What's up, manufacturing? This is your boy Eddie, founder and CEO of Speak Friend. We are here in Chicago, Illinois, at McCormick Place at Automate.

We're here to see the latest and greatest in robotics and automation and, hey, maybe see a couple friends in between. But I didn't come here just to stand around. Let's go check it out.

Today has been awesome, and we have seen so many amazing pieces of technology and automation. I can't wait to see what happens next.

I always love coming to McCormick. I love being in Chicago, and it's been a great time at Automate.

Hey, you all stay hydrated. Tell someone that you love them, and we'll see you next time.

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Inside Automate 2026: Robotics, AI & Automation in Chicago

Automate always gives us a good excuse to get out from behind the desk and see where manufacturing technology is headed next.

Eddie Saunders Jr., founder and CEO of Speak Friend, hit McCormick Place in Chicago for Automate 2026 to spend some time around the latest robotics, automation technology, and the people building it.

Come along for a quick look at the show floor, some very cool technology, and a few familiar faces along the way.

We love getting close to the people and ideas moving manufacturing forward, and Automate gave us plenty to see.

Videos

Other cool videos that we've created

Why Flexible Concepts Switched to Master Fluid Solutions: Better Coolant & Support

Flexible Concepts switched to Master Fluid Solutions after odor and rust issues — and gained zero downtime, weekly lab sampling, and a true long-term partner.

Force Design custom cell automates bag cutting, dumping, and pallet handling

Force Design's custom automation cell picks, cuts, dumps, and disposes bags while handling pallet insertion — a fully automated replacement for manual work.

Pt 9 | Are Paid Ads Still Worth It for B2B Companies | MMwM

Yes, paid ads work for B2B — if done right. Eddie breaks down targeting, landing pages, retargeting, and ROI tracking to turn ad spend into real pipeline.

Check out our full library of videos

The services

What we do

Strategy

CEO, CMO, Owner

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Consulting, marketing strategy, and paid ads management. We execute and advise.

Socials

Marketing coordinator

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Organic social content creation with set-and-forget distribution. We create, schedule, and post so you don't have to think about it.

Studios

Marketing coordinator

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On-site video capture, editing, and repurposing for Socials. We turn one shoot into weeks of content.

Sales

Rev ops, Sales Manager, CSO

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De-anonymize web traffic, score it against your ICP, and deliver a weekly list of scored prospects ready for outreach.

Your Marketing journey begins with a single step

It takes 30 seconds or less to schedule a meeting that will very likely change the way you think about Marketing.

Need info ASAP? Feel free to email or connect on LinkedIn!