In the next four years, the number of manufacturers with automated processes such as data capture and analytics, physical production, and after-sales support is forecasted to nearly triple, according to PwC’s February 2026 survey of 443 global manufacturing leaders. According to the research report, the surge in automation will impact everything from the front to the back office and from R&D to the shop floor.

With increasing pressure to improve efficiency in their production lines, machine OEMs must find ways to boost both output and throughput while identifying failure points. Through factory automation, they can embrace growth opportunities and compete in global markets.

“In the world of manufacturing, speed, time, trust, reliability, and accountability are top priorities,” said Thomas Chrysler, product marketing manager for ABB.

Overcoming Challenges

In today’s industry, machine OEM engineers wrangle with a diverse set of challenges from speeding up production to reducing costs and eliminating risk. Every second matters when it comes to manufacturing, and downtime is not an option.

For example, one single issue — a component selection mistake, supply delay, or integration failure — can put a stop to production, create the need for a redesign, or cause a failure in the field. These challenges can impact not only a machine OEM’s bottom line, but also its reputation.

To uphold their credibility, engineers must ensure that every machine they ship is delivered on time and meets their customers’ needs.

“Whenever a machine OEM builds a new piece of equipment, it’s their brand and name on it, and they want to have the confidence that it’s going to work right the first time, and if an issue does arise, that it will be resolved quickly,” Chrysler said.

To improve uptime, machine OEMs look for ways to prevent machines from stopping mid-task or from requiring many restarts. This is especially important in the pharmaceutical and food and beverage industries, Chrysler said.

“Machine OEMs don’t want to have unintended downtime or batch loss,” Chrysler said. 

Leveraging the Power of a One-Stop Shop

Beyond the pressure to constantly increase uptime, machine OEMs also work with multiple suppliers for different products. These companies often have different integration requirements, raising the level of complexity for machine OEMs. When the network, metering, and communication don’t connect, issues can arise. 

By partnering with a single supplier, like ABB, however, all the systems are designed to work together seamlessly. This can expedite first-time installations, startup, and commissioning processes and give machine OEMs more confidence when rolling out something new or troubleshooting in the field. For example, ABB’s control solutions have more than 10 native protocols, cloud integration, and smart embedded logic.

With its electrical component solutions, ABB can help machine OEMs to improve reliability, uptime, and performance in packaging, logistics, and warehousing applications. ABB is a one-stop shop, offering control products for single machines or entire production lines. 

“Whether you’re running a big panel shop or you’re a smaller business doing one-off builds, you can still get the same value from a single-source supplier and the benefit of speed in both applications,” Chrysler said.

Planning for the Future

The one-stop shop of ABB’s full line of machine and motor control products helps machine OEMs design for the future and focus on scalability.

“When you think about the connectivity and communication options ABB has within our portfolio, you may not want it now, but the idea is that you can upgrade,” Chrysler said. “That way, you can be future-ready.”

For example, if a customer wants to be fully integrated and monitor down to the individual component level, machine OEMs can accomplish this task within the same portfolio without completely redesigning their equipment. 

“You can upgrade and add an accessory, but you don’t have to change platforms or change designs as a whole,” he said. “You just need to enhance your solution and make sure you’ve got network connectivity like gateways into the design.” 

Big or Small: ABB Serves Them All

Whether a machine OEM is building one piece of equipment at a time or 50 in sequence in a single day, they can benefit from push-in terminals, DIN rail mounting, or phase-balancing capability for miniature circuit breakers (MCBs).

Case in point: MCBs can be installed quickly, perform reliably, and minimize downtime in applications ranging from service work like panel retrofits to emergency repairs. 

Machine OEMs can also take advantage of ABB’s risk assessment, machine safety training, and safety system design. ABB’s Electrification Service division can send personnel to perform an on-site assessment to identify risks and issues, including systems not being up to code. They can also learn whether they need more machine guarding, lockout/tagout devices, Mkeys, pull stops, or E-stops.

“It’s a complete overview of your system and environment, and it’s unique to your individual facility,” he said.

By partnering with ABB, machine OEMs can leverage the company’s more than 100 years of experience so they can focus on what matters most: innovating and competing in the global market.

From machine safety and motor control to connectivity and support, ABB gives machine OEMs an integrated portfolio designed to simplify builds, accelerate commissioning, and support future upgrades. In turn, machine OEMS can keep their production lines moving at full speed while protecting their employees, their reputation, and their bottom line. Discover how ABB can help reduce complexity, increase production speed, and build machines that are ready for what comes next at abb.com.