Plex-A-Palooza 2026 was held June 15th through June 18th in Milwaukee. If you attended the event or missed the event and want a recap of the learnings and fun that was had, keep reading. The event blended reflection, celebration, and a look toward the future of manufacturing.
Hosted by Patti Novak of Control-M, the conference brought together members of the Plex community, Rockwell Automation leadership, implementation partners, and customers to discuss the forces shaping the next generation of manufacturing operations.
While topics such as AI, connected operations, and automation were front and center, the keynote's strongest message wasn't about technology.
It was about people.
A Community Built Over Decades
Throughout the session, Patti and other speakers highlighted one of the defining characteristics of the Plex ecosystem: its community.
Many attendees have spent years, and in some cases decades, working with Plex. Users become administrators. Administrators become consultants. Consultants become partners. Yet many remain active contributors within the community long after changing roles or organizations.
That continuity has helped create a network of professionals who openly share knowledge, mentor one another, and contribute to the success of manufacturers across industries.
The keynote repeatedly returned to the idea that the value of Plex extends beyond software. It is also the collective expertise of the people who use, support, and improve it.
Rockwell's Long-Term Commitment to Plex
Rockwell Automation's investment in Plex was another major theme.
Speakers noted that the 2021 acquisition of Plex represented the largest acquisition in Rockwell's history and reinforced that Plex remains a strategic component of the company's software vision.
That commitment was echoed throughout the keynote by discussions around continued product investment, customer success initiatives, and integration with Rockwell's broader manufacturing technology portfolio.
For customers, the message was clear: Plex is not standing still.
The Pressures Facing Modern Manufacturers
The keynote acknowledged the realities manufacturers are navigating today.
Rising costs, workforce shortages, supply chain uncertainty, and increasing performance expectations continue to place pressure on operations leaders.
The challenge is no longer simply growth.
It is growth with efficiency.
How do manufacturers improve throughput without expanding facilities? How do they increase productivity without dramatically increasing headcount? How do they make faster decisions in increasingly complex environments?
These questions served as the foundation for many of the conversations that followed.
From Visibility to Autonomy
A video presentation and discussion with Rockwell leadership outlined a future where connected systems, artificial intelligence, analytics, and digital twins work together to improve operational performance.
The vision is what Rockwell describes as a "journey to autonomy."
In practical terms, that means creating connected environments where manufacturers can gather data, provide context, simulate outcomes, and make increasingly informed decisions.
One of the most memorable stories shared involved a manufacturer who reflected on their Plex implementation by saying:
"It didn't fix my problems. It showed me what problems to fix."
The quote drew attention because it captured an important truth. Technology creates visibility. Visibility creates opportunity. Improvement still requires leadership and action.
Progress Over Perfection
Perhaps the most practical advice of the session came from Jane Barr, President of the Americas Region for Rockwell Automation.
Rather than waiting for perfect strategies or large-scale transformation projects, organizations were encouraged to focus on taking the next meaningful step.
The message was simple:
Start.
Learn.
Improve.
Scale.
Whether implementing AI, expanding analytics capabilities, modernizing operations, or adopting new technologies, the keynote repeatedly emphasized a crawl, walk, run approach to transformation.
In a rapidly changing manufacturing environment, momentum often matters more than perfection.
Looking Ahead
Manufacturing continues to evolve through advances in connectivity, analytics, automation, and artificial intelligence. But technology alone is not the story.
The real story is how people, organizations, and communities work together to turn those capabilities into meaningful business outcomes.
The future of manufacturing will be shaped as much by collaboration and continuous improvement as it will by technology itself.
Want to learn more about the event or learn how AP Automation by Nimbello can help you and your team improve your performance without adding headcount? Reach out and we'd be happy to continue the conversation.