6888f747a42ec168d4805d7a Beckhoff Salesdevelopment 03 Mxsystem Print

Learn How Cabinet-Free Automation is Transforming the Factory Floor

Aug. 8, 2025

Control cabinets, long a staple of the automation landscape and a requirement for most machines, are being put on notice as the quest for smaller machines and more efficient use of plant floor space heats up for end user manufacturers.

Cabinet-free automation, the concept of moving all components out of a centralized cabinet into smaller, distributed modules directly mounted on machinery, is gaining traction. Brandon Snell, MX-System product manager at Beckhoff USA, shared his views on why the long-standing control cabinet is ripe for a reset and how machine builders can capitalize on an approach that opens new avenues for innovation.