Manufacturing AUTOMATION’s future leaders: Meet Simon Drexler

The future of the manufacturing and automation technology sector looks bright.

Armed with a strong work ethic, initiative, curiosity and a commitment to innovation, the winners of our inaugural Top 10 Under 40 program are setting the bar for young professionals across the industry. 

Whether they work in leadership, operations, maintenance, sales, support or research, these industry professionals are highly regarded by their colleagues, clients and peers.

To highlight the achievements of each individual selected for the Top 10 Under 40 list, Manufacturing AUTOMATION will feature one of 2022’s winners every week for the next 10 weeks. Nominations for the 2023 contest open at the end of the year.

This week, we introduce Simon Drexler, general manager for the products division at ATS Automation in Cambridge, Ont.

Simon Drexler is the general manager for the products division at ATS Automation in Cambridge Ontario, where he drives growth by leveraging his over 12 years of experience in the industry. With a passion for technology, he constantly strives to drive innovation in the world of industrial automation. 

Simon has earned himself a spot on Plant Magazine’s “Top 40 Engineering Leaders Under 40,” and was named Supply & Demand Chain Executive Magazine’s “Pro to Know.”

Along with leading the SuperTrak team, Simon currently sits on the board of advisors for Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters. He also sits on the National Board of Directors for CME. Simon has appeared on multiple editions of The Robot Industry Podcast and on educational webinars with the Robot Industry Association.

“The future of the manufacturing and automation world is exciting because there are a number of global trends that are driving new types of demand. Every day, we see novel applications and opportunities for technology, which bring first-time users into our segment. Personally, I would like to contribute to the accessibility of automation technology for these new entrants with the goal of helping companies scale their manufacturing,” says Simon. 

“My contribution through both my professional and community efforts is to enable the manufacturing industry to better understand where and when to apply automation with the goal of helping them to successfully scale their operation. By making solutions more accessible, we will drive growth in the industry as a whole.”