RENO, Nevada, March 17, 2026 — As Northern Nevada’s manufacturing sector continues its rapid expansion, the region’s employers are confronting a growing challenge: a labor market that has nearly run out of slack. OnRobot will host the “Build your Automation Roadmap” event in Reno on April 9, bringing practical automation solutions directly to the region’s manufacturing community.
The free, in-person event is designed for manufacturers in sectors such as metal fabrication, CNC machining, electronics, aerospace, food & beverage and industrial equipment manufacturing — industries that form the backbone of the Reno manufacturing economy and are among the hardest hit by ongoing labor shortages.
A recent report from the University of Nevada, Reno, commissioned by the Nevada Office of Workforce Innovation, identified workforce gaps across every regional economic development authority in the state, with fabricated metal manufacturing, precision machining and electronics among the most acutely affected sectors in the Reno area.
“Northern Nevada has become one of the most dynamic manufacturing regions in the country, but that growth is creating real pressure on employers who simply can’t hire fast enough to keep up,” said Kristian Hulgard, general manager, Americas, at OnRobot. “Automation isn’t a future consideration for manufacturers here, it’s an immediate operational need. This event is about giving the region’s manufacturers a clear, practical path forward.”
At the event, attendees will see live demonstrations of FANUC robots equipped with OnRobot end-of-arm tooling for common applications such as machine tending, material handling, assembly, packaging and quality inspection. Automation experts, that help manufacturers move from curiosity to confident implementation, will be on hand to share real-world experience in robotics, tooling and integration.
Featured speakers and sessions:
- Kristian Hulgard, general manager, Americas, OnRobot: Opening keynote on macrotrends affecting U.S. automation growth, why adoption is accelerating across manufacturing and what it means for Nevada operations.
- Brian La Plante, district manager, FANUC America: Live demonstrations of FANUC robots, identifying the practical approach to the automation journey.
- Marc Magarin, president and co-founder, Nevatio Engineering: Learn how the right components, sourcing strategy and distribution support keep automation projects on track.
Registration including lunch is free, but space is limited.
About OnRobot
OnRobot is the global leader in collaborative applications, making industrial automation accessible, flexible and cost-effective for manufacturers of all sizes. With headquarters in Odense, Denmark, other offices around the world, and a network of more than 700 distribution and integration partners, we’re on a mission to eliminate complexity and deliver collaborative automation that works — straight out of the box. At the heart of our offerings is a growing portfolio of Off-The-Shelf Solutions powered by D:PLOY, the industry’s first automated application deployment platform. These pre-fabricated solutions enable same-day installation, fast changeovers and require no programming expertise, allowing manufacturers to automate high-mix tasks like palletizing and machine tending in just a few hours, and taking control of their operations.