A: The market continues to grow due to three key factors. First, labor shortages continue to push the industry away from manual tasks and more toward automation.
Second, global supply chains are increasingly facing disruptions—from geopolitical turmoil to natural disasters—which means every second counts. Companies are upgrading their material handling equipment to boost throughput as much as possible to offset any potential bottlenecks.
Finally, the growth of e-commerce and [demand for] short delivery times are forcing automation into the mainstream. If you can’t get your products out the door in a similar timeframe as your competitors, you’re going to be closing your doors.
Q: You came from the automotive 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 to use robotics, and I have certainly spent my fair share of time around them. It’s given me a unique perspective on how advanced automation is being adopted by the material handling world.
But my automotive experience goes beyond automation. Spending my younger years leading Kaizen [continuous improvement] and process optimization projects has enabled me to transfer that know-how to enhance and improve what we do at Interroll. From removing operational bottlenecks to overseeing Interroll’s ISO certifications, we are becoming a sharper, more agile organization.
Q: What do you feel are the most important advancements made in automation over the past few years?
A: Apart from autonomous technologies, one of the most important advancements has been the development of modular conveyance systems. With the systems’ flexible mix-and-match design, businesses of any scale can ramp up operations faster and at a lower cost than ever before.
Q: As a global company based in Switzerland, how is Interroll navigating the fluctuations in tariffs and U.S. trade policies?
A: Interroll’s strategy has always been to capitalize on its global footprint while serving customers through regional centers of excellence. This approach insulates us from shifting trade policies, currency fluctuations, and supply chain disruptions. It’s the best of both worlds: We achieve efficiencies few can match and remain exceptionally responsive to local market needs.
Q: Has artificial intelligence influenced 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 fully compatible with predictive maintenance platforms, empowering users to foresee potential failures, schedule maintenance proactively, and maximize uptime while reducing repair and service costs.
Q: How has distributed power and modular design impacted material handling systems?
A: Distributed power and modular design have had a tremendously positive impact on the industry. Before, a system upgrade or motor replacement would require shutting down the entire line. Now users can replace parts or even add complete modules with no downtime. In addition, maintenance has been simplified, as you are replacing individual components as compared to a very large motor. It’s given the industry more uptime, more flexibility, and simpler maintenance procedures, which is what users want.
