Harpak-ULMA and Rockwell Automation Celebrate First Year of Collaboration Driving Digital Transformation in Packaging Markets

Kevin Roach, CEO of Harpak-ULMA, announced strong market momentum supporting its collaboration with Rockwell Automation to deliver a packaging platform for digital transformation across food, medical, and industrial markets. Roach was one of a select group of presenters at Rockwell Automation's Annual Investor Conference chosen to highlight the burgeoning potential that digital transformation represents to manufacturing. He highlighted Harpak-ULMA's rapid progress for re-platforming its packaging solutions to Rockwell Automation's Allen Bradley® Integrated Architecturetm controls and FactoryTalk® InnovationSuite. Mr. Roach noted that, "customer feedback on our digital transformation vision is clear and compelling. We're executing a multi-year, multi-tier plan designed to enable increased packaging agility and performance; and to reset expectations as to what is possible when it comes to solving some of the most difficult and costly challenges faced by modern producers." Harpak-ULMA's vision incorporates faster, easier integration of Operational Technology and Information Technology (OT/IT) systems, tight integration with FactoryTalk® InnovationSuite Vuforia® Augmented Reality (AR) Platform, expanded IoT connectivity, and the use of machine learning plus predictive analytics to reshape maintenance business models and customer cost structures. Read more about Harpak-ULMA's smart, connected packaging strategy at http://bit.ly/Harpak-ULMASC.

OT/IT integration is key to accelerating innovation and achieving productivity gains at digital transformation scale. Utilizing Rockwell Automation's controls and information platforms offers Harpak-ULMA's customers one of the industry's most advanced OT/IT integration capabilities, including asset and system auto-discovery, data model sharing and re-use, integrated analytics, and AR empowerment. A smart, connected packaging platform provides customers a competitive edge by helping them more rapidly adapt to market changes at less cost, improve OEE/MTBF/MTTR, productivity and safety metrics, overcome the challenges of an aging and evolving workforce, and better control maintenance expenses with competitive parts sourcing.

Sujeet Chand, Rockwell Automation's CTO noted, "Harpak-ULMA has enjoyed considerable fanfare for a forward-looking strategy of blending digital technologies that drive best-in-class performance with an aggressive total cost of ownership value proposition. We are very pleased by the market traction that this vision has engendered as evidenced by the customer adoption and producer acknowledgment that innovative technologies such as Industrial IoT and augmented reality are key to increased competitive advantage."

About Harpak-ULMA
Harpak-ULMA is the North American Division of ULMA, a $1B industry leader in complete packaging line solutions for Food, Medical, Bakery, and Industrial products. Harpak ULMA provides smart, connected packaging systems that deliver greater efficiency, uptime, and throughput, as well as better package quality and reduced waste. Well-designed, reliable solutions operate with faster changeovers, less labor, and lower maintenance costs, reducing customer total cost of ownership. In addition to offering ULMA primary packaging equipment, Harpak-ULMA is also the exclusive North American distributor of G. Mondini tray sealers, RAMA secondary packaging machinery, and DIGI weigh/price/labeling equipment.

About Rockwell Automation
Rockwell Automation, Inc. (NYSE: ROK), is a global leader in industrial automation and digital transformation. We connect the imaginations of people with the potential of technology to expand what is humanly possible, making the world more productive and more sustainable. Headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Rockwell Automation employs approximately 23,000 problem solvers dedicated to our customers in more than 100 countries. To learn more about how we are bringing The Connected Enterprise to life across industrial enterprises, visit www.rockwellautomation.com.

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For more information, contact Heidi Harlfinger at [email protected]