Top 10 Manufacturing AUTOMATION stories of 2020

COVID-19 dominated the news cycle in 2020, and production challenges have put the value of automation front and centre.

Our top 10 most-visited stories of the year centred around community assistance and business impact. Some articles shared how COVID-19 could impact your business; others recognized the tireless work the manufacturing community was doing to help produce critical medical equipment and supplies.

Thank you for your support in this most difficult year, and best wishes to you, your families and your businesses for a safe holiday and a more prosperous 2021.

Check back in January for our annual roundup of the top 5 automation trends and technologies!

1. Manufacturing companies pivot to produce PPE, medical devices

Manufacturers and automation companies retooled in an effort to offset a shortage of critical medical supplies needed to combat coronavirus.

2. How will COVID-19 impact the manufacturing automation market?

The pandemic has called for a critical look at digital transformation, supply chain and robotics.

3. A perfect storm: COVID-19 disrupted supply chains. Here’s how automation will help

The manufacturing industry will see rapid implementation of automation technologies for supply chain management to prepare for the next crisis.

4. Eclipse Automation facilitates N95 mask production in Ontario

The machine builder was the first to secure rights to an automation system for production of N95 masks.

5. PPE manufacturer launches automated surgical mask production

The Canadian Shield, a new PPE manufacturer that emerged during the pandemic, expanded its production line to include disposable surgical masks.

6. How will automation affect Canada’s post-COVID economy?

A University of Waterloo professor says Canada’s post COVID-19 economy will see more automation in manufacturing. Here’s why.

7. Pivoting in a pandemic: How flexible production helps retooling efforts

Automation has helped factories rise to the government’s challenge of providing critical medical supplies.

8. Opinion: Crisis calls for manufacturers to push the reset button

The pandemic represents an opportunity for manufacturers to reassess their digital strategy, says columnist Paul Hogendoorn in his most popular column this year.

9. Making a mask: Machine builder develops N95 equipment

An Ontario automation company designed and built equipment to help produce a new mask line and accelerate the availability of made-in-Canada PPE.

10. Top 5 industrial automation trends in 2020

MA’s top trends series, published before the pandemic, continued to be a popular reference throughout the year. See how things have changed.

Bonus video: 2020 in review

MA’s editor looks back on what happened in the Canadian industrial automation market in 2020, and discusses how automation helped manufacturers to navigate the pandemic.