This article is sponsored by Bishop-Wisecarver. In this Voices interview, Control Engineering spoke with Eric Johnson, senior applications engineer at Bishop-Wisecarver, about the company’s Signature ExperienceTM and decades of motion expertise helping engineers solve complex motion challenges. Johnson shared insights on the importance of engineering collaboration, system design consideration and what makes an effective motion partner.
Control Engineering: Bishop-Wisecarver often talks about delivering the Signature ExperienceTM. From your perspective, what does that look like for engineers and machine builders, from the first conversation to final implementation?
Eric Johnson: From an application engineer’s perspective, the Signature Experience™ is about being a reliable engineering partner rather than simply supplying a component.
It starts with asking the right questions and fully understanding the application — what the customer is trying to achieve, the constraints they’re working within and how the motion system fits into the broader machine. From there, it becomes a collaborative process of discussing concepts, running initial calculations and developing a design that is practical, optimized and not unnecessarily complex, all within a responsive and efficient timeframe.
Engineers and machine builders want clear answers and confidence that the solution will perform as expected. That means providing accurate documentation, CAD models and designs that are easy to integrate, while also delivering information and support quickly so projects can keep moving forward.
A good example of how this plays out in practice is in gantry system implementations. We can take our LoPro® Linear Actuator, built on our DualVee Motion Technology® product line, and integrate it into a multi-axis system where multiple axes must work together seamlessly. This requires system-level thinking around coordination, alignment and integration.
The engagement doesn’t stop at delivery. During implementation, Bishop-Wisecarver stays involved to help resolve any issues that may arise, responding quickly to keep timelines on track. Once the system is operational, we continue to support improvements and future iterations. The goal is to make the engineer’s job easier while ensuring long-term success for the system.
Bishop-Wisecarver has been solving motion challenges for more than 75 years. How has that depth of application knowledge shaped the way your team supports manufacturers and automation designers today?
Seventy-five years of experience have significantly shaped how we approach problem-solving. It allows us to focus on delivering the right solution the first time, rather than iterating through avoidable mistakes.
When a customer comes to us with a motion challenge, we draw on similar system requirements we’ve worked on before. That history helps us ask better questions early on — understanding load conditions, environmental exposure, duty cycles and system constraints — so we don’t miss critical factors.
It also allows us to move quickly with confidence. The solutions we propose are grounded in real-world experience, combined with engineering excellence. Our reputation for speed and reliability is exactly what engineers need when working under tight development timelines, and it’s a key part of what has shaped our long history.
At the same time, motion challenges have evolved substantially over the years. Earlier systems were often focused on simple linear motion, but today engineers are designing complex, multi-axis movements including coordinated motion in three-dimensional space and even curved or track-based systems. Staying ahead of these trends reflects our pioneering core values and commitment to innovation.
For example, some systems now require motion along curved rails, similar to a racetrack. This shift has increased system complexity and reinforced the need for deeper engineering knowledge, something we’ve developed through decades of application experience.
Many automation projects involve unique constraints like limited space, harsh environments or complex motion profiles. How does your applications engineering team approach solving these challenges?
The first step is always understanding the full context of the problem, not just the motion requirements. We break it down into key engineering factors like load, speed, operating conditions, accuracy and lifecycle expectations, which guide the solution development process.
Rather than forcing a standard product into a non-ideal application, we leverage BW’s broad portfolio of motion systems and configure them to meet specific requirements — whether that involves tight installation spaces, complex motion paths or demanding operating conditions. The focus is always on delivering a solution that performs consistently in real-world use.
In harsh or washdown applications, for example, we apply our expertise and product breadth to ensure long-term performance. This includes using stainless steel components for corrosion resistance, FDA-compliant materials where required and patented washdown wheels specifically designed for high-moisture or contamination-prone settings. These solutions are engineered from the start to perform in these conditions, not adapted as an afterthought.
By addressing these factors early, we can select the right materials and incorporate appropriate design features to ensure reliable performance. That proactive approach helps reduce maintenance, improve system longevity and keep projects on track from the beginning.
Successful motion systems often depend on collaboration between suppliers, integrators and end users. How does Bishop-Wisecarver ensure solutions are practical and reliable in design requirements?
Collaboration is most effective when it starts early in the design phase. By engaging at the initial stages, we can incorporate critical factors such as environmental conditions, space constraints, and duty cycles into the design from the beginning, reducing iterations and improving reliability.
A key part of our Signature Experience™ is our willingness to closely partner with customers not just on full systems, but even down to a single component or subsystem. Whether it’s modifying a standard product or developing a custom configuration, we work alongside engineers, machine builders and integrators to ensure the design fits the customer’s needs.
We review system layouts, provide design guidance and identify issues before they become costly problems. Just as importantly, our involvement doesn’t stop at installation. We stay engaged to support ongoing performance, because we view these relationships as long-term partnerships, not transactional, project-based interactions. That commitment is a big part of how we ensure solutions perform reliably in field-proven scenarios.
When engineers are selecting a motion solutions provider for demanding applications, what qualities or capabilities should they prioritize, and how does Bishop-Wisecarver aim to deliver on those expectations?
Engineers should prioritize a few critical capabilities. First is strong application engineering expertise. It’s important to choose a partner who understands not just components, but complete motion systems and operational conditions. Second is a broad, flexible product portfolio that allows for customization. And third is long-term support to ensure the design continues to perform over its lifecycle.
At Bishop-Wisecarver, we measure how well we deliver on those expectations through ongoing Voice-of-the-Customer feedback. Consistently, customers rate us better to much better than the competition on the factors that matter most in their purchasing decisions, and that’s reflected in strong satisfaction and loyalty scores across our customer base.
We also place a strong emphasis on long-term partnership. As a privately held, family-owned company, we focus on building lasting relationships — so customers know who they’re working with and can rely on consistent support as their system requirements evolve.
That combination of technical depth, flexibility and sustained support is what defines a strong motion partner.
For 75 years, Bishop-Wisecarver® (BW) has developed innovative motion and automation technologies that are expertly designed and delivered to perform. From linear and rotary motion solutions to custom assemblies and mechatronic systems, BW helps manufacturers solve complex challenges with reliable, application-specific solutions — backed by a Signature Experience™ built on engineering expertise, responsiveness and long-term partnership. Building on this commitment, Wisecarver Automation (WA) was established as a division of Bishop-Wisecarver® to deliver complete, production-ready automation systems. Bringing this same approach to full system integration, WA delivers from design and fabrication through commissioning and lifecycle support — engineered to reduce risk and perform for decades.
Discover how Bishop-Wisecarver® can support your next motion project:
www.bwc.com | [email protected] | +1 (925) 439-8272
