Earlier this week, we began the BetterYet program 🌱 Thank you to Laura Cooke and Chris Cooke for leading our all company kick-off workshop including guided box breathing for ~200 people (a new experience for many of us). We are excited to partner with Positive Foundry this year as we journey through their scienced-backed program designed to boost well-being, strengthen relationships, and ultimately build skills to thrive inside and outside the workplace. Each week, cross-functional small groups will be gathering for micro-learning and discussion with something to put into practice in the week ahead. Thank you to Ashley Jacobs for bringing this program to Power/mation and for everyone involved in making it happen. Looking forward to being BetterYet 👏

Congrats to our latest Power Performer: Chris Tozzo 👏 Chris is being recognized for his innovative mindset, technical expertise, and commitment to improving efficiency across the team through smart use of technology. Get to know Chris... 💻 What’s the most valuable lesson you’ve learned in your career? Always be open to learning opportunities and adapt to new software and systems. Right now, I am learning as much as I can about utilizing AI in my workflows and how to best apply those learnings within the company. ❄️☕ What’s your go-to productivity hack or favorite workday ritual? Recently, swapping from hot coffee to iced coffee! Because I bike to work, in the summer I’m hot by the time I reach the office and this may sound crazy, but iced coffee cooling me down has been the most helpful change recently to get me ready to work in the mornings. 🌱🌶️ What’s something you’re passionate about outside of work? Gardening, I get a lot of joy outside of work from working on my garden.  In 2026 I am putting a lot of effort into growing cucumbers for pickling/fermenting as well as multiple hot peppers for fermented hot sauce.

🆕 ABB Robotics launches high-speed PoWa™ cobot family   The new PoWa family from @ABBRobotics addresses a long‑standing gap in the market between traditional cobots and conventional industrial robots.   PoWa includes six different payload categories, from 7kg to 30kg, the longest reach and highest arm load on the market and best-in-class top speed.* Learn more ➡️ hubs.la/Q04k7t-d0   *PoWa™ 10 and PoWa™ 13

Next stop, Duluth 🎶 If you find yourself North of the Cities (or are headed up for Grandma's Marathon), join us for Tech Tour '26: the only folk rock themed automation tech fair (that we know of...). 📍 Clyde Iron Works in Duluth, MN 📆 Thursday, June 18 from 11-5pm 🎟️ Free to attend - RSVP requested ➡️ hubs.la/Q04jYpQ40 Our VIP lineup includes ABB Drives, ABB Electrification, Banner Engineering, Festo, Phoenix Contact, and Rittal with headliners Horner Automation, Lenze, Red Lion, and Secomea plus many more exhibitors who just may be your new favorite band (automation supplier). ✅ Technical seminars ➡️ hubs.la/Q04jYwjc0 ✅ Live music from The Lost Vintage ✅ Concert ticket giveaway to see Hairball at Bayfront Festival Park ✅ Lake Superior (adjacent...) Are you coming?

🔦 Supplier Spotlight: @PhoenixContact Phoenix Contact continues to push industrial automation forward with technologies designed to connect, protect, and optimize modern manufacturing environments. Known globally for their innovation in industrial connectivity, networking, power supplies, PLCs, and control solutions, Phoenix Contact helps manufacturers create smarter, more agile operations built for the future. From advanced automation platforms like PLCnext Technology to reliable terminal blocks, industrial Ethernet, surge protection, and power management solutions, Phoenix Contact delivers the tools needed to improve system performance, flexibility, and communication across the plant floor. Read more ➡️ hubs.la/Q04jfdJh0

🆕 State of Remote Access 2026 Industrial remote access is becoming a strategic control layer that shapes uptime, vendor operations, compliance, and cybersecurity outcomes. The data from @Secomea's global benchmark study shows a consistent direction across regions and industries. Check out the full report to benchmark your organization and see where the industry is heading. Learn more ➡️ hubs.la/Q04hWGbM0

Congratulations to our latest Power Performer: Meredith Wolfe 🏆 Customers and partners consistently recognize Meredith's fast response times, clear communication, and attention to detail. From managing complex quotes with dozens of line items to staying on top of orders, Meredith keeps projects moving. Meredith also goes the extra mile by proactively finding alternative components when faced with long lead times to keep customers up and running. Behind the scenes, she supports our team by mentoring new hires and solving system challenges that improve the experience for everyone. 👏 Thank you, Meredith, for the expertise, leadership, and care you bring every day.

New benchmark in surge protection ⚡🛡️ The new VALVETRAB Safe Protection Plus (VAL-SPP) surge protective devices from @PhoenixContact protect both the installers and the end equipment. The new SPDs feature miswiring and touch protection, plus a reduced tightening torque of just 3 Newton-meters (Nm). The family includes the VAL-US-SPP, designed for common power supply systems in North America in accordance with the NEMA standard. The North American version is UL Listed and fully compliant with NFPA 79, which requires surge protection on safety circuits. Learn more ➡️ hubs.la/Q04h8JKn0

Bag and box grippers for modern palletizing Handling cartons and packaged goods efficiently is essential for modern automated packaging lines. The Effecto palletizing grippers are engineered to provide reliable and precise handling of bags and boxes in a wide range of robotic applications such as palletizing, packaging, and logistics operations. Learn more ➡️ hubs.la/Q04gcL1f0

🆕 Control cabinet guards The @TurckUSA IM18‑CCM45 enables a proactive approach to control cabinet reliability by continuously monitoring key environmental and operating parameters—such as temperature, humidity, and condensation—inside electrical enclosures. By maintaining optimal operating conditions it significantly reduces the risk of component stress, unexpected failures, and unplanned downtime. Collected condition data is transmitted via Ethernet directly to a host controller, allowing real‑time visibility of cabinet health within the control system or plant network. This enables OEMs and manufacturers to implement predictive, data‑driven maintenance strategies, improve overall equipment performance, extend component lifespan, and reduce maintenance costs. Learn more ➡️ hubs.la/Q04ftPPP0

Next week is our debut show for Tech Tour '26 🎶 📍 Poplar Hall in Appleton, WI 📆 Thursday, May 7 from 11-5pm 🎟️ Free to attend - RSVP requested ➡️ hubs.la/Q04d-K690 Excited to bring together a strong supplier lineup including ABB Drives, ABB Electrification, Banner Engineering, Festo, Phoenix Contact, Rittal, and many more. Five new technology seminars 🎤 ➡️ hubs.la/Q04f1-0v0 Live music from The Lost Vintage. Concert ticket giveaway to Luke Combs live at Lambeau Field. Drinks and community available in-person only 🍻

🆕 Ethernet data radio The DX700ER Ethernet Data Radio from @BannerSensors replaces long Ethernet cable runs to help reduce installation cost and increase machine layout flexibility with its combination of a DIN-rail-mountable design and an external antenna connector that brings wireless connectivity to Ethernet communications within demanding industrial environments. Learn more ➡️ hubs.la/Q04ddXzr0

Last week, 80 folks from our sales, product, and leadership teams gathered in Wisconsin Dells for our 2026 Global Sales Meeting. Key themes: 📈 Driving growth 🧠 Engaging change 🤝 Valuing relationships 🔵💺 Blue chairs (...may have had to be there) Thank you to everyone who made it happen around the tables, on the stage, and behind the scenes.

In case you missed the livestream, here's Andrew Jagger's conversation with Chuck Ridgeway on @hornerapg's control software, all-in-one controllers, and his perspective on EtherNet/IP. Listen in 🎥➡️ hubs.la/Q04c1spD0

🆕 Modular remote relay system with network connection @PhoenixContact's PLC-INTERFACE Ethernet Gateway is a modular remote relay system that supports simple applications with up to 56 I/O channels. Integrate your relays easily into the network. Scalable modules for the decentralized control box offer space savings of up to 65%, making them a cost-effective addition to classic remote I/O solutions. ✅ Flexible channel configuration (DI, DO, AI, AO, Ex, Temp.) ✅ High-performance chipset (PROFINET Class C and S2 redundancy) ✅ Quick and intuitive integration into the control level Learn more ➡️ hubs.la/Q04bcj_40

How do you do high tech better? It takes a community. Association for High Technology Distribution (AHTD) is that community. See you at Spring Meeting 2026 in Nashville, TN. #DoingHighTechBetter

Save the dates 📆 We’re loading up the trucks and bringing automation to the people. Tech Tour ’26 stops in four cities with hands-on demos, expert insights, and technology built for the real world. 📍 Appleton, WI - May 7, 2026 Learn more ➡️ hubs.la/Q049rN0r0 📍 Duluth, MN - June 18, 2026 Learn more ➡️ hubs.la/Q049rPt10 📍 Beloit, WI - July 30, 2026 Learn more ➡️ hubs.la/Q049rJbb0 📍 Sioux Falls, SD - September 29, 2026 Learn more ➡️ hubs.la/Q049rG2D0 Along the way, we’re adding a folk Americana twist. Live music, open dialogue, and a road-tested atmosphere built for real connections. 🎫 Tradeshow-style tech fair 💡 Automation technology seminars 🍻 Food, drink, and networking 🎸 Live music

Production day 2 🎥 This time, Andrew Jagger is in the hot seat...

🔐 What are trapped key interlocks? The concept of trapped key systems is still widely used to provide personnel protection in industrial environments despite being around for more than a century. Depending on the application there may be slightly different requirements, but in general, trapped key systems enforce a sequence of operations in a predetermined order through the transfer of keys that are either trapped or released. Learn more ➡️ hubs.la/Q0494gLj0