Dallas Gets Free Automation Roadmap Event for Manufacturers

Manufacturers across North Texas are about to get exactly what they've been asking for: real solutions to their hiring challenges, served up with lunch and live robot demonstrations.

OnRobot and FANUC are hosting a free automation roadmap event in Dallas on February 19, bringing practical robotics solutions directly to companies struggling to fill positions. The timing couldn't be better for a region where strong order books are meeting empty application pools.

"Many manufacturers here are running strong order books but simply can't find enough skilled operators, machinists, or technicians," said Kristian Hulgard, general manager for the Americas at OnRobot. The Dallas-Fort Worth area has become one of the country's largest and fastest-growing manufacturing hubs, which means it's feeling the labor crunch harder than most.

The Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas confirms what local manufacturers already know. Their recent Texas Business Outlook Survey found that lack of available applicants and shortages of technical skills remain the top barriers to hiring. Rising wages and increased competition for workers are forcing companies to completely rethink how they maintain output and scale operations.

The event tackles these challenges head-on with live demonstrations of robot arms handling machine tending, material handling, assembly, packaging, and quality inspection. Attendees won't just watch robots work. They'll talk directly with automation experts who've guided other manufacturers through the same journey from curiosity to confident implementation.

Four industry leaders will share their expertise throughout the day. Hulgard will open with keynote insights on why automation adoption is accelerating across U.S. manufacturing. Brent Lindell from FANUC America will demonstrate practical first steps for the automation journey. Ruben Lanz from Adaptive Vision and Robotics will explain how to keep projects on track with the right components and support. Derrell Guillory from AWC will cover why system integration matters and how to reduce deployment risks.

The Ripple Effect

This event represents something bigger than just one day of demonstrations. When manufacturers automate repetitive tasks, they don't eliminate jobs. They free existing workers to move into more skilled, higher-paying roles while maintaining the production levels their customers depend on. Companies stay competitive, workers advance their careers, and communities keep good manufacturing jobs local instead of losing them overseas or to facility closures.

The collaborative robotics tools being demonstrated handle tasks like palletizing, pick and place, sanding, and screwdriving. These applications solve immediate pain points while building a foundation for future growth.

Space is limited for the free event, but manufacturers ready to move forward on automation have a clear path ahead.