Robotic Automation Systems Opens 13,000‑sq‑ft Facility to Drive Integrated Manufacturing Excellence

Robotic Automation Systems, based in Waunakee, Wisconsin, broke ground in early April on a new 13,000‑sq‑ft manufacturing facility that will replace its existing 8,000‑sq‑ft site in the same town. President Craig Tormoen expects the building—designed to combine all design, engineering, and manufacturing functions under one roof—to be completed in October.

Tormoen told Plastics Technology that the new facility will house mechanical and electrical design, machining and assembly, and programming, reflecting the company’s vertically integrated strategy. “We strive to be a vertically integrated company on many levels to maintain ‘System Responsibility’ as best we can,” he said. “The new facility will allow us to do this at a much higher level as the turnkey systems become even more value‑added and complex.”

The company is also planning to add staff to keep pace with growing customer demand for technical support—including mechanical and electrical engineers and programmers. In addition, Robotic Automation Systems is considering expanding its internal machine shop to offer custom machining capabilities to outside customers.

Robotic Automation Systems has focused to date on insert loading, in‑mold labeling, and press‑to‑press transfer, but the new operation will allow it to broaden its scope moving forward.

“We have since expanded into the blow‑molding segment as the demand for automation has increased due to the skilled‑labor shortage,” Tormoen said. The wider worker shortage in manufacturing is also creating business opportunities for assembly cells and material handling in sectors outside plastics. “The world of robotics and automation is growing at a rapid pace due to an ever‑growing skilled‑labor shortage,” he explained.

This rendering shows the new facility Robotic Automation Systems broke ground on at the start of April 2021.