Rockwell Automation Welcomes CheeseExpo 2026 to Milwaukee, Showcases Dairy Modernization Solutions

Company highlights how advanced control and digital technologies are helping dairy processors improve yield, consistency and operational performance.

Apr. 13, 2026 at 1:08pm

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A photorealistic studio still-life image featuring a collection of polished, premium dairy processing equipment and components arranged elegantly on a clean, monochromatic background, conceptually representing the advanced technologies that are helping dairy processors improve productivity and sustainability.Rockwell Automation's advanced automation and digital solutions are empowering dairy processors to optimize their existing assets and improve operational efficiency.Today in Milwaukee

Rockwell Automation, the world's largest industrial automation and digital transformation company, will showcase its solutions for dairy processors at CheeseExpo 2026 in Milwaukee. The company's technologies, including manufacturing execution systems (MES), industrial data platforms, and advanced control and analytics, are helping dairy plants improve performance across production by stabilizing operations, reducing variability, and improving yield and energy efficiency. With dairy demand growing globally, processors are under pressure to optimize current assets rather than rely solely on capacity expansion.

Why it matters

As the dairy industry faces rising demand and the need to do more with existing assets, Rockwell Automation's automation and digital solutions are helping processors improve productivity, consistency and sustainability. The company's participation in CheeseExpo 2026 highlights its commitment to supporting the modernization and competitiveness of the dairy sector.

The details

Rockwell Automation will showcase how its model predictive control (MPC) technology helps manage complex dairy processes like evaporation, drying and fermentation, stabilizing operations, reducing variability, and improving yield and energy efficiency. The company will also highlight its industrial AI capabilities, which are helping plants tackle labor shortages, rising costs, quality concerns and throughput limitations. Attendees can see Rockwell technologies in action through demonstrations by OEM partners like Harpak-ULMA and Delkor.

  • CheeseExpo 2026 will be held from April 14-16, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
  • Rockwell Automation's session on 'Doing More with Less: AI-Powered Solutions for Dairy Processors' will be held on April 15, 2026 at 1 p.m.

The players

Rockwell Automation, Inc.

A global leader in industrial automation and digital transformation, headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Todd Gilliam

Director of food & beverage industry sales at Rockwell Automation.

Lance Rodenfels

Global director of simulation and data science at Rockwell Automation.

International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA)

A trade association representing the dairy processing and manufacturing industry in the United States.

Harpak-ULMA

An OEM partner of Rockwell Automation demonstrating packaging applications.

Delkor

An OEM partner of Rockwell Automation demonstrating processing applications.

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What they’re saying

“Many dairy plants are being asked to do more with the assets they already have. We're seeing a growing focus on improving process stability and yield through better use of data and advanced control, rather than relying solely on capacity expansion.”

— Todd Gilliam, Director, food & beverage industry sales, Rockwell Automation

“Doing More with Less: AI-Powered Solutions for Dairy Processors”

— Lance Rodenfels, Global director, simulation and data science, Rockwell Automation

What’s next

Rockwell Automation will offer guided tours of its OEM partners' booths at CheeseExpo 2026 to help connect production challenges with available solutions.

The takeaway

Rockwell Automation's participation in CheeseExpo 2026 demonstrates its commitment to supporting the dairy industry's modernization and competitiveness through advanced automation and digital technologies. As dairy processors face growing demand and the need to optimize existing assets, Rockwell's solutions are helping improve yield, consistency and operational performance.