MRC Allentown 2025 – Supporting Local Industry, One Relationship at a Time
Cornerstone Automation recently participated in the Manufacturers Resource Center (MRC) Automation and Manufacturing Technology Show in Allentown, Pennsylvania, an event designed to strengthen local manufacturing by connecting companies, technical experts, and service providers from across the region.
This year’s event brought together attendees from Berks, Schuylkill, Carbon, Northampton, and Lehigh counties. For Cornerstone, a controls and integration firm based in eastern Pennsylvania, it was a welcome opportunity to meet manufacturers face-to-face and talk about the challenges they’re seeing on the plant floor.
Cornerstone Automation’s Role at the MRC Allentown Manufacturing Show
Alan Ferrin, President of Cornerstone, attended the Allentown event with Tim and Nathan Ferrin, part of Cornerstone’s leadership team, to connect with manufacturers and industry partners. The team used the morning to connect with plant managers, engineers, and operations leaders working in food and beverage processing, packaging, and bottling. These industries reflect many of Cornerstone’s successful past projects.
“It was a good fit,” said Alan. “The people we met are working with systems we understand. They’re facing throughput issues, aging equipment, and the kinds of day-to-day problems we help solve.”
To help attendees visualize what that looks like in practice, Cornerstone shared a PowerPoint presentation and a set of printed handouts featuring recent projects in bakeries, bottling plants, and other process environments.
If you didn’t have a chance to attend the show or meet the Cornerstone team, you can still explore the project case studies shared at the event. Each one highlights a real manufacturing problem, the custom-engineered solution, and the results delivered on the plant floor.
- Commercial Bakery Water Meter Upgrade
- Multi-Flow Bottling Line CIP Upgrade
- Baker’s Best Dough Rolling Machine Upgrade
“What really resonated,” said Tim, “was the practical nature of the work. These were projects that improved uptime, stabilized lines, and made it easier for operators to do their jobs. Several people mentioned they were dealing with similar constraints.”
Why Local Events Like MRC Allentown 2025 Matter
That’s the value of an event like MRC Allentown. It’s not about quick wins or flashy booths. It’s about meeting the people who keep local plants running, understanding their day-to-day challenges, and determining whether Cornerstone might be the right long-term partner to help. A few quality conversations with the right people can open the door to lasting relationships.
“Our best work happens when we can build a relationship with a plant over time,” said Valerie Ferrin, Office Manager at Cornerstone. “Being at a regional show like this lets us start those conversations in person. It also reinforces that we’re nearby and easy to reach.”
What’s Next After MRC Allentown 2025?
Cornerstone’s team brings decades of hands-on experience across a wide range of industrial platforms. While much of their recent work has involved Rockwell Automation hardware and software, they are platform agnostic by design. They are ready to jump in and support whatever systems are already on the floor.
Alan summed it up well: “Most of the people we met weren’t looking for bells and whistles. They were looking for someone who could look at their system, understand it quickly, and recommend a smart path forward. That’s where we shine.”
To learn more or talk about your own system challenges, reach out to schedule a call. Cornerstone Automation is proud to serve Pennsylvania manufacturers with experience, responsiveness, and a commitment to doing the job right.
