To remain relevant and successful, long-established companies must honor their past without losing sight of the future. This is the approach that metal fabricating machine builder Cincinnati Inc. (CI), Harrison, Ohio, has taken since its founding in the late 1890s.

One of the biggest mistakes a small to mid-size fabricator makes has nothing to do with equipment, personnel or partnerships. Rather, the error lies in dismissing automation as beyond what they need or can afford. Automation positions manufacturers for long-term success in an increasingly digital world. Reducing manual or repetitive efforts frees up skilled workers to focus on higher value tasks, minimizes errors, improves product quality and grows profitability through increased production capacity.

For decades technology in the form of automation has been the sole domain of large global manufacturing enterprises. Today, CINCINNATI Incorporated is changing the game by making automation more accessible for many small to mid-size manufacturers.