RidgeTech Automation recently celebrated its 10 Year Anniversary with an employee appreciation event, charitable donations and a long list of team member service awards. RidgeTech opened its doors in June of 2014 and has been developing & deploying control systems for industrial clients ever since. “The past 10 years have honestly been a blur for everyone here at RidgeTech” said Leigh Spraggett, President and co-founder. “We were very fortunate to have attracted an excellent list of clients and a wonderful team of people early in our business journey and that helped accelerate our growth.” What started as an idea among a few colleagues has turned into a business that now employs over 50 people and serves 150+ clients across the globe. “There are over $1 Billion worth of machinery and equipment operating with RidgeTech software and solutions,” said Mike Wood – VP of Sales at RidgeTech. “There are robots building cars, machines producing medicine, minerals being refined, and food being processed, all with the help of RidgeTech solutions. It’s incredibly exciting to know that we have played a part in all of that.” The leadership at RidgeTech acknowledge that as much as their business is focused on machines and automation, it all comes down to people. “None of this would be possible without great people, and we are extremely proud of the team we have here at RidgeTech,” said Adam Kocher, VP of Engineering. “This can be a very tough, very stressful industry and having a team that can rise to the challenge is important. Being dynamic and taking on projects of different sizes in different industries has been a key part of our growth, but it also comes with its challenges. No two projects are the same and no two clients are the same, so constantly finding new solutions is rewarding, but demanding,” says Kocher.
As the industry has adapted to changes and new technologies, so too has RidgeTech. Their services have grown to include Simulations & Digital Twins, 3D Panel Designs & Cable Management, Vision Systems, and an Integrated Software Team specializing in Smart Manufacturing Solutions. Some of the trends the company is seeing more requests for are Track & Traceability of products, Energy Monitoring, OEE Reporting, MRO Solutions and a lot more connectivity between IT & OT. “We are seeing a huge push from clients that want to digitize their factory floor,” says Wood. “We have clients that literally spend thousands of dollars per year on pens and paper just trying to record their production & maintenance information. Management is frustrated because they know by the time they see that information it is usually outdated and inaccurate. They want real time data coming directly from their equipment, but they don’t know where to start. Those are the types of solutions we can provide.” RidgeTech has been working with customers, big and small, to help make their operations more efficient and generally more sustainable. “The word “sustainable” has been getting a lot of press lately, but in reality, it’s something we’ve been doing for clients since we opened – finding ways to operate their facilities more efficiently,” says Spraggett.
As RidgeTech looks to the future, they see automation continuing to play an increasing role in manufacturing & processing operations across Canada and throughout the globe. Work force shortages, low productivity and increasing costs are all driving companies to rely on robotics & automation to remain competitive. For RidgeTech, it’s not always about new equipment either. Their solutions improve existing operations and help drive efficiencies, without clients having to make a large capital investment. “We have a number of small and medium sized clients that don’t have millions of dollars to spend on new equipment,” says Wood. “For those customers, we develop a road map that prioritizes projects in smaller segments and makes the whole process more manageable.” The team at RidgeTech also expects that new technologies, especially AI, are going to continue to evolve the industry. RidgeTech is already working with clients to find ways to utilize AI in their daily operations. Whatever the next 10 years brings, the team at RidgeTech is committed to working hard and ensuring they can help their clients meet their challenges, whatever those might look like.
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