# 223: The State of Automation Halfway Through the Decade, Live from the 2025 A3 Business Forum

- Show: [Manufacturing Happy Hour](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour)
- Published: 2025-02-11
- Length: 1h 12m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2025-02-11-223-the-state-of-automation-halfway-through-the-decade-live-from-the-2025-a3-bus
- Listen: http://manufacturinghappyhour.com

## Summary

Chris Luecke and Jake Hall interview five industry leaders at the 2025 A3 Business Forum, including Peter Zafiro of LinMot USA, Christelle Keefer of ABB, Juan Aparicio of Reshape Automation, David Dechow of Motion Automation Intelligence, and Alex Shikany of A3. The guests discuss the convergence of robotics, AI, and motion control, highlighting how LinMot’s linear motors enable washdown applications in food processing and how Reshape Automation uses deep learning for bin picking. They also address the critical need for early STEM education through organizations like First Robotics and Project Lead The Way to bridge the skills gap, while predicting that physical AI and explainable machine vision will define the next five years of automation.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2025-02-11-223-the-state-of-automation-halfway-through-the-decade-live-from-the-2025-a3-bus#t=0) Introduction: A3 Business Forum and Industry Convergence
- [7:25](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2025-02-11-223-the-state-of-automation-halfway-through-the-decade-live-from-the-2025-a3-bus#t=445) Peter Zafiro on LinMot Linear Motors and Motion Control
- [21:31](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2025-02-11-223-the-state-of-automation-halfway-through-the-decade-live-from-the-2025-a3-bus#t=1291) Christelle Keefer on STEM Education and Robotics Workforce
- [33:45](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2025-02-11-223-the-state-of-automation-halfway-through-the-decade-live-from-the-2025-a3-bus#t=2025) Juan Aparicio on AI, Bin Picking, and Physical AI
- [45:34](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2025-02-11-223-the-state-of-automation-halfway-through-the-decade-live-from-the-2025-a3-bus#t=2734) David Dechow on Machine Vision Evolution and 3D Imaging
- [53:36](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2025-02-11-223-the-state-of-automation-halfway-through-the-decade-live-from-the-2025-a3-bus#t=3216) Alex Shikany on Automation Trends and Automate 2025

## Topics

- [Robotics & autonomy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/robotics-and-autonomy)
- [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning)
- [Sensors & measurement in products](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sensors)
- [Hiring & workforce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/hiring-and-workforce)
- [Policy, trade & tariffs](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/policy-trade-and-tariffs)

## Most relevant to

large enterprises

## Mentioned

- LinMot USA (company)
- ABB (company)
- Reshape Automation (company)
- Motion Automation Intelligence (company)
- A3 (company)
- First Robotics (other)
- Project Lead the Way (other)
- REC Foundation (other)
- Skillwork (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Automate 2025 Recap](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2025-05-17-automate-2025-recap) (The Robot Report Podcast)
- [Electronica 24: The Rise of AI-Powered Robotics at Fideltronik and Beyond](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2024-12-09-electronica-24-the-rise-of-ai-powered-robotics-at-fideltronik-and-beyond) (EMS@C-LEVEL)
- [Embedded Systems and IoT Connectivity: Lessons from Automate 2024](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2024-05-22-embedded-systems-and-iot-connectivity-lessons-from-automate-2024) (Over the Air)
- [Recap: Promat and GTC 2025 show highlights](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2025-03-21-recap-promat-and-gtc-2025-show-highlights) (The Robot Report Podcast)
- [The Road Ahead for Robotics: Insights from Motional's Major and Foundation's Pathak](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2025-06-20-the-road-ahead-for-robotics-insights-from-motionals-major-and-foundations-pathak) (The Robot Report Podcast)

## Citing this page

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