Rockwell Automation will build its largest manufacturing facility in Wisconsin

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A Milwaukee-based company announced it will build a new manufacturing facility in southeast Wisconsin, but it’s not yet clear where the new site will be.

Rockwell Automation on Tuesday announced it plans to build a new greenfield manufacturing site in the region. The project is the next step in a $2 billion investment in plants, digital infrastructure and workforce development over the next five years, officials said.

At more than 1 million square feet, the facility could be Rockwell’s largest manufacturing campus in the world, officials said.

The new facility will include manufacturing and warehouse space and will be equipped with advanced automation, robotics and digital systems, company officials said. It’s not yet clear where the facility will be located, but officials said it will be “near the company’s global headquarters in Milwaukee.”

Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers, in a statement, thanked the company for its commitment to the state.

“Rockwell Automation has been leading the way with high-quality manufacturing and technology solutions for over a century. We’re incredibly proud of that tradition and how they’ve continued to exemplify the innovation and excellence that Wisconsin is known for, and we are excited to celebrate their continued growth and success in our state,” Evers said.

Designing a new facility will present the opportunity to “create the future of industrial operations,” Blake Moret, chairman and CEO of Rockwell Automation, said in a statement. “We are expanding our U.S. manufacturing footprint with advanced production capability that supports growth and performance with the latest Rockwell technologies and solutions.”

Artificial intelligence and analytics tools will be integrated into company production technology, said Bob Buttermore, chief supply chain officer of Rockwell Automation, in a statement. Team members will have access to advanced tools and training, he said.

Rockwell officials said they are in talks with local and state officials about construction and site planning.