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Automation Fair 2026 Future in Focus

Off-site Tours

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Where technology and innovations meet the real world

Go inside real operations to see solutions put to work with purpose. At exclusive Off-site Tours, you’ll travel to local customers, partners and Rockwell manufacturing facilities and walk away with a better understanding of how technology is integrated, deployed and delivering results.

Cambridge Water Department: Uptime Meets Upgrade

What does it take to modernize a water plant while keeping critical operations moving? Tour the Cambridge Water Department for the story of a major control migration from PLC-5® to ControlLogix® at a 24 million gallon/day purification facility. Explore the modern treatment process and broader transformation, including new networking and ThinManager®-enabled operations designed for secure, centralized control. Hear firsthand how the utility phased the project over a year, using planned shutdown windows, careful testing and coordinated migrations to minimize downtime and protect water operations.

 
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A large room with water treatment equipment and a skylight
Tables, chairs and barrels at the Downeast Cider Tasting Room

Downeast Cider: Brewing Smarter Growth

Downeast Cider is proving that a fast-growing beverage brand can turn smarter manufacturing into a competitive advantage. See up close how Plex helps Downeast scale with stronger inventory tracking, production control and quality management processes in a live craft cider operation — with Rockwell Automation PLCs also helping keep production flowing. With a single source of truth, improvements are pouring across the business, including reduced inventory carrying costs and lower cost of goods sold. Witness how Downeast is connecting operations into a recipe for smarter growth. 

 
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Harpak-ULMA: Packaging Automation Unpacked

Join Harpak-ULMA, a leader in packaging machines for food, medical, pet food and industrial products, for a behind-the-scenes view of connected automation in practice. You’ll tour the Customer Experience Center, service and support operations, and demonstration areas while engaging with subject matter experts on controls, training and system integration. This is where modern packaging automation comes to life, with DataReady™ machine design, FactoryTalk® Optix™, digital work instructions, production intelligence, and centralized controls to help teams gain greater visibility, solve problems faster, and keep operations running at peak performance.

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Collage of photos of Harpak
Collage of pictures of robot for manufacturing

RightHand Robotics: A Gripping Look at Autonomy

Take a trip to RightHand Robotics' headquarters for a close-up look at intelligent piece-picking in action, where AI, robotic gripping and item-identification technology drive predictable order fulfillment. The tour offers a deep dive into physical AI and highlights how RightHand Robotics and Rockwell Automation are working together to support fast-moving warehouse environments. Get hands-on with a dozen interactive warehousing and fulfillment demos, all designed to solve real problems for real customers. Try your hand at creating orders, calibrating systems and troubleshooting errors. Can you fulfill orders better than a robot?

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Teddie Peanut Butter: Spreading Smarter Operations

Discover how The Leavitt Corp, known for manufacturing Teddie Peanut Butter, one of New England’s most iconic food brands, is spreading smarter operations across the organization with greater control, consistency and insight. Travel from the receiving dock to the production floor as you hear how this long-standing family company embraced change to move from manual processes to a more connected, technology-enabled operation. See how transitioning to Plex has improved manufacturing reliability, enabled paperless quality management and strengthened visibility across the business. You’ll experience digital transformation in action and see how plant-floor execution, quality, materials and business processes are working together more smoothly, thanks to Plex.

 
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Teddie Peanut Butter jars on a production conveyor belt
A facility with manufacturing automation machines

Rockwell Automation Chelmsford: Where Intelligent Motion Lives

Experience more machines in action than can fit on the show floor. Your visit to the home of Rockwell Automation’s Advanced Motion, Safety and Sensing business gets you closer to the technology and direct access to the experts behind it. See the full portfolio of Independent Cart Technology solving real industry challenges. You’ll get hands on with 16 exclusive demos showcasing color sortation, RFID track & trace, automatic queuing, real-time dispatching and advanced safety to name a few. From there, visit sensing labs, commercial engineering and testing environments that help bring tomorrow’s innovation to life.

 
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Important Notes about Off-site Tours

  • Limit one Off-site Tour per qualifying attendee. 
  • Tour registration includes transportation to and from Thomas M. Menino Convention & Exhibition Center and host location.
  • Once registered, a full tour agenda will be sent to you directly a few weeks prior to the event, including details of when and where to meet, what to wear and bring, and any safety requirements.
  • Due to limited capacity, distributors, students and educators are unable to register for tours.
  • The tour host reserves the right to restrict access to their premises, including the authority to refuse entry to an attendee based on perceived competitive interest. You will be notified if this occurs and the tour will be removed from your schedule.
A man presents to a group of people in front of a machine at an Off-site Tour to Rockwell Automation Headquarters

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2026 Stevie Awards

Award winning by design

The difference is in the experience. Automation Fair earned multiple Stevie® Awards from the 2026 American Business Awards® in the Corporate & Community category for distinction in creating a standout event. 

Automation Fair is a registered trademark of Rockwell Automation.

Cambridge Water Department: Uptime Meets Upgrade 

Agenda:

  • Each tour lasts 1.5 hours, featuring unique tour stops throughout the facility:
    • Learn about the drinking water process from the source all the way to the tap, including the watershed, treatment facility, laboratory, and distribution system.
    • Step onto the process floor and experience a behind‑the‑scenes look to see how Rockwell Automation technology supports reliable, modern operations across the facility.
    • Engage directly with the engineers and operations professionals who facilitated the controls migration and use these systems every day. Ask questions, explore real‑world challenges, and see how the upgrades support modern utility operations in a critical public service environment.
  • This tour will block 3.5 hours on your schedule, inclusive of tour, travel time and some buffer for traffic, weather, etc.
  • Tours return before or depart after lunch service at the convention center.

Downeast Cider: Brewing Smarter Growth

Agenda:

  • Each tour lasts 1.25 hours, featuring unique tour stops throughout the facility: 
    • Walk through the heart of Downeast Cider’s 125,000 barrel/year cider house, learning about each phase of the process and the integration of smart manufacturing solutions along the way.
    • Get exclusive access and ask your questions to the teams across the operation who bring the passion behind the process every day.
    • Visit the taproom uniquely located on the production floor and sample the flavors of the biggest cider brand in New England.
  • This tour will block 3 hours on your schedule, inclusive of tour, travel time and some buffer for traffic, weather, etc.
  • Tours return before or depart after lunch service at the convention center.

Harpak-ULMA: Packaging Automation Unpacked

Agenda:

  • Each tour lasts 2 hours, featuring unique tour stops throughout the facility:
    • Explore the market forces shaping packaging innovation, from evolving consumer preferences to the growing need for integrated solutions and large-scale manufacturing products.
    • Rotate through interactive stations showcasing machine-building best practices, emerging technologies and strategies to improve packaging performance and operational efficiency.
    • Experience live demonstrations of applications such as sealing, thermoforming and weighing, then participate in hands-on machine training with technical experts.
  • This tour will block 5 hours on your schedule, inclusive of tour, lunch at Harpak-ULMA, travel time and some buffer for traffic, weather, etc.

 

RightHand Robotics: A Gripping Look at Autonomy

Agenda:

  • Each tour lasts 2.5 hours, featuring unique experiences throughout the facility:
    • Explore real-world customer applications through live demonstrations and gain a behind-the-scenes look at operations, including control system development, gripper manufacturing, and testing cells.
    • Meet the founding innovators behind this groundbreaking logistics robotics company, ask your questions and hear their firsthand insights.
    • Discover how physical AI is transforming industrial automation from the pioneers who were applying these technologies long before they became widely recognized across the industry.
  • This tour will block 4.5 hours on your schedule, inclusive of tour, lunch at RightHand Robotics, travel time and some buffer for traffic, weather, etc.

Teddie Peanut Butter: Spreading Smarter Operations

Agenda:

  • Each tour lasts 1.5 hours, featuring unique tour stops throughout the facility:
    • Follow the journey from raw peanut delivery to finished product shipment and see how speed, quality, and efficiency are built into the operation.
    • Observe key production processes in action – including roasting, mixing, grinding, filling, labeling, packaging, and quality inspection – and learn how the facility consistently achieves high first-pass quality standards.
    • Hear from both business and operations leaders about scaling a 100-year-old family business into a fast-growing, nationally recognized brand while maintaining operational excellence.
  • This tour will block 3.5 hours on your schedule, inclusive of tour, travel time and some buffer for traffic, weather, etc.
  • Tours return before lunch service at the convention center.

 

Rockwell Automation Chelmsford: Where Intelligent Motion Lives

Agenda:

  • Each tour lasts 2 hours, featuring unique tour stops throughout the facility:
    • Explore the facility where technologies such as iTRAK®, MagneMover® LITE™, QuickStick®, GuardLink®, GuardShield™ and RightSight™ are developed, tested and refined.
    • Visit engineering labs designed to replicate real-world operating conditions, where teams validate performance, troubleshoot challenges and develop solutions for customer applications.
    • Connect with Rockwell specialists and industry peers to discuss conveyance, motion, sensing and safety strategies, then explore interactive applications spanning the Life Sciences, Semiconductor, Food & Beverage, Automotive and Logistics industries.
  • This tour will block 5.5 hours on your schedule, inclusive of tour, travel time and some buffer for traffic, weather, etc.
  • The 8:30am and 10am tours include lunch, the 12:30pm tours depart after lunch service at the convention center.