elliVate Bristol 2026: Great People. Great Conversations. Great Technology.
Not every automation event comes with a distillery tour. Then again, elliVate has never been about doing things the usual way.
On August 27, 2026, elliTek brought customers and industry partners together at Tennessee Hills Distillery in Bristol, Tennessee, for the elliVate Bristol 2026 event. It was an evening to step away from the daily rush and spend time with the people behind the technology.
There was plenty to explore. There was even more to talk about. And between the Partner Portal & eShop demonstration and dinner, there was a welcome reminder that an industrial automation event can be both useful and genuinely enjoyable.
Missed Bristol? Keep reading. We’re bringing more opportunities to connect to the Manufacturing Excellence Luncheon & Expo, where you’ll find elliTek at Booths B12 and B31.
A Little elliVate Bristol 2026 Hospitality
The evening began with an optional distillery tour sponsored by Rittal, giving guests a chance to explore Tennessee Hills before the social got underway.
It was a fitting setting for a group of people who appreciate how things are made. It also gave everyone a chance to ease into the evening before turning their attention to automation.
Dinner came courtesy of Siemens Circuit Protection & Controls (CP&C), with food from the Smokestillery. A big thank-you goes to both teams for helping make the evening feel as welcoming as it was informative.
To the Tennessee Hills staff and everyone who helped behind the scenes: we appreciate the work that went into bringing people together.
Automation Beyond the Brochure
The technology was there to be explored, not just described.
The Siemens CP&C team brought its Power Circuit Solutions and Control Circuit Solutions technology walls. Guests could see products up close and speak directly with the people who know them.
IAI America showcased its SCON2 with Safety Functions, putting motion control and machine safety into the same conversation. It offered a concrete starting point for discussing how safety considerations fit into an automation application.
Elite Robots joined the evening with collaborative robotics. Guests also had opportunities to connect with PILZ and SCHUNK, along with WERMA. That mix of partner expertise gave attendees several perspectives to explore in one place.
David and Drew with Elite Robots showcased the CS63 cobot at elliVate Bristol 2026 Doug with Pilz showcased Pilz's Safety Solutions at elliVate Bristol 2026 SCHUNK gripping technologies on display at elliVate Bristol 2026 Todd with WERMA showcased the stack lights, signaling devices and more at elliVate Bristol 2026
That is what makes seeing technology in person worthwhile. You can move beyond what a product does and start asking what using it would look like for your team.
Would it fit your existing equipment? What would maintenance need to know? Where should you start?
Those are the conversations we want to make easier.
The People Are the Point
An impressive demo is a good reason to walk over. A useful conversation is a good reason to stay.
At elliTek, our goal is to connect product knowledge with the realities of your application. We’re an industrial automation distributor and technical support partner based in Knoxville, Tennessee. Our team helps customers select and source automation products with the application in mind.
elliVate gives that approach a more relaxed setting.
To everyone who spent part of their Thursday evening with us in Bristol: thank you. We appreciate the chance to get to know you beyond an email thread or a part number.
Next Stop: Manufacturing Excellence Luncheon & Expo
Now we’re taking that same spirit of discovery to Middle Tennessee.
elliTek will have two booths, B12 and B31, at the Manufacturing Excellence Luncheon & Expo on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, in Lebanon, Tennessee. The event will be held at the Tennessee State Fairgrounds in the Made in Tennessee Building.
Make room in your visit for both booths. Attendees will get to see demonstrations from:
IAI America: Explore electric motion technology and bring your positioning or actuator questions.
Siemens Circuit Protection & Controls (CP&C): Get a closer look at electrical control and circuit protection solutions.
Siemens Digital Industries: See industrial automation technology and discuss your machine or plant requirements.
These technologies are part of the broader automation offering elliTek supports. Our team will be ready to help connect the conversation to your application.
Come with a project in mind, or bring the problem you have not quite figured out how to solve. Use the demonstrations as a starting point. Ask the follow-up question. Tell us what your team needs the technology to do.
Plan Your Visit
Date: Wednesday, September 30, 2026
Expo hours: 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Central Time
Location: Tennessee State Fairgrounds, Made in Tennessee Building
Address: 945 E. Baddour Parkway, Lebanon, TN
Find elliTek: Booths B12 and B31.
The expo is free to attend. The Manufacturing Excellence Luncheon has separate ticketing, so check the organizer’s information as you plan your day.
A Door Prize Worth Asking About
There is another reason to make elliTek part of your expo plans: a door prize sponsored by Siemens Circuit Protection & Controls (CP&C).
While you’re exploring the demonstrations, ask the elliTek team about the prize and how to enter. We’re grateful to Siemens CP&C for adding some extra excitement to the day.
Come for the technology. You could leave with a little something extra.
Put Booths B12 and B31 on Your Must-Visit List
Bristol gave us a great opportunity to reconnect. The expo gives us another opportunity to meet you where your next automation question begins.
Visit elliTek at Booths B12 and B31 on September 30. See the demonstrations from IAI America and Siemens. Talk through your application with our team. And ask about the Siemens CP&C-sponsored door prize before you leave.
Bring the colleague who will use the equipment. Bring the question that keeps coming up in your meetings. You do not have to arrive with all the answers.
Let’s make your next automation conversation a useful one. #YouAutomateWeSupply
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