B&R Accelerates Automation Innovation with New Leadership, Product Launches, and Strategic Partnerships

EGGELSBERG/PUNE/GROVE – B&R Industrial Automation, the machine automation division of ABB, is kicking off 2026 with a wave of strategic moves, including a key leadership appointment, major product introductions, and an innovative technology partnership with the Williams Racing Formula 1 team.

New Chief Technology Officer Appointed

As of late February, B&R has appointed Stefan Schönegger as its new Chief Technology Officer. Schönegger, a long-time company veteran who has held various roles since 2006, most recently led the global Controls product group. In his new position, he will drive the company's technology strategy with a strong focus on open ecosystems, software, and autonomous industrial solutions. He succeeds Florian Schneeberger, who was promoted to Division President of ABB Machine Automation and CEO of B&R in late 2025 .

ACOPOS D1 Debuts in India at Innovation Days 2026

On the product front, B&R India hosted its flagship Innovations Day 2026 in Pune this February, gathering over 300 delegates under the theme "Adaptive Manufacturing for a Sustainable Future" . The centerpiece of the event was the India launch of the ACOPOS D1, a next-generation servo drive designed to enable intelligent motion control and scalable machine performance for OEMs. The drive offers a space-saving design with high power density and enhanced edge intelligence for predictive maintenance .

Leadership at the event, including Division President Florian Schneeberger, emphasized a shift toward "intelligent manufacturing ecosystems" and the growing necessity of adaptive automation for Indian manufacturers to remain globally competitive, particularly in sectors like CPG, plastics, and semiconductors .

Bringing F1-Level Intelligence to the Factory Floor

In a move that blends high-performance sports with industrial innovation, B&R has entered into a new technology partnership with Williams Racing. The agreement will see B&R embed its PLC hardware and APROL edge controllers into the wind tunnel facilities at the team's Grove base. The system will precisely measure and record the energy consumption of the wind tunnel infrastructure, demonstrating how B&R's automation solutions can be applied to optimize performance and efficiency in even the most demanding engineering environments .

Strategic Focus: Adaptive Manufacturing

Across all these developments, B&R is reinforcing its commitment to adaptive manufacturing. Company leaders are advocating for software-centric automation platforms that allow production lines to dynamically respond to real-time demand, supply chain changes, and energy targets. By integrating advanced motion control, robotics, and digital twins, B&R is positioning its portfolio to help manufacturers reduce downtime and achieve greater flexibility in an era of mass customization .

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