Beckhoff USA has announced the appointment of Josh Crayton as the Semiconductor Industry Manager, signaling a strategic move to accelerate the company’s market share growth in the United States. In this pivotal role, Crayton aims to enhance Beckhoff’s foothold in the semiconductor sector by aligning support and deploying cutting-edge technologies tailored specifically for this industry.
Bringing over 25 years of extensive expertise in high-end automation and motion control, Crayton has a robust background in consulting on automation technology for complex semiconductor manufacturing solutions. His tenure includes significant contributions within the realm of major semiconductor machine builders.
David Emory, Director of Strategic Sales at Beckhoff USA, expressed confidence in Crayton’s capabilities, stating, “Josh’s wealth of semiconductor industry knowledge and extensive experience in automation technology make him a valuable addition to our Strategic Sales Team. His previous contributions to Beckhoff have been exceptional, particularly in working closely with major semiconductor machine builders.”
Crayton’s career journey spans various automation sales and engineering roles, starting in 1997 at an automation distributor in Southern California. His focus on the semiconductor market intensified during his tenure at Motion Engineering, Inc. (now part of Danaher), where he advocated for PC-based motion control and SynqNet communication to Silicon Valley-based customers.
Having held pivotal roles at Yaskawa, including Western Regional Sales Manager, Motion, Crayton transitioned to Beckhoff USA in August 2019 as the Business Development Leader for the West Region, showcasing his commitment to the advancement of automation technologies.
Beckhoff has a history of success in the semiconductor industry, largely owing to the robustness of the EtherCAT industrial Ethernet system, established as a SEMI standard in 2007. Crayton’s vision for the future involves leveraging leading-edge PC-based control, servo-based motion, and TwinCAT software technologies to further optimize semiconductor manufacturing processes. He anticipates these advancements will be pivotal as the semiconductor market is projected to exceed $1 trillion by 2030.
“The semiconductor industry has been integral to my career in automation on the West Coast. I’ve witnessed its cycles and am eager to aid its major players in overcoming challenges,” remarked Crayton. “As the industry propels toward rapid growth, substantial investment in scalable automation technology is imperative. In my new role, I aim to collaborate closely with both machine builder OEMs and equipment end users to ensure continued success.”
Crayton holds a Bachelor of Science in physics from Loyola Marymount University. His appointment as the Semiconductor Industry Manager at Beckhoff USA underscores the company’s commitment to driving innovation and tailored solutions within the semiconductor landscape.