pipeline and easy-to-use solutions. Attendees will learn how FANUC’s CRX collaborative robots and full portfolio of industrial robots support organizations seeking to modernize machine tending operations. The session will introduce FANUC’s plug‑and‑play Robot‑Onsite solution for simplified robot‑to‑CNC integration and showcase pre‑engineered “Cobot and Go” systems for rapid deployment. We will explore traditional machine tending applications as well as solutions for press brake tending—supported by FANUC’s extensive network of Authorized System Integrators.
1:30 PM - 2:00 PM
Robotic Machine Tending: Pitfalls and Best Practices for Automation that Actually Works - Yaskawa
Chris Caldwell from Yaskawa will take attendees through the do’s and don’ts of integrating robotic machine tending into existing manufacturing operations. Attendees will learn practical strategies for boosting efficiency, reducing waste, and addressing workforce gaps with minimal disruption to production. Designed for manufacturers of all sizes, the session focuses on how to identify the right applications, avoid common integration pitfalls, and build a clear path to automation success. Participants will leave with actionable guidance on how to get started, and how to scale robotics as their operations grow.
2:00 PM - 2:30 PM
How Advanced Robotic Machine Tending Enables Multi-Operation Processes for Multiple Parts- FlexBotics
Marc Lind from FlexBotics will discuss advanced robotic machine tending. As robotic machine tending continues to expand in factories around the world, companies are increasingly seeking greater levels of automated process integration. The benefits attained are directly determined by a plant’s ability to operate robotic cells continuously with high precision. This session explains how Advanced Robotic Machine Tending enables multiple operations across multi-machine cells for a wide range of parts. You will learn about the considerations for your personnel, the robots, existing machines & equipment, solutions and investments to ensure business objectives are achieved.
2:30 PM - 2:45 PM
Wrap Up & Final Questions
We'll wrap it up with final questions! Ask more questions of our presenters, the ARM Institute's Robotics Manufacturing Hub, and Catalyst Connection before we open up networking. Ask your burning questions related to robotic machine tending or other questions about implementing robotics and automation.
2:45 PM - 4:00 PM
Networking, Exhibit Hall, & Robotics Demonstrations
We'll then go back into open networking in our robotics lab. Network with your peers, meet robotics suppliers, and get hands-on with live robotics demonstrations from the ARM Institute's Robotics Manufacturing Hub.
Who Should Attend:
- Manufacturers of all sizes; those located in the Southwestern Pennsylvania region will find this workshop to be particularly valuable
- Robotics suppliers
- Interested ARM Institute Members
- Robotics suppliers
- Interested ARM Institute Members
About the Robotics Manufacturing Hub & the ARM Institute
The ARM Institute is the nation's leading robotics and AI Manufacturing Innovation Institute (MII). The ARM Institute leverages a unique and robust consortium of 450+ consortium members and partners across industry, academia, and government to make robotics, autonomy, and artificial intelligence more accessible to U.S. manufacturers large and small, train and empower the manufacturing workforce, strengthen our economy and global competitiveness, and elevate national security and resilience.
Through the Southwestern Pennsylvania New Economy Collaboration and a Department of Commerce grant, the ARM Institute provides free services to small and medium sized manufacturers in the Pittsburgh region evaluate their operations and understand where and how robotics can enhance their competitiveness. The ARM Institute does this through its Robotics Manufacturing Hub located at Mill 19 in Pittsburgh and through Regional Innovation Accelerators.
The ARM Institute also offers these services to manufacturers who do not meet the geography and size requirements.
Interested in leveraging the Robotics Manufacturing Hub or getting started with an Automation Assessment, but can't make it to our event? Email us at [email protected] or learn more here. Once you reach out, a member of our team will be in contact with next steps.
Through the Southwestern Pennsylvania New Economy Collaboration and a Department of Commerce grant, the ARM Institute provides free services to small and medium sized manufacturers in the Pittsburgh region evaluate their operations and understand where and how robotics can enhance their competitiveness. The ARM Institute does this through its Robotics Manufacturing Hub located at Mill 19 in Pittsburgh and through Regional Innovation Accelerators.
The ARM Institute also offers these services to manufacturers who do not meet the geography and size requirements.
Interested in leveraging the Robotics Manufacturing Hub or getting started with an Automation Assessment, but can't make it to our event? Email us at [email protected] or learn more here. Once you reach out, a member of our team will be in contact with next steps.
About Catalyst Connection & the Digital Bridge Program
Catalyst Connection is a non-profit in Pittsburgh that helps small manufacturers in southwestern Pennsylvania through consulting and training services. They collaborate with clients and the manufacturing community to boost revenue, growth, and productivity. They are supported by various organizations, including the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development and the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership.
The Digital Bridge program, led by Catalyst Connection, brings a wide range of resources to manufacturers working to improve their operations and address challenges through technology adoption. Catalyst and their partner organizations provide free and low-cost technical assistance, access to capital, graduate student projects, and networking and events. Additionally, Catalyst and ARM collaborate to facilitate leveraging of both program resources by regional manufacturers.
