OnRobot Brings Automation Roadmap to Reno Amid Manufacturing Labor Crisis

Why Automation Is No Longer Optional for Nevada Manufacturers

The manufacturing landscape in Northern Nevada is facing a critical inflection point. With unemployment rates hovering at just 4.0% and labor costs rising by 26% over the past decade, manufacturers in Reno's key sectors – metal fabrication, CNC machining, aerospace, and electronics – are confronting an unprecedented workforce challenge. OnRobot's "Build your Automation Roadmap" event on April 9th arrives at precisely the right moment, offering practical solutions to what has become a structural crisis.

According to a 2024 Deloitte and Manufacturing Institute study, the U.S. manufacturing sector is projected to face a staggering 2.1 million worker shortage by 2030. This isn't a temporary blip but a fundamental shift that demands strategic responses. The event in Reno represents a microcosm of a national trend where automation has transitioned from competitive advantage to operational necessity.

The Reno Manufacturing Challenge: Growth Outpacing Workforce

Northern Nevada's manufacturing sector has grown faster than its available workforce can keep pace with. Between 2014 and 2024, labor costs for warehouse workers in Nevada rose from $18.90/hour to $23.81/hour, marking a 26% increase. This cost pressure, combined with limited labor availability, creates a perfect storm for manufacturers who must maintain production levels while controlling expenses.

The industries targeted by OnRobot's event form the backbone of Reno's manufacturing economy:

• Metal Fabrication & CNC Machining: Critical for aerospace and defense sectors
• Electronics Manufacturing: Growing demand for domestic production
• Aerospace Components: High-precision requirements with labor-intensive processes
• Food and Beverage: Facing both labor shortages and safety requirements
• Industrial Equipment: Complex assembly and testing requirements

Practical Automation Solutions: Beyond Theory to Implementation

What sets OnRobot's Reno event apart is its hands-on approach. Rather than abstract discussions, manufacturers will see robotic arms from FANUC equipped with OnRobot's end-of-arm tooling in action. This practical demonstration addresses one of the biggest barriers to automation adoption: understanding how solutions actually work in real-world settings.

Kristian Hulgard, General Manager, Americas at OnRobot, will deliver the opening keynote focusing on macrotrends affecting U.S. automation growth and why adoption is accelerating across manufacturing. His insights will be particularly valuable given current market dynamics:

• PLC Market Growth: The U.S. Programmable Logic Controller market was valued at $4.14 billion in 2024 and is projected to grow at 18.2% CAGR
• Collaborative Robotics Adoption: 62% of manufacturers cite robotics and automation as key investments to alleviate labor shortages
• Technology Integration: The convergence of PLCs, robotics, and IoT creating more accessible automation solutions

CNC Machine Tending: A Prime Automation Opportunity

One of the most promising applications highlighted at the event will be CNC machine tending. FANUC's CRX collaborative robots paired with OnRobot tooling offer manufacturers a flexible solution to one of their most persistent challenges: keeping CNC machines running during off-hours and weekends.

"Because collaborative robots for automated CNC machine tending are not fixed in position and can be quickly and easily repurposed for other tasks, this helps to future-proof your investment and keep your operation agile," notes FANUC's application specialists. This flexibility is crucial for manufacturers dealing with high-mix, low-volume production runs common in Reno's diversified industrial base.

The Role of PLCs in Modern Automation Ecosystems

While collaborative robots grab headlines, the backbone of any automation system remains the Programmable Logic Controller. The global PLC market is expanding from $12.79 billion in 2025 to $16.4 billion by 2031, driven by increasing demand for compact automation solutions and AI integration.

Modern PLCs serve as the central nervous system of automated operations, coordinating between:

• Robotic systems and end-of-arm tooling
• Sensor networks and quality control systems
• Production data collection and analysis platforms
• Safety systems and human-machine interfaces

The integration between FANUC robotics, OnRobot tooling, and modern PLC systems creates a complete automation solution that addresses both immediate labor challenges and long-term operational efficiency goals.

Expert Insights: Why Adoption Is Accelerating Now

Several converging factors are driving accelerated automation adoption in 2024:

"The ongoing skilled labor shortage significantly burdens the manufacturing industry, with far-reaching impacts on productivity, innovation, and growth," notes industry analysis. "Operational inefficiencies, quality control issues, increased training costs, and stunted innovation are some of the challenges that manufacturers now grapple with in an era marked by a dwindling skilled workforce."

Building Your Automation Roadmap: Practical Steps Forward

For manufacturers attending the Reno event, the focus will be on creating actionable automation strategies. Key considerations include:

• Start with High-Impact Applications: Identify processes with the greatest labor challenges and automation potential
• Consider Flexibility Requirements: Evaluate whether fixed automation or collaborative solutions better fit production needs
• Calculate Total Cost of Ownership: Include not just equipment costs but integration, training, and maintenance
• Plan for Scalability: Ensure automation solutions can grow with your business
• Address Skills Development: Train existing staff to work with and maintain automated systems

The Future of Manufacturing: Automation as Cornerstone

The International Federation of Robotics notes that "automation is a cornerstone of modern manufacturing" and that "structural factors like labor shortages, reaching new all-time highs in advanced economies, will continue to drive demand for automation."

For Reno's manufacturing community, the path forward is clear: embrace automation not as a replacement for human workers, but as a tool to enhance their capabilities and address structural workforce challenges. The combination of collaborative robotics, advanced PLC systems, and practical implementation expertise offers manufacturers a way to maintain competitiveness in an increasingly challenging environment.

As manufacturers face the dual pressures of rising costs and limited labor availability, solutions like those demonstrated at OnRobot's Reno event provide a practical path forward. The integration of FANUC robotics with OnRobot tooling, supported by modern PLC systems, represents the next evolution in manufacturing automation – one that is accessible, flexible, and responsive to the unique challenges of today's industrial landscape.

Ready to build your automation roadmap? The convergence of collaborative robotics, advanced PLC technology, and practical implementation expertise has never been more accessible. Whether you're facing immediate labor challenges or planning for long-term growth, modern automation solutions offer the flexibility and ROI needed to thrive in today's competitive manufacturing environment.