FABTECH 2025 provided the perfect stage for conversations in an industry at a crossroads. Job shops across the U.S. are facing a series of unprecedented challenges. Raw metal prices have more than doubled in the last decade, and fabricators continue to grapple with a persistent skills shortage. Vention’s booth was buzzing with discussions about how automation that works without trial and error can help address these and other challenges. Particularly in focus were Vention’s 2025 lineup of solutions, including Click & Customize solution for welding and machine tending, MachineMotion AI controller, and ergonomic workstations.
Here is a look back at the key solutions and highlights from the show:
Robotic Welding Cell with Overhead 7th Axis Range Extender
Welding capacity is one of the most pressing issues in fabrication. According to the American Welding Society, the U.S. could face a shortage of 360,000 welders by 2027. The Overhead 7th Axis Welding demo resonated with fabrication shops searching for a versatile solution. Featuring a UR20 cobot with a 7th axis range extender, a MachineMotion AI controller, and a Robot Safety Module (RSM), Vention’s demo showcased how a cobot’s reach can be expanded significantly in limited spaces, enabling powerful long-range motion.
The easy-to-customize robotic welding setup maximizes efficiency, as a single robotic welder can cover more ground while reducing idle time. Visitors also witnessed a live demonstration of its ability to adapt to a variety of parts with easy, no-code programming, making it particularly suitable for high-mix production.
Pre-engineered Cobot Tending Base with FANUC CRX10
Repetitive tending tasks are another common pain point for the industry. Yet only 10% of tending operations are automated, according to MIT. High costs for customizing a machine tending solution, combined with the expertise required to reprogram it for new parts, often slow adoption. Vention’s machine tending demo powered by a FANUC CRX10 robot and MachineMotion AI Robot, impressed visitors because of its ease and speed of deployment. The demo at FABTECH highlighted how a cobot can fully automate the typical tending sequence: robot picking the raw part, placing it in the CNC machine, and picking back the machined part.
Unlike complex custom deployments or turnkey solutions that limit flexibility, the Click & Customize Tending solution can be deployed four times faster and customized easily from the pre-engineered base configuration.
Daisy Chained Motors, Powered by MachineMotion AI
The complexity of integrating automation remains a challenge for many fabricators. The need to re-program each cell, and manual integration of the pig-tail wires adds to the complexities faced by the metal fabrication industry. Additionally, the traditional PLC control systems cannot keep up with the needs of job shops trying to integrate advanced AI-vision technologies.
Vention’s AI-ready MachineMotion AI controller powered by the NVIDIA Jetson GPU showcased how a single controller can help automate the entire shop floor. MachineMotion AI demo at FABTECH featured four daisy-chained motors demonstrating its exceptional raw output power to run multiple processes, making it easy to scale up automation. Visitors to Vention’s booth also got a chance to learn about the integrated LTE connectivity in MachineMotion AI, aimed at making cloud-based remote monitoring and optimization easier.
Custom and Ergonomic Industrial Workstations
The need for rapid customization and faster delivery dominated visitor conversations throughout the show. Fabricators today require production setups that can be customized quickly for specific needs and processes without inflating costs or sacrificing quality. Vention’s modular workstations directly addressed this challenge, offering solutions for manufacturers struggling with unpredictable demand cycles.
Built with Vention’s Unified Hardware Ecosystem, the demo highlighted how modular parts from shelves to bins and custom panels for tables enable reconfigurability. This makes it easy to reconfigure workstations for different jobs with minimal downtime. The system’s flexibility allows manufacturers to respond to market changes without major capital investments or lengthy retooling processes.
What sets Vention’s workstations apart is their field-proven performance, with over 10,000 units deployed worldwide. The patented T-slot extrusions deliver best-in-class rigidity and strength-to-weight ratios, enabling up to 25% more payload capacity and five times greater vibration resistance than conventional alternatives.
Design to Deployment Interface at Vention Automation Station
Beyond the product lineup, Vention’s experts also helped solve specific challenges faced by FABTECH visitors at the Automation Station. Lack of expertise in design and programming is one of the biggest barriers to automation for many job shops. Demos at the Automation Station highlighted the intuitive features of the platform that eliminate these barriers. Visitors to the booth learned how Vention’s AI-powered platform helps them Design, Simulate, Deploy, and Operate lifecycle for their automation projects.
For the design phase, the immersive walkthroughs at the booth showcased how MachineBuilder offers a free route to scoping and AI-assisted design. The MachineLogic physics-based simulation demo highlighted the ability of Vention’s platform to de-risk projects with a 3D digital twin. Finally, the demos at the Automation Station allowed the visitors to experience features such as 1-Click Deployment from the cloud and real-time monitoring.
Looking back at FABTECH 2025, one theme stood out above all others: manufacturers are ready for automation that is intelligent, flexible, and accessible. As the industry navigates uncertain macroeconomic outlook, labor shortages, and sustainability pressures, the solutions that succeed will be those that reduce complexity through automation.
Where to See Vention Next: Demo Day and Pack Expo 2025
Missed Vention at FABTECH 2025? You can join us live for the biggest AI and manufacturing automation reveals of the year. Register for Demo Day 2025 for an exclusive first look at the future of automation.
Vention will also showcase the latest packaging and processing solutions including the next generation Rapid Series Palletizer, Modular Conveyors and Grippers. Visit us at Booth SL-16020 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, from September 29 - October 1.
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Missed us at FABTECH 2025? You can always book a demo with our team!
