>> A Guest Post from the members of the Automation, Controls, and Electrification Association (ACE).

A recent article in MHI Solutions magazine introduced readers to the Automation, Controls, and Electrification (ACE) industry group. The organization’s members are the material handling industry’s leading suppliers of electrification and controlling devices. That includes the programmable logic controllers (PLCs), input/output (I/O) modules, motor starters, and power supplies inside an electrical cabinet. It also covers terminal blocks and wiring that connect them. ACE members supply all these components to keep automation and systems running safely and reliably.

ACE is a rebranding of the Electrification and Controls Manufacturers Association (ECMA), which originally focused on crane electrification and controls. Since 2022, the group has expanded its scope to include manufacturers and suppliers of a broader range of devices used throughout logistics centers.

ACE Provides Educational Resources on Automation

“The goal is to be recognized as the guiding authority on automation, control systems, and electrified components within MHI,” said Dan Barrera, ACE chair and head of warehouse automation, vertical markets for MHI member Bosch Rexroth.

To do this, ACE brings “together all the various experts to create learning content to educate the OEMs, system integrators and most importantly, the practitioners,” he continued.

ACE offers content on a variety of topics important to logistics managers, including:

• How to improve automation systems.
• Converging information technology (IT) and operational technology (OT).
• Exploring new communication methods.
• Sizing automation components appropriately.
• Cybersecurity best practices.
• Artificial intelligence (AI) at the edge level.

Additionally, ACE is developing resources on how to keep operators safe on the warehouse floor around different types of equipment and making OT connectivity smooth for end users. Other topics include leveraging sensor data to give IT teams more visibility into floor operations and training AI to draw intelligence from that data.

“In addition to white papers, case studies, and other content, we’re hoping to have speaking events at various industry conferences, including ProMat, MODEX, WERC and other conferences for practitioners,” added Barrera.

Building a Common Language for Automation

Another goal of ACE is to standardize the operating language used across automation, controls, and electrification devices in material handling equipment. No common terminology currently exists, said Andy Gray, vice chair of ACE and director of sales, North America for MHI member Scanreco US Inc.

“You can buy three different components, all with a different language, so our goal is to speak a common language for all the components,” Gray said. “That way, an end user doesn’t have to buy one brand up and down their product lines. Instead, they could choose the best sensor and the best controller for their application without having to go to just one brand.”

Gray added that ACE also works to educate the industry about the safety advantages of wireless connections in warehouse environments. “But they still buy the older technology, and we’re trying to find out why by conducting a study,” he said.

Standards Work Supports Safety and Consistency

ACE has produced American National Standards Institute (ANSI) standards around radio frequency communication, Barrera said. This year, the group’s goal is to develop additional guidelines around safety and turn those guidelines into standards.

ACE is also working to update existing standards for cranes, and to introduce standards more applicable to other product groups represented by ACE members, he added.

A Growing Knowledge Base for the Industry

ACE’s mission “is to bring together industry leaders to promote safe, reliable, and future-ready automation solutions in a digitally enabled world,” said Holly Rotalsky, ACE’s marketing committee lead and senior key account sales manager for MHI member Phoenix Contact USA.

ACE is currently drafting a market research report focused on trends within the controls. The report will examine how signals, data, and power are designed, built, and deployed on material handling equipment. The research draws on interviews with manufacturers and suppliers of conveyors, sortation equipment, automated storage and retrieval systems (AS/RS), robotics, automatic guided vehicles (AGVs), cranes, and hoists.

From the marketing side, ACE is expanding its equipment library, developing best practices and buyers’ guides, and posting relevant videos.

“We are compiling this knowledge base to educate not only our ACE members, but also the material handling industry,” explained Rotalsky. “We’re a new group, but we definitely have a plan to expand and grow to produce resources across the board.”

The products and capabilities offered by ACE members apply to virtually all MHI members and industry customers’ needs, she added.

“Our products power, protect, connect, and automate their machinery and equipment,” Rotalsky noted. “We provide the component level product, which is the backbone of their systems.”

The knowledge base ACE is building will help MHI members learn about options, pitfalls, and trends. She encouraged readers to check the ACE website regularly. The group will continue to populate it with more content throughout this year and next.

“When you look at some trends that material handlers and MHI members are asking about—everything from labor shortages to AI to automation and emerging technology, including cybersecurity—that’s really where our group shines,” Rotalsky concluded. “The products and solutions discussed in our group address many of these trends.”

Learn More About ACE

Automation, Controls, and Electrification (ACE) members are the industry’s leading suppliers of electrification and controlling devices. They supply solutions worldwide and in virtually every major manufacturing and distribution sector. To learn more about ACE and the solutions and resources it offers, visit mhi.org/ace.