“We had a strong start to 2012,” said Darin Stotz, director of sales and marketing. “The strength in the display industry – driven in many ways by the push for tablet computers in public education – has meant that we’ve had more opportunities to talk with manufacturers about how our equipment and our approach can help them produce their products more efficiently, more quickly and more precisely.”

Stotz continued, “As in past months, we’re busy with teams all over the world performing installations and consulting with customers on everything from the implementation of vision systems to software integration projects.”

WORLD’S FIRST FLEXIBLE GLASS PROCESS LINE: Working in partnership with a California-based firm, NAS has developed the world’s first process line to run roll-to-roll flexible glass. The system, which will be fully installed and operational by this summer, is for a client in the electronics industry.

Stotz said, “This is a cutting-edge system for use with a truly transformative substrate – flexible glass. For years, clients have been looking for thin films that can act as moisture barriers and that can survive harsh processing environments while retaining favorable dimensional characteristics. Additionally, electronics manufacturers in particular are looking for substrates that can survive long-term use in a myriad of products and in conditions ranging from tropical to arctic. Flexible glass delivers on all fronts.”

He continued, “Sectors utilizing a substrate like flexible glass might include lighting, mobile electronics, photovoltaics, automotive and a host of others. Those making use of our technology include customers like CIGS PV manufacturers, who can now process the CIGS roll-to-roll but at the end product stage protect them with heavy glass coverage. Sure, these manufacturers have always had glass available, but only in sheet processing – never in a roll-to-roll high-volume processing environment. With this line, complete roll-to-roll is now possible. This is a game changer.

WELCOME ABOARD! We recently brought on board two new team members to help us as we continue to work diligently to achieve complete customer satisfaction. Paul Vandergon is a new field service engineer and Joann Wellbrock joins our computer drafting department. Both bring a wealth of knowledge, extensive experience and an absolute commitment to helping our customers achieve their business objectives.

LASER PROCESSING LINES: NAS engineering teams have been back and forth between Northfield, Korea and central Europe performing installations of more than 50 laser processing lines for a client in the display industry. Like many projects, these installations have been driven in part by the explosion of tablets, smartphones and mobile communications in general.

GET TO MARKET FASTER: NAS recently got up and running the first roll-to-roll system for a European equipment maker focused on competing in the semi-conductor and energy markets. Tasked to provide the web handling system components for the company’s equipment offerings, NAS enabled the manufacturer to boost its ability to produce product faster, cheaper and more precisely.

AROUND THE WORLD… AND BACK HOME AGAIN: Closer to home, NAS recently wrapped up multiple installations for a Minnesota glass producer. Providing electrical testing, vision inspection and software integration for the company’s products, NAS delivered “test houses” that made it possible to test sheets of multi-layer glass prior to release.

LASER BAR CODING: Looking to ramp up your product traceability and characterization efforts? Talk to us. We’ve installed a number of laser bar coding components to help our customers collect detailed intel from the production process. Coding a product in-line makes it possible to capture key process feedback – speed, temperature, tension and other crucial information on system conditions – which can then be utilized in product characterization decisions. Want to see more? Watch NAS principal engineer and co-founder Doug Hall in this video.

STILL SLITTING: Even with our expansion into multiple emerging markets, NAS continues to manufacture top-of-the-line process components for addition to existing lines or as the foundation for new lines. For example, we were recently on-site installing a slitter addition for an Oregon-based client in the energy industry.

FROM OUR PRESIDENT, Mark Wegner:

“We recently participated in the 2012 Flexible Electronics and Display Conference.  As part of a presentation there, I spoke about roll-to-roll production and about the many advantages that are a part of a well-planned, well-executed system.

Afterwards, I was asked what specific value we at NAS bring to the equation. It’s a good, fair question. Why not just find someone who can crank out the equipment, leaving the customer to hook it all together and get it running? We take it to the next step and provides the customer with a turnkey process ready to run when the customer takes ownership.

While there are many good reasons to engage with a partner like NAS, for me it all boils down to this: ROI. With a partner like Northfield Automation Systems, you’re taking a step toward ensuring you’ll maximize your return on your investment. Successful process systems don’t just happen… they require in-depth planning and a deep and broad understanding of R2R equipment, process, interactions, materials and interfaces. At NAS, we’re experts in all of the above. So if it’s important to you to maximize your investment of time and resources, you’ll find no better partner to help you achieve that goal than Northfield Automation Systems.”

Founded in 1992, Northfield Automation Systems, Inc., designs, engineers and fabricates automation machinery for OEMs and high-volume, custom manufacturers. Our engineers provide consultative support for streamlined manufacturing processes with turnkey, integrated equipment. Our vision is to be the global leader in web-based, high-precision, roll-to-roll processing of thin-film applications, including flexible electronics, display, solar, flexible battery and organic electronics. Northfield Automation Systems has nearly 75 years of combined experience in roll-to-roll thin material handling, and can work from lab scale to high-volume production. The company is located in Northfield, Minn., which is 35 minutes south of the Minneapolis/St. Paul metro area.

The issue at hand is the ebb and flow of demand for PV panels, which is at the mercy of the economy as well as state legislatures. The late-2000s recession saw a boom in production due to the low cost of materials paired with the tax breaks given for installation of panels. As the economy has begun to recover, however, material prices are rebounding, making the panels more and more expensive to produce. In some states, changing legislative priorities have caused governments to drop rebate programs that appealed to consumers and businesses.

Without the incentive of tax breaks and with rising panel prices, consumers are seeing fewer short-term financial advantages to installing PV panels to meet their electricity needs. The cost of electricity via coal, natural gas, or wind energy remains inexpensive, tempting fewer buyers to install PV systems. As a result, the solar industry is currently seeing less rapid growth.

Economists are saying that the future of the solar industry lies in government support and the further development of PV technology. Northfield Automation Systems is leading the way by combining their 75 years of roll-to-roll thin material handling experience with PV cell solar technology. By developing and building equipment capable of printing the PV cells onto thinner and less expensive materials, Northfield Automation Systems has simplified the production process and made it more cost effective. This advancement in efficiency is the boost that struggling solar companies are looking for.

“I can sell you essentially a turn-key factory,” says Darin Stotz, Northfield Automation Systems’ sales and marketing director. The equipment is capable of cutting, printing, and coating the PV cells on thin sheets of metal, as opposed to a glass surface. Companies that purchase Northfield Automation Systems’ PV printing equipment not only have the independence of manufacturing their own panels, but save money and time, giving them the edge they need to stay afloat during a time of slower economic growth.

For more information on custom PV panel printing solutions, please contact us.

Photo courtesy of minneapolisfed.org.

LEARN MORE about our custom solutions for flexible electronics and displays.

“We’re very pleased with how 2011 has gone,” said Darin Stotz, director of sales and marketing. “From the work on our production floor to installations taking place across the country and around the world, we have a lot of exciting things happening right now.”

Stotz continued, “And we truly can’t say enough about how great our customers are and how much we enjoy working with them to deliver the best custom roll-to-roll automation solutions. During this season of thankfulness, we want to extend our sincere gratitude to the hundreds of companies that have placed their trust in us.”

DELIVERING TURNKEY SOLUTIONS – When it comes time for installation, our team is often on-site for one to four weeks, and won’t leave until we know that the customer is satisfied. Recently we’ve had installation teams in California (roll-to-roll robotic lamination system), Colorado (vision inspection and test alignments), Wisconsin (vacuum laminator) and Europe (chemical processing system). From training operators, maintenance personnel and engineers, to establishing a preventive maintenance schedule that complements the machine’s workload, to laser aligning all systems – including verifying mid-process components – we’re proud of our reputation for on-time delivery and providing turnkey solutions. Rest assured Northfield Automation will install, test, align and verify all pieces to have you up and running as quickly as possible. We won’t ever sacrifice quality in the planning and production phases of your project and that certainly won’t change when the machine arrives on your floor.

WHAT DO YOU THINK? – We’re constantly looking for ways to grow and improve. In this spirit, we’re interested in hearing straight from you, our customers! In a few weeks we’ll release our new customer satisfaction survey. It should take you no more than two minutes and your answers will remain anonymous. Watch for more information!

SEMINARS AND CONFERENCES GALORE! – Truly we find ourselves asking these days, “What month would be complete without hosting a booth, attending a conference or serving as a conference presenter?” Even in the midst of a busy season of production and installation, we hold in high regard the importance of education. We recently wrapped up the Solar Power International Conference in Dallas in October, the Medical Design & Manufacturing event in Minneapolis in November, and ID TechEx’s Printed Electronics USA tradeshow early this month. We’re next scheduled to attend the 2012 Flexible Electronics & Display Conference and Exhibition held by FlexTech Alliance in Phoenix, Arizona, on February 7-9. (Stay tuned for more information on this show, as our principal engineer and co-founder Dr. Gary Larsen will be co-leading a short course on roll-to-roll manufacturing processes.) We’ll also be attending ICE USA in Orlando, Florida, on April 9-11, 2013.

We use opportunities such as these to remain current on industry knowledge, share about the successes we’ve had and learn more about the technology challenges ahead. Stotz said, “When you buy a custom piece of equipment from NAS, you’re buying our expertise, too. It’s important for our team members to continue to grow their skills, and we’ve found conferences such as these to be great resources for professional development for everyone on our team – from engineers and technicians to quality controllers and installers.”

THANK YOU! – If you were able to attend our Open House earlier this year, thank you! We always enjoy meeting face-to-face with industry partners and sharing with people firsthand the exciting things happening at NAS.

TWENTY YEARS? TWENTY YEARS! – Stay tuned for more information as we celebrate our 20^th year of business in 2012! NAS has a longstanding reputation as the leader in delivering roll-to-roll automation solutions, and we’re excited to take a look back at all that we’ve accomplished and the people and projects that have helped make it happen.

FROM OUR PRESIDENT – It’s been a good year and we’re looking forward to an even better 2012. With the rate at which things change these days, it’s good to know what will always remain constant. Here at Northfield Automation Systems you can always count on us to:

• Work with you to understand your process and, in turn, develop detailed specs to address the goals before production begins. We’re excited to hear that more and more of our customers are looking to us to be their sole provider because of what we bring to the table: energy and engagement, a commitment to solving problems and understanding the big picture, and unsurpassed support from the beginning of the relationship and extending beyond installation.
• Provide turnkey solutions. We want you to be successful. We want you to be happy. The only way to accomplish this is to ensure that once a machine arrives on-site our engineers and technicians calibrate it in a way that will work seamlessly with existing pieces and enhance the overall manufacturing process.
• Stay true to who we are. We’re looking to grow our team, but we understand that a decline in quality or service is not an option. We know that we need to be extremely intentional about who we bring into our office. New hires need to fit our culture, appreciate a multi-disciplined approach and embrace our philosophy of quality and service. You should expect nothing less from all NAS employees.
• Proudly invest in maintaining our position as a leader in developing cutting edge technology in the flexible display, battery and solar industries.
• Maintain a true spirit of partnership. We realize that our relationships with our customer are based on trust. One of our goals is to team up with our customers’ engineers for the most direct, most effective communication. This results in achieving the best end results with our projects. We realize that we do not know our customers’ products better than our customers, but we know how the process manufacturing affects these products. Working together as partners makes it possible to achieve great things.

Again, thank you for your support and trust. We truly appreciate your partnership. – Mark Wegner, President and Co-Founder

Founded in 1992, Northfield Automation Systems, Inc., designs, engineers and fabricates automation machinery for OEMs and high-volume, custom manufacturers. Our engineers provide consultative support for streamlined manufacturing processes with turnkey, integrated equipment. Our vision is to be the global leader in web-based, high-precision, roll-to-roll processing of thin-film applications, including flexible electronics, display, solar, flexible battery and organic electronics. Northfield Automation Systems has nearly 75 years of combined experience in roll-to-roll thin material handling, and can work from lab scale to high-volume production. The company is located in Northfield, Minn., which is 35 minutes south of the Minneapolis/St. Paul metro area.

“It’s been a fast-paced summer,” said Darin Stotz, director of sales and marketing. “We’re currently gearing up for our 2011 open house (to be held on August 17) and getting several systems ready to ship to customers. The timing works out well in that visitors to our open house will have a chance to see a number of recently completed pieces of equipment. We’ll have a vacuum laminator, atmospheric laminator, robot system, electrical test with vision system and a winding system with accumulation all on display.”

Other company highlights include:

TEAM GROWTH – NAS continues to experience growth from both its core customer base and emerging markets. To accommodate this growth and to ensure that the company continues to meet its goals for customer satisfaction, NAS recently added four positions, including an additional controls / electrical engineer and a design engineer. “I’m very proud of the team we’ve built here,” said Mark Wegner, company president and co-founder. “The addition of these four individuals makes our already strong team even stronger.”

THE REAL WORLD – A recent case study by automation control systems manufacturer Bosch Rexroth states: “In recent years, one solar cell panel manufacturer has been able to reduce the cost of solar cell panels dramatically – thanks to innovative machinery developed by Northfield Automation Systems using Bosch Rexroth shaftless motion control system.” Read the entire case study here.

WHEN WE SAY “CUTTING EDGE…” – With ongoing work developing highly customized vision and robotics systems, NAS continues to work at the front edges of technology. “The work we’re doing and the systems we’re developing are really exciting,” said Dr. Gary Larsen, NAS principal engineer and co-founder. “In many cases we’re providing a solution that quite simply did not previously exist in the industry… we’re literally breaking new ground.” Larsen emphasizes that everything NAS does is focused on helping customers run more efficiently and – ultimately – more profitably. He continued, “The new technology tools are just another way to ensure that we’re helping our customers meet and exceed their end goals.”

QUALITY, QUALITY, QUALITY – “We take a great deal of pride in the fact that we develop long-term relationships with the vast majority of our customers,” said Darin Stotz, noting that NAS has customers with whom they’ve been working for more than 10 years. “To ensure that we continue to do the things we need to do in order to retain these and other customers, we’re at the front end of developing a customer satisfaction program. This program will put into place means for customers to provide us with the feedback we need to continuously improve how we work. From day one of a sales relationship to the final day of equipment training, we want to be able to measure how we’re doing. And this program provides us with an important tool to assist with that measurement.”

FROM THE PRESIDENT – “We constantly stress the importance of remaining firmly focused on providing solutions for our customers. This is at the very core of who we are as a company. We do a whole lot more than simply crank out equipment. We strive to design, develop and deliver the right systems for our customers… systems that help them meet their manufacturing goals and maximize profitability. Our approach is to become an extension of our customers’ engineering team, developing a relationship based on trust and respect. For us, there is nothing more rewarding than hearing a customer tell us how we exceeded his or her expectations.” — Mark Wegner, President and Co-Founder

Founded in 1992, Northfield Automation Systems, Inc., designs, engineers and fabricates automation machinery for OEMs and high-volume, custom manufacturers. Our engineers provide consultative support for streamlined manufacturing processes with turnkey, integrated equipment. Our vision is to become the global leader in web-based, high-precision, roll-to-roll processing of thin-film applications, including flexible electronics, display, solar, flexible battery and organic electronics. Northfield Automation Systems has nearly 75 years of combined experience in roll-to-roll thin material handling, and can work from lab scale to high-volume production. The company is located in Northfield, Minn., which is 35 minutes south of the Minneapolis/St.Paul metro area.

“We’re busy, to be sure,” said Darin Stotz, Director of Sales and Marketing. “We’ve had team members around the globe performing installations, we’re attracting significant interest from new industries, and we continue to provide exceptional custom equipment and systems for companies large and small. We’re currently in the process of building several fully customized turn-key lines for customers in multiple industries. It’s clear our consultative, solutions-based approach is resonating with customers and potential customers.”

Added company President and Co-Founder Mark Wegner, “It’s an exciting time for us as a company. We continue to see growth from our core customer base and from markets where we’ve historically been strong. We’re also experiencing a significant uptick in business from new and emerging markets — areas that have been the focus of our strategic growth initiatives. This new business has helped us put together our two best consecutive quarters in the past few years, and has us looking into options and opportunities to expand our operations. We’ve added employees to scale up and are exploring enhancements to our facilities, as well. Whether through careful expansion or by building relationships with key strategic manufacturing and technology partners, we want to ensure that we’re well positioned to meet the needs of our customers long into the future.”

Highlights include:

ON-SITE IN CALIFORNIA: NAS recently had a team in California performing an equipment installation of a highly customized, automated hole-formation system for an industry-leading roll-to-roll solar cell manufacturer. The system is designed to create a continuous matrix of punched holes in a foil web with extraordinarily tight tolerances from hole to hole. It features proprietary accuracy technology that we are utilizing in other projects and applications.

ON-SITE IN EUROPE: On the other side of the world, we’ve had staff in Europe performing an equipment installation of a display testing and verification system for a leading technology company. This system ensures the absence of product defects. It is the first of what will likely be multiple installations at locations around the globe. The system is highly customized but built on a repeatable platform, meaning increased development efficiencies for future equipment.

THIS JUST IN: We recently received an order for multiple lines from an industry-leading manufacturer of flexible circuitry. NAS will deliver standard processing equipment for chemical lines and photolithography processes as well as standard unwind / rewind with accumulation. We currently have equipment in multiple sites around the world for this customer.

ATTRACTING ATTENTION: In addition to our work with flexible solar, battery and display manufacturers, we’ve lately seen increased interest from the converting industry (specifically, high-resolution labels and food packaging). Our ability to deliver highly customized equipment and our consultative, find-the-right-solution approach uniquely position us as a right choice for manufacturers and producers in multiple industries.

TAKING FLEXIBLE TO THE NEXT LEVEL: Our work for flexible display producers has continued to expand as new end-user expectations emerge.  From moisture barrier technology for displays and OLEDs to multi-touch technology and size and sensitivity considerations, our ability to design, develop and deliver process solutions for custom manufacturing needs remains unmatched.

ON OUR FLOOR RIGHT NOW: Our team is currently working on an exciting custom project for a flexible battery company, as well as multiple projects for our flexible display, flexible circuit and flexible solar customers.

OUT AND ABOUT: We’ve recently been out and about attending shows, presenting at seminars and exhibiting at conferences. You may have seen us at ICE USA, the International Battery Seminar and Exhibit, SID Display Week or BatCon. Watch for us at SemiCon Intersolar in July and ID Tech Ex’s Printed Electronics USA in late November.

FROM THE PRESIDENT: “We’re excited about the continued work in the flexible display, battery and solar arenas, and about bringing emerging technologies to new and growing markets. At the end of the day, we’re here to help our customers successfully go from lab scale to high-volume production.”

Founded in 1992, Northfield Automation Systems, Inc., designs, engineers and fabricates automation machinery for OEMs and high-volume, custom manufacturers. Our engineers provide consultative support for streamlined manufacturing processes with turnkey, integrated equipment. Our vision is to become the global leader in web-based, high-precision, roll-to-roll processing of thin-film applications, including flexible electronics, display, solar, flexible battery, and organic electronics.

Northfield Automation has nearly 75 years of combined experience in roll-to-roll thin material handling, and can work from lab scale to high-volume production. The company is located in Northfield, Minn., which is 35 minutes south of the Minneapolis/St.Paul metro area.

Joining global exhibitions in Europe, Asia and South America, ICE USA 2011 brings this highly successful, specialized trade exhibition to North American audiences. To enrich the experience for attendees, several additional events will be offered in conjunction with the show: the ICE USA Conference, sponsored by AIMCAL (the Association of International Metallizers, Coaters and Laminators); the 2011 TAPPI PLACE Flexible Packaging Symposium; and two CEMA (Converting Equipment Manufacturers Association) Fundamentals for Converters seminars.

The ICE USA Conference will run alongside the show and offer three tracks for attendees – web coating/laminating, web handling/winding, and package printing and converting. The TAPPI symposium and both CEMA seminars, Slitting & Rewinding and Coating & Laminating, will take place Tuesday, April 5, the day before the exhibit opens.

“This is a fantastic opportunity for us,” said Darin Stotz, director of sales and marketing for Northfield Automation Systems. “A trade show focused on our particular industry niche offers great potential for us to meet the people who could benefit most from the services and products we provide. We’re incredibly excited for this event.”

For more information about ICE USA 2011 and to register online, visit the ICE website. Details and registration for the concurrent conferences are also available on the ICE site. To learn more about Northfield Automation Systems and their participation in this event, contact Darin Stotz at 507-645-5501 or by e-mail.

Founded in 1995, Northfield Automation Systems, Inc., designs, engineers and fabricates automation machinery for OEMs and high-volume, custom manufacturers. Its engineers provide consultative support for streamlined manufacturing processes with turnkey, integrated equipment. The company’s vision is to become the global leader in web-based, high-precision, roll-to-roll processing of thin-film applications, including flexible electronics, display, solar, flexible battery, and organic electronics. Northfield Automation has nearly 75 years of combined experience in roll-to-roll thin material handling, and can work from lab scale to high-volume production. The company is located in Northfield, Minn., which is 35 minutes south of the Minneapolis/St.Paul metro area.

The International Battery Seminar and Exhibit is renowned as a leading event for providing key industry speakers to discuss state-of-the-art worldwide energy storage technology developments for portable products, power and vehicular applications. The event not only provides broad perspectives, but also informs insights into significant advances in materials, product development and applications for all battery systems and enabling technologies.

The explosion of interest in flexible battery technology makes the seminar a perfect fit for Northfield Automation Systems, a premier provider of high-precision roll-to-roll processing equipment with in-depth expertise taking products from lab to high-volume production.

In addition to information and discussion about flexible battery development, other seminar areas of focus will include in-depth worldwide analysis of battery markets and technologies; government battery stimulus program developments; battery safety enhancement; consumer and large-format batteries; and thermal and power management systems for consumer and electric, plug-in and hybrid vehicles. Additionally, subjects such as battery development for the grid, battery recycling and battery metals pricing will be addressed.

Darin Stotz, director of sales and marketing for Northfield Automation Systems, said, “We’re excited to be an exhibitor at the upcoming International Battery Seminar and Exhibit. It’s a great place for us to meet with manufacturers, OEMs, product designers and others for whom our broad experience and knowledge of this market will be useful. There have been some significantly meaningful developments in battery technology – specifically in the realm of flexible batteries – and our expertise in these areas will be on display at the seminar.”

For more information about the seminar or to learn more about Northfield Automation System’s involvement, contact Darin Stotz at 507-645-5501. or by e-mail.

Founded in 1995, Northfield Automation Systems, Inc., designs, engineers and fabricates automation machinery for OEMs and high-volume, custom manufacturers. Its engineers provide consultative support for streamlined manufacturing processes with turnkey, integrated equipment. The company’s vision is to become the global leader in web-based, high-precision, roll-to-roll processing of thin-film applications, including flexible electronics, display, solar, flexible battery, and organic electronics. Northfield Automation has nearly 75 years of combined experience in roll-to-roll thin material handling, and can work from lab scale to high-volume production. The company is located in Northfield, Minn., which is 35 minutes south of the Minneapolis/St.Paul metro area.

As a former Process Engineering Manager and R&D Engineer for Sheldahl, Wegner was a key part of a roll-to-roll flexible electronics manufacturing culture. He worked to identify and implement the new technology that would help his team meet the tighter tolerances required by the industry.

Today, at Northfield Automation Systems, Wegner directs a highly qualified team of engineers – engineers who have significant expertise in manufacturing – as they create high quality, precision process automation solutions. NAS designs, engineers and fabricates automation machinery for OEMs and high-volume, custom manufacturers. The company’s engineers provide consultative support for streamlined manufacturing processes with turnkey, integrated equipment.

“Without a doubt, my time spent as Process Engineering Manager helped me to better understand our customers’ goals,” says Wegner. “We seek to identify and understand their end goals, so that we can help them to be successful in the long haul, not just the short-term. It’s about more than just designing and engineering equipment… it’s about being a side-by-side partner and an enabler to our clients.”

The we’re-in-this-together approach has allowed the company to continue to expand its business during a challenging economy. “We’re having a solid year,” says Wegner, “but since we started the company 10 years ago our goal has always been to achieve long-term, sustained growth. And the work we’re doing now – and, more importantly, the work we did in the past two years – has put us in a position to achieve that type of growth.”

Part of the reason Wegner is optimistic about the company’s future is the fact that he and his team have identified and are successfully reaching into new and emerging technology fields. Flexible solar cells, batteries and displays, along with smart sensors, are all areas where NAS is achieving significant market penetration.

Wegner continued, “It’s clear to us that these emerging markets will continue to see growth. Our approach, our expertise and our experience make us a perfect fit for companies looking to realize efficiencies in these areas.”

Wegner goes on, “The team we’ve built excels at helping customers to identify the ‘sweet spot’ for automation. NAS takes great pride in our customer support and looks to be an extension of our clients’ engineering teams. We bring to bear our extensive process knowledge – understanding thermal limitations on materials, etc. – so that we can provide a complete, turnkey solution.”

Despite the move into the new emerging markets, Wegner is quick to point out that these new areas of focus are not intended to fully replace previous lines of business.

“We talk about the need for strategic growth,” he says. “We definitely want to leverage our expertise in these exciting new areas, yes, but we can’t lose sight of the fact that the ‘small guys’ – in many cases, the true innovators – are equally exciting. We never intended Northfield Automation Systems to be a thousand-person behemoth of a company. We take great pride in the fact that we have both the horsepower and consultative approach to provide extraordinary value to all our clients.”

Another key to the success of the company, Wegner points out, is their absolute commitment to customer service. “I can confidently say that we are second to none in this area,” says Wegner. “I am extremely proud of how hard our team works to make sure our customers are beyond happy. There have been instances – one very recently, in fact – where we were able to solve complex computer issues basically overnight – issues with equipment other than our own – with the customer missing zero production time. That’s our goal… to keep our customers up and running.”

With more than 18 years of roll-to-roll engineering and process equipment manufacturing experience under his belt, Wegner’s enthusiasm for his work hasn’t waned a bit. “I get to work with exciting, cutting-edge technology on a daily basis,” he says. “And I get to do so alongside some of the greatest minds in manufacturing. I love every second of it.”

He continues, “You know, I sit in sales meetings with process engineers today and find myself looking at us through their eyes… I consider our experience, our approach, our capabilities, and our knowledge of the situation. I listen to the questions we ask and ideas we offer. I see our commitment to helping solve a problem, not just make a sale.”

“And you know what?” he says.  “I would have hired us.”

Founded in 1995, Northfield Automation Systems, Inc., designs, engineers and fabricates automation machinery for OEMs and high-volume, custom manufacturers. Its engineers provide consultative support for streamlined manufacturing processes with turnkey, integrated equipment. The company’s vision is to become the global leader in web-based, high-precision, roll-to-roll processing of thin-film applications, including flexible electronics, display, solar, flexible battery, and organic electronics. Northfield Automation has nearly 75 years of combined experience in roll-to-roll thin material handling, and can work from lab scale to high-volume production. The company is located in Northfield, Minn., which is 35 minutes south of the Minneapolis/St.Paul metro area.

By distributing a monthly newsletter, Northfield Automation will be better able to stay connected with customers and become a resource for information about industry news, trends and innovations. Automation Insider will also serve as a tool for clients to learn what is going on within Northfield Automation Systems.

Darin Stotz, director of sales and marketing, said, “Automation Insider is another way we can stay in touch with those most important to us. There’s so much going on here and in our industry, and we wanted to develop a tool that allowed us to share news and information quickly, easily and in a way that is convenient for our customers and partners.”

Company president and co-founder Mark Wegner said, “Our industry is constantly changing and advancing, so we think our subscribers will appreciate having relevant information delivered right to their e-mail inboxes.”

The inaugural issue of Automation Insider was sent early this month and highlighted the completion of Northfield Automation’s new website. It also highlighted the company’s involvement with Solar Power International 2010 and gave subscribers an easy way to connect with the company’s new LinkedIn presence, another communications tool being developed by the company. “We still have some work to do with our LinkedIn page,” said Stotz, “but we think we’re well on the way to making it a place others in our industry can connect with one another as well as with key industry information.”

You can view the newsletter in its entirety online and sign up to receive future issues.

Founded in 1995, Northfield Automation Systems, Inc., designs, engineers and fabricates automation machinery for OEMs and high-volume, custom manufacturers. Its engineers provide consultative support for streamlined manufacturing processes with turnkey, integrated equipment. The company’s vision is to become the global leader in web-based, high-precision, roll-to-roll processing of thin-film applications, including flexible electronics, display, solar, flexible battery, and organic electronics. Northfield Automation has nearly 75 years of combined experience in roll-to-roll thin material handling, and can work from lab scale to high-volume production. The company is located in Northfield, Minn., which is 35 minutes south of the Minneapolis/St.Paul metro area.