End of An Era: Celebrating The Journal’s 32-Year Legacy

By Theresa Houck, Executive Editor and Amanda Joshi, Managing Editor, The Journal From Rockwell Automation and Our PartnerNetwork

Since its inception in 1994, The Journal from Rockwell Automation and Our PartnerNetwork™ has been a trusted resource for industrial automation professionals navigating a rapidly evolving industry. What began as a print publication in a pre-digital era grew into a multimedia platform offering expert-driven insights and practical guidance. After a long, successful run, it’s time for us to say goodbye.

The Journal has always held steadfast to a single mission: empowering industry advancement by delivering insightful education, thought-leadership perspectives, and news and product updates. You, our readers, have always been our priority.

As we publish this, our final edition, we look back with pride and gratitude at the enduring legacy that was only possible with readership support and the strong partnerships with Rockwell Automation and the companies in its PartnerNetwork^TM program. Throughout this retrospective, you’ll also hear from Journal staff members and key players from Rockwell Automation and its partners.

Like Steve Wetzel, principal applications engineer at Rockwell Automation Technology Partner Southwire, who says, “The Journal has long been a beacon of excellence in the realm of factory automation, consistently delivering insightful and impactful content to both manufacturing and engineering audiences. Over the years, it has established itself as a trusted source of information, guiding industry professionals through the complexities of modern industrial automation.”

He adds, “The Journal has been a valuable partner for me and the entire Southwire Factory Automation team, helping to foster deeper conversations around standards and best practices in VFD cable to motor drive connections, ensuring this topic is not only understood but also implemented effectively across the industry.”

At the Beginning

It’s hard to imagine that just 32 years ago, the Internet and industrial automation control were still in their infancy. Engineers were only just beginning to grasp the benefits of Controller Area Network (CAN) and DeviceNet™ protocols. And at the forefront of these technological advances was Allen-Bradley^® company, now Rockwell Automation.

At the time, these technology disruptors meant industrial firms needed a better way to learn how to implement and optimize the new equipment. So, to address this challenge, at the 1994 Automation Fair^® event in St. Louis, Allen-Bradley introduced the AB-Journal — a print magazine to provide readers with practical technical guidance.

What distinguished the magazine from other custom publications was its commitment to providing practical educational content, free from sales and marketing hype. To maintain this commitment, Rockwell Automation partnered with an independent publisher. This started a decades-long relationship with Putman Media, Inc., which was acquired in 2022 by Endeavor Business Media.

A Winning Formula

In 2006, AB-Journal was rebranded as The Journal from Rockwell Automation and Our PartnerNetwork™, reflecting the importance of the relationship Rockwell Automation has with companies in its PartnerNetwork in deploying automation solutions. Rockwell Automation and partner companies not only contributed editorial content but also provided advertising support that allowed the publication to continue reaching 40,000 subscribers each year.

Several partner companies have been around since The Journal’s launch, remaining active contributors and loyal supporters.

“The Journal has been a valuable source of ideas and innovation for Rockwell Automation customers and the entire industrial community,” says Bernd Schuessler, global account manager at Pepperl+Fuchs, a Rockwell Automation Technology Partner.

“It has helped bring customers and partners together like few others have. Pepperl+Fuchs is honored to have shared this journey over the past 32 years. As we celebrate the final issue, we thank The Journal for the connections, the insights, and the impact it has made on our industry.”

Changing Times

Just like the manufacturing industry, surviving more than three decades in the publishing world is no small feat. The Journal has faced numerous challenges over the years, surviving several recessions and changes in management and an acquisition.

As automation technologies advanced, so too did the ways we shared information with you. What was once difficult to access 32 years ago is now readily available across a variety of formats. For years now, we’ve been providing educational information through videos, our award-winning “Automation Chat" podcast, social media and LinkedIn, e-newsletters, webinars, white papers, digital ehandbooks and special reports, and more.

In fact, The Journal’s effectiveness in delivering information earned numerous editorial and design awards (see our accolades).

With Gratitude

And so, from everyone at The Journal, we thank our readers for your loyalty, and hope we’ve served you well in our mission to help you perform your jobs more productively, safely and profitably. And thank you to Rockwell Automation and its partner companies for your partnership and support for these 32 years. It’s been an honor and privilege, and we look forward to seeing how the industrial automation industry continues to evolve.

^{The Journal From Rockwell Automation and Our PartnerNetwork™ is published by Endeavor Business Media.}