Automation, Elevated

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From end to end, newcomer CONVERGIX is taking a fresh approach to automation solutions

Launched in 2021 to meet the needs of the $500 billion-plus global automation solutions market, a powerful new player is poised to change the way companies automate processes and systems. In two years, CONVERGIX has established 25 locations in North America, Europe, and Asia, and has assembled a team of roughly 900 experts in automation and integration. They serve a variety of end markets, including food and beverage, life sciences, consumer products, emerging renewable energy solutions, automotive, defense, logistics, and traditional energy companies, to name a few.

Based in Troy, Mich., CONVERGIX is on a mission to use creative, solutions-oriented engineering and technology to take a holistic approach to closing gaps in process efficiency and driving industries forward. In leveraging the geography, technology, industry expertise, and capacity of the robust portfolio of specialized automation companies at its core, the dynamic startup is poised to remap how industrial automation is optimized.

Their future-focused solutions improve processing, manufacturing, and logistics with insight, technology, vision, and services that give their customers the edge over productivity roadblocks. Their knowledge and talent bench is deep, wide, and impressive enough to make inroads in precision, cost-effectiveness, safety, and of course, quality that enable their customers to meet and exceed their most critical automation and performance goals.

Their expertise includes custom equipment design, engineering studies and consulting, information systems, Lean manufacturing equipment design, material handling, networking and security, process automation, prototype builds, tool design, and turnkey assembly systems. Put all of that together with a legacy of strong, long-term relationships, and you have a single source for meeting the challenges of evolution across industries and markets.

“Our vision is to be the world’s Best-in-Class diversified global industrial automation integrator that is committed to exceeding customer expectations with an intense focus to be the integrator of choice delivering real value across our customers value chain generating opportunities as we enter our next phase of growth,” company Executive Chairman Mike DuBose told BOSS. DuBose has extensive experience leading businesses in a variety of industries with a focus value creation via efficiency improvements, strategy, global product development and process enhancement. Before joining CONVERGIX, he held various board and executive roles at JR Automation, Purcell Systems, Micro Power, Vertis Communications, Anthony International, Aftermarket Technology (NASDAQ: ATAC), Grimes Aerospace Company, SAIC, General Instrument, and General Electric Company. He is also a sitting member of the board of directors of SyBridge Technologies and TenCate Grass

The company’s current foundation is the result of a series of high-powered, best-in-breed acquisitions: Turnkey automation specialists Eagle Technologies, creators of end-to end solutions from advanced robotics to cutting edge product testing for every industry; leveraging robotics, vision analysis and innovative thinking, multinational presence AGR Automation designs, develops and manufactures high performance automation solutions; state-of-the-art tool design and industrial automation solutions are the provenance of Classic Design; and automation innovator JMP Solutions excels in process automation, control systems integration, and more.

“We have tremendous capabilities in mechanical robotic automation, assembly line automation, inspection, simulation, controls, and process systems services, as well as data management. We will continue to build this broad depth of capabilities,” DuBose said.

The acquisitions brought along a bevy of blue-chip clients and capabilities. Eagle automates battery assembly and production lines for leading EV makers and adventure EV builders and other electric battery applications advancing testing and assembly technology through engineered custom factory automation. Classic Design is a stalwart of the automotive and industrial spaces with technical resources across the globe offering low-cost engineering and manufacturing. The world’s major food and beverage players seek out Ontario-based JMP Solutions to advance their manufacturing and packing facilities. UK-based AGR provides automation solutions for high speed, complex applications in the lice science and consumer products industry.

Backed by New York-based private equity firm Crestview, the company plans to continue its strategy of growing both organically and through acquisitions. “Crestview has been in the automation space for a long time and are a great partner in growing our business,” DuBose said. “We have a tremendous value creation model for our customers and will continue to drive growth through investments in people, facilities, and technology in order to expand the business significantly to better serve our customers.”

CONVERGIX is executing their plan with intensity and velocity. DuBose noted that they are still early in the journey of growth and building the portfolio of businesses. “We have a lot of runway to scale our business,” he said. “This is a unique opportunity of automating  processes for our customers so they can be competitive; we help them produce and distribute their products and service their operations more safely, more efficiently, at a higher quality level, for profitable growth.” The enterprise is looking to consolidate the industry by presenting fresh and creative approaches to scale and value, which their client roster of dynamic pioneers is likely to embrace.

Excellence from the ground up

Solving the most complex industrial automation challenges requires strength in manufacturing and design, and CONVERGIX has major muscle in those areas. From concept to developing a fully-fledged, detailed engineering project, they have the design capabilities to meet the moment.

“We have distributed design centers, where we can provide round the clock simulation and automation solutions which maximizes the support that we can offer our customers,” DuBose pointed out. For example, a life science customer called on the firm to design and manufacture their high-speed assembly lines for their injectable products from concept to final execution. The result: a complete robotic assembly line that is one of the most modern and efficient in the world.

By establishing their operations as geographically close as possible to their customers’ facilities they’re in the perfect position to serve them better. DuBose noted another competitive differentiator: strong teams driven by high achievement. “We execute well and have even higher performance targets,” he said. “The key is the values we embody: integrity, creative excellence, and passion in our day-to-day work. That’s one of our biggest differences when it comes to solving our customers’ unique challenges.”

Creating optimal integration capabilities for tough challenges is essential. The most effective design solutions typically generate the ROI through significant improvements in throughput, safety, and productivity.

Customer focus is another great strength, and CONVERGIX sees through that lens to meet their clients’ most demanding budget, scheduling, and quality requirements. It’s no surprise that many of their customers have done business with their corporate family members for decades. The continuity of long-term established relationships gives their customers an essential degree of confidence as the organization grows. “Our diverse portfolio creates the ability to serve and support the customer across their entire Customer Value Chain ,” DuBose  added.

Responding to sustainability needs

Sustainability is nothing new, but the vast majority of global corporate entities are investing in technologies that can aid them in reaching their goals as soon as is feasible. “Timing is running short, so that's why there's a lot of push for us and a lot of our customers to walk more towards the net-zero carbon targets that we have,” he said. Pressure from investors to take bolder moves in a sustainable direction has also led to an increase in funding for these efforts.

“We see heavy focus in sustainability  more now than we have in the last few years,” he said. “ This will continue to accelerate until 2030 and beyond.”

Because sustainability is such a big play on the global stage, it should come as no surprise that CONVERGIX plans to stay on the leading edge of value creation in that realm as well. “We make sure that we work in a sustainable way, as well as finding ways to support our customers in terms of achieving their sustainability goals,” DuBose explained.

Developing and building customized, automated battery production lines has become an attractive niche. CONVERGIX works closely with their customers from research and development, build execution, and project management to create these sophisticated assembly lines, delivering superior quality that’s also cost effective. “Sustainability  is a huge focus for our company,” he said. “At this juncture our specialty is EV production line assembly, and in the future, we’ll have capabilities in carbon capture technology build, as well as solar and wind.”

“CONVERGIX is a customer focused company with our values embedded in integrity, excellence, and passion, and we want to offer best in class, differentiated solutions to our customers. We can make that offer because our 900-person strong global teams are the very best and brightest, with incredible expertise, knowledge, creativity, and dedication,” the DuBose concluded. “In terms of automation needs we aim to be the best through our differentiated technology offerings, services and customer centricity.”