Northfield Automation Systems Celebrates its 20th Anniversary

Minnesota-based engineering company has weathered various financially challenging times over the years, and continues to position itself for strategic growth

NORTHFIELD, MINN. — Northfield Automation Systems (NAS), which designs, engineers and fabricates automation machinery for OEMs and high-volume manufacturers, is celebrating its 20th anniversary on September 25 – a feat attributed to staying on top of technological trends and employing a global sales strategy.

“We haven’t skipped a beat,” said Mark Wegner, president of NAS. “We have continued to find opportunities to keep our business thriving, and a big part of that is staying on the cutting edge of technology and having a great team here at NAS all along.”

NAS, which is based in Northfield, Minnesota, has developed turnkey automated process solutions for manufacturers in more than 22 countries across the globe. Some of these solutions include manufacturing equipment that tech companies have used to improve the functionality of touch screen devices, as well as equipment used for virtual reality technology – an area that continues to only increase in demand. Examples of their custom solutions include a roll-to-roll test and vision inspection and turnkey panel automation process.

Wegner founded the company with engineers Gary Larsen and Doug Hall in 2000, and Brett Reese. Since then, sales have grown 150 percent, and NAS has provided custom solutions to more than 176 companies. The company has weathered various global market upheavals in the last two decades, during a time in which artificial intelligence has dramatically evolved and robotics are now commonplace.

Recently the company has seen an uptick in orders from overseas, particularly in countries such as Taiwan, Vietnam and Thailand, where manufacturers are investing heavily in new facilities. Wegner says it’s important to understand and predict changes in the manufacturing industry, especially as labor shortages become widespread and smart manufacturing solutions can help fill the labor gap. NAS continues to enhance solutions for manufacturers facing finer features, tighter tolerances, smaller packages and thinner more sensitive materials that make manual handling virtually impossible.