Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

Press releases are provided by companies as is and have not been edited or checked for accuracy. Any queries should be directed to the company issuing the release.

Steve Rastberger Becomes Regional Director – Eastern US for Beckhoff

Rastberger will use deep industry knowledge and management skills to guide regional team during a time of exponential growth

Steve Rastberger Becomes Regional Director – Eastern US for Beckhoff

Beckhoff USA has appointed Steve Rastberger to take over as the Regional Director for the Eastern U.S. following the retirement of Graham Harris. Rastberger will leverage his formidable expertise in automation technology and industry trends to drive sales development and market share gains throughout the region. He will grow the region’s team of sales and applications engineers, oversee operations across the East Coast and expand the Beckhoff customer base in strategic industries.

Rastberger has held many positions in technical sales and management throughout his career. During the last eight of his 20 years at Omron Automation – Americas, he served as Director of the Solutions and Service Division, among other positions. Rastberger worked as Regional Sales Manager for automation vendor Unitronics, and then joined Beckhoff as Northeast District Sales Manager in 2020.


“With the advances in automation technology from Beckhoff and the renewed emphasis on innovation across industries, this is an exciting time to take on this new role,” Rastberger said. “We are seeing significant growth with both new and longstanding customers, including numerous applications with XPlanar and advanced IoT concepts. I look forward to guiding the team through a new period of growth, building upon the solid foundation that Graham Harris has provided.”

An industry stalwart, Harris became president of Beckhoff USA in 2003 when the company had just 20 employees, and he led the North American subsidiaries to average 20% revenue growth each year. After continuing to play a key role as East Region Manager since 2014, he retired from a storied career in automation at the end of August 2021.

“Beckhoff USA would not be what it is today without Graham’s contributions as company president and later as regional manager,” said Kevin Barker, President of Beckhoff Automation LLC. “We will miss Graham’s humor and leadership, but we are excited to have Steve take on a larger role. Steve has proven his knowledge and leadership capabilities throughout his career and especially in his time here at Beckhoff, so we are looking forward to the great work he will do for the larger team as Regional Director.”

https://www.beckhoff.com

The Latest

More Stories

Warp Announces Preparation for U.S. Government Partnership to Enhance Service and Efficiency

Los Angeles, CA, Jan. 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Warp, a tech-powered network of cross-docks and carriers offering various vehicle sizes, announced that 2025 it will extend its solutions and services to the U.S. government. Warp aims to modernize government freight logistics with machine-learning-driven planning, optimized network strategies, and flexible solutions to create efficient, cost-effective, and sustainable supply chain transportation.

Focused on optimizing every load, every time, Warp employs machine learning (ML), artificial intelligence (AI), and groundbreaking consolidation techniques to blur the traditional lines of freight shipping by combining the best elements of LTL, FTL, and parcel delivery. Using its homogenous fleet including cargo vans, sedans, box trucks, and 53-foot trailers, Warp facilitates carrier injections, inbound vendor consolidation, pool point distribution, zone-skipping, store replenishment, and national retail distribution for some of the world’s largest shippers.

Keep ReadingShow less

Featured

Toyota Material Handling MidSouth’s Forklift Donation Raises $40,000 for Higher Education

Toyota Material Handling and Toyota Material Handling MidSouth partner to donate 5,000-pound-capacity pneumatic forklift at Concrete Industry Management’s annual charity auction.

Photo courtesy of Toyota Material Handling

Toyota Material Handling MidSouth’s Forklift Donation Raises $40,000 for Higher Education

LAS VEGAS, Jan. 28, 2024 – Toyota Material Handling MidSouth, a full-service dealer for Toyota Material Handling, showcased its dedication to fostering the next generation of industry professionals by donating a 5,000-pound-capacity Toyota Core IC Pneumatic forklift to the Concrete Industry Management’s (CIM) annual charity auction on January 22.

The forklift’s winning bid of $40,000 significantly contributed to the auction’s total proceeds of $2.15 million, supporting CIM’s mission to address the growing demand for skilled professionals in the concrete industry. Offered at five universities, CIM equips students with technical, communication and management expertise, preparing them for successful careers in a rapidly evolving industry. Proceeds from the auction are used to assist CIM in funding higher education programs that offer degrees in concrete industry management.

Keep ReadingShow less

Chang Robotics launches 'The Chang Robotics Fund' - A Seed Stage Venture Capital Fund targetting a $50M Raise to Specialize in Disruptive Technology

JACKSONVILLE, Fla., Jan. 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- 2,750 miles away from Silicon Valley, Matthew Chang, founder of Chang Robotics, today announced his next business venture: The Chang Robotics Fund. The Fund is targeting a $50M raise to address the numerous needs and market opportunities the Chang Robotics engineering team identified in their daily operations by investing in disruptive technologies designed to confront the industry's most urgent challenges—from labor shortages to energy efficiency to environmental remediation. By utilizing innovative intellectual property and the engineering and management expertise of Chang Robotics, the Fund seeks to scale its targeted innovations into impactful, transformative, and profitable businesses.

Global industries, from manufacturing to healthcare, face mounting pressures such as intensifying global competition, workforce constraints, escalating expenses, and the urgent need for environmental restoration. Tackling these issues demands a new paradigm of intelligent automation, energy efficiency, and sustainable innovation.

Keep ReadingShow less

Adelante SCM and Magaya Release Report on the 2025 State of Digitization in Freight Forwarding

Miami, FL – January 28, 2025 – Magaya Corporation, the leading freight management platform for logistics service providers (LSPs), today released a report detailing the state of digitization in freight forwarding and the divide that presently exists between shipper expectations and forwarder capabilities.

In November 2024, independent research firm Adelante SCM and Magaya surveyed executives in the logistics services industry, as well as supply chain and logistics executives from manufacturing, retail, and distribution companies. The research found a substantial gap between what the shippers expect in terms of technological capabilities and what their logistics service providers currently offer.

Keep ReadingShow less

ORTEC Joins Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America (WSWA)

Atlanta, GA – ORTEC, a leader in advanced analytics and optimization solutions, is excited to announce its membership in the Wine and Spirits Wholesalers of America (WSWA), the only national membership organization dedicated to wine and spirits distributors.

“Joining WSWA is an important milestone for ORTEC toward our goal to become a trusted technology partner to wine and spirits distributors,” said Mat Witte, CEO of ORTEC Americas. “We envision a future of collaborating with fellow members to drive innovation and optimize operations that benefit their business, their customers, and the industry as a whole.”

As a member of WSWA, ORTEC is committed to leveraging its expertise in advanced analytics and optimization to support the goals of the wine and spirits distribution industry. This collaboration will enable ORTEC to share insights and innovative solutions that can help streamline loading and delivery while improving efficiency across the sector.

About ORTEC
ORTEC is a leading provider of advanced analytics and optimization solutions, dedicated to helping organizations enhance their operational efficiency and decision-making processes. With a strong focus on innovation, ORTEC leverages cutting-edge technologies and data-driven insights to address complex challenges across a number of industries, including logistics, manufacturing, and healthcare. The company’s commitment to continuous improvement and collaboration with clients enables businesses to optimize their resources, reduce costs, and drive sustainable growth. By integrating advanced analytics into their operations, ORTEC empowers organizations to make informed decisions that lead to transformative outcomes and a competitive edge in the market. Discover more at ORTEC | NEWS.

About WSWA
WSWA plays a vital role in advocating for the interests of distributors on federal, state, regulatory, and legal issues that impact the beverage alcohol industry. The organization focuses on critical policy areas, including taxation of family-owned businesses, state-based alcohol regulation, social responsibility, and impaired driving prevention. Additionally, WSWA offers programs designed to promote the careers of its members and help their businesses thrive in a diverse and dynamic industry. Learn more at wswa.org.