May 2025 Volume 7

AUTOMATION

YOU DON’T HAVE A LABOR SHORTAGE. YOU HAVE AN AUTOMATION PROBLEM By Katrina Geenevasen

I t’s been four years since the Great Resignation, the unprecedented workplace breakup that followed in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Over 47 million Americans packed up their plants and coffee mugs, citing burnout, shifting priorities and a desire for greater flexibility. By 2022, another 50.6 million joined the mass exodus. For employers, especially in manufacturing, the message was loud and clear: the old way of working had to change. After all, the Great Resignation was one thing. But pair that with an aging workforce and a new generation that wants nothing to do with manual labor, and suddenly, it wasn’t just a shift. It was a serious problem. And today? That shift hasn’t slowed down. It’s only accelerating. In fact, according to a Forbes article, by 2030, it’s likely that more than 85 million jobs could go unfilled globally because there aren’t enough skilled people to take them.1 You can pour endless money into Help Wanted ads, cross your fingers, and hope that applications start rolling in and your hiring headaches magically disappear. You can offer top-tier retirement packages, gold-standard benefits and proudly promote your “positive and supportive workplace.” But here’s the truth: if the talent isn’t out there, no amount of money or wishful thinking is going to make it appear. That’s why forward-thinking companies — the ones looking ahead — are investing in robotics and automation instead. Because, at the end of the day, the labor market is sending a message. And if you’re paying attention, it’s this: if you can’t fill certain jobs anymore, maybe it’s time to rethink whether those jobs should even exist in their current form. It’s not just a shift in mindset. It’s a shift in reality. Manufacturers can no longer afford to wait and hope things go back to the way they once were. Luckily, they aren’t left without options. Automation has been quietly making its way into manufacturing for years. But with this wave of workforce disruption, what was once a slow, optional upgrade became an urgent, widespread shift. And it’s not just a North American trend. “Across Europe, we’re seeing the same urgency,” says Ralph Dunkes, CEO of Dunkes GmbH. “It’s not about replacing people. It’s about staying competitive when skilled labor is in short supply. Automation is no longer a future plan; it’s today’s necessity.”

The Legacy of Automation and Where it's Headed Next That pressure to evolve has deep historical roots. From water wheels used by the Greeks and Romans in the 1st century BC to grind grain, to the steam-powered innovations of the Industrial Revolution, to the technological breakthroughs of the 20th century and beyond, automation has always played a role in moving industry forward. The evolution of press automation is part of that legacy, advancing from manual systems to fully integrated, intelligent machines reshaping modern manufacturing. Hydraulic presses have been around since Joseph Bramah patented the first hydraulic press in 1795, and for years, they were manually operated and serviced. Operators did the heavy lifting. Literally. They loaded and unloaded parts by hand, yanked levers, and hit switches to cycle the press, all while working in loud, hot and exhausting conditions. Early forms of automation began with basic control systems, whether mechanical relays or early computer interfaces, which helped regulate press functions. This marked the first true stage of automation: shifting operational decisions away from the operator and into the realm of computer-controlled actuation. As time progressed, the next wave of automation focused on helping the operator with material handling. Simple tools like cranes, tongs, and lift-assist devices evolved into semi automated systems. Eventually, those systems were enhanced, or replaced entirely, by robotic arms, manipulators, and computer driven transfer systems capable of fully automated loading and unloading. Today, there’s a whole range of automation tools out there. From smart robotic cells to full transfer systems, to built-in safety features and quality control systems, manufacturers can now automate just about every part of a press operation, front of line to end of line. And with the help of that automation, they’re getting more done, with better quality, in less time. Custom-Built or Bust One catch? These intricate automation systems aren’t something you can just grab off a shelf. That’s where specialized automation providers come in. These companies don’t deal in cookie-cutter solutions. They design, engineer and build custom systems tailored to your exact production needs. Solutions you won’t find between the pages of a catalogue. Because the truth is, there’s no such thing as a “standard”

FIA MAGAZINE | MAY 2025 38