Bosch Rexroth, a global leader in drive and control technologies, is set to unveil its latest advancements in factory automation at Automate 2026, scheduled to take place in Chicago. The company will occupy Booth #2810, where it plans to showcase a comprehensive suite of solutions designed to meet the escalating demand for automation technologies across diverse production environments worldwide. This exhibition comes at a pivotal moment for the manufacturing sector, which continues its rapid embrace of automated processes to enhance efficiency, productivity, and resilience in an increasingly complex global market.
The company’s presence at Automate 2026 will feature an extensive portfolio encompassing cutting-edge automation components, sophisticated digital engineering tools, interactive exhibits, and compelling live system demonstrations. These offerings are strategically designed to provide manufacturers with the tools necessary to navigate the challenges and opportunities presented by Industry 4.0, from optimizing material flow to implementing intelligent control systems and precise motion technologies.
The Significance of Automate 2026
Automate stands as North America’s largest and most comprehensive automation exhibition, organized biennially by the Association for Advancing Automation (A3). The event serves as a critical nexus for industry leaders, innovators, and practitioners to converge, explore emerging technologies, and forge partnerships that drive the future of manufacturing. Automate 2026 is anticipated to draw tens of thousands of attendees, including engineers, integrators, and business executives, all keen to discover solutions in robotics, artificial intelligence (AI), machine vision, motion control, and related automation disciplines.
The decision to host Automate in Chicago underscores the city’s enduring significance as a manufacturing and logistics hub in the United States. The event’s consistent growth in exhibitor numbers and visitor attendance over recent years reflects the accelerating adoption of automation across industries such as automotive, aerospace, food and beverage, pharmaceuticals, and electronics. By 2026, industry analysts project the global industrial automation market to exceed $350 billion, driven by factors such as labor shortages, the pursuit of higher quality standards, demand for mass customization, and the imperative for more resilient supply chains. This backdrop makes Automate 2026 an ideal platform for Bosch Rexroth to demonstrate its commitment to fostering innovation and supporting the digital transformation journeys of its customers.
Bosch Rexroth’s Vision for Future Factories
Bosch Rexroth’s participation at Automate 2026 is a testament to its strategic vision for the future of manufacturing – one characterized by highly flexible, interconnected, and intelligent production facilities. The company’s philosophy centers on providing open, modular, and scalable automation solutions that empower manufacturers to adapt quickly to market changes, optimize resource utilization, and improve worker safety. Their offerings are designed not just to automate individual tasks but to create integrated ecosystems where machines, software, and humans collaborate seamlessly.
This holistic approach is particularly relevant in an era where manufacturing agility is paramount. Global events have highlighted the fragility of traditional supply chains, pushing companies to invest in automation that allows for rapid retooling, localized production, and enhanced operational visibility. Bosch Rexroth positions itself as a key enabler of this transformation, leveraging decades of engineering expertise to develop solutions that are both robust and future-proof.
Showcasing Innovation: Key Demonstrations at Booth #2810
At Booth #2810, visitors will have the opportunity to engage directly with Bosch Rexroth’s specialists and experience first-hand the capabilities of their advanced automation systems. The demonstrations are carefully curated to highlight practical applications and the tangible benefits these technologies offer to modern manufacturers.
Advanced Conveyance Systems: Driving Material Flow Efficiency
A central feature of Bosch Rexroth’s exhibit will be its sophisticated TS conveyor systems, renowned for their versatility and robust performance across a broad spectrum of industries and applications. The display will prominently feature:
- TS 7plus Conveyor System: Engineered for heavy-duty applications, the TS 7plus is capable of transporting payloads up to an impressive 3,000 kg. This makes it an indispensable solution for sectors such as automotive manufacturing, where heavy components like engine blocks or car bodies require precise and reliable transport. Its robust design ensures stability and longevity, even in demanding industrial environments, contributing to uninterrupted production flows and reduced downtime.
- TS 2plus Conveyor System: Complementing its heavy-duty counterpart, the TS 2plus offers a versatile solution for lighter to medium-weight applications. It is widely adopted in electronics assembly, medical device manufacturing, and various general industrial applications where precision and flexibility are crucial. Both the TS 2plus and TS 7plus systems are built upon Bosch Rexroth’s industry-leading aluminum framing system, a foundational technology the company has continuously supplied and refined for over 40 years. This aluminum framing system is celebrated for its modularity, lightweight yet durable construction, and ease of assembly, allowing manufacturers to quickly configure and reconfigure production lines to meet evolving demands. The longevity of this framing system underscores Bosch Rexroth’s commitment to quality and backward compatibility, providing customers with long-term value and investment protection. The integration of these conveyance systems aligns with the broader trend towards lean manufacturing and intelligent intralogistics, where optimized material flow directly translates into significant operational efficiencies and cost savings.
The ctrlX AUTOMATION Ecosystem: Redefining Control
Visitors to the Bosch Rexroth booth will also gain insight into the transformative power of the ctrlX AUTOMATION platform. This comprehensive product suite represents a paradigm shift in industrial control, characterized by its openness, modularity, and app-based architecture. Key demonstrations will include:
- Cabinet-Free Display of ctrlX DRIVE: This innovative presentation will highlight the advantages of Bosch Rexroth’s cabinet-free drive technology. By eliminating the need for bulky control cabinets, manufacturers can save valuable floor space, reduce wiring complexity, and simplify maintenance. This design philosophy aligns perfectly with the trend towards decentralized intelligence and modular machine concepts, facilitating faster commissioning and greater flexibility in plant layout.
- ctrlX CORE Controller: As the powerful core of the ctrlX AUTOMATION system, this controller will be showcased for its exceptional processing power, real-time capabilities, and extensive connectivity options. The ctrlX CORE is designed to handle complex automation tasks, from motion control to data processing, acting as the central nervous system for modern machinery.
- ctrlX FLOW HS Smart Conveyance System: This demonstration will illustrate how intelligent conveyance can be seamlessly integrated into the broader automation ecosystem. The ctrlX FLOW HS system uses advanced controls to optimize material handling, minimize bottlenecks, and ensure synchronized movement, contributing to a more efficient and responsive production line.
The Power of ctrlX OS: App-Based Flexibility and AI Integration
A cornerstone of the ctrlX AUTOMATION platform is ctrlX OS, an operating system that fundamentally redefines how industrial automation is approached. Built on a Linux foundation, ctrlX OS champions an app-based model, mirroring the familiarity and flexibility of smartphone ecosystems. This approach offers unprecedented advantages for industrial applications:
- Open and Flexible Ecosystem: ctrlX OS fosters an open ecosystem, allowing developers to create and integrate a vast array of applications from Bosch Rexroth, partner companies, and even third-party developers. This eliminates vendor lock-in and provides manufacturers with the freedom to choose the best-of-breed solutions for their specific needs, from specialized vision systems to advanced analytics tools.
- Rapid Deployment and Scalability: The app-based model enables quick deployment of new functionalities and easy scalability. Manufacturers can add or remove applications as their production requirements evolve, significantly reducing development cycles and time-to-market for new products or processes.
- Integration of Robotics and AI-Based Vision Systems: A key demonstration will illustrate the seamless integration of robotics and AI-based vision systems using ctrlX OS. This convergence is critical for advanced manufacturing, enabling capabilities such as:
- Enhanced Quality Control: AI-powered vision systems can detect minute defects at high speeds, far surpassing human capabilities.
- Flexible Assembly: Robots guided by AI vision can adapt to variations in product components, enabling more versatile assembly lines.
- Predictive Maintenance: Analyzing visual data can help predict equipment failures, allowing for proactive maintenance and minimizing downtime.
- Human-Robot Collaboration: Vision systems can ensure safe and efficient interaction between human workers and collaborative robots (cobots).
- Edge Hardware with AI Acceleration: The demonstration will also highlight the role of specialized edge hardware that supports AI acceleration. This allows AI computations to be performed directly on the machine or at the network edge, rather than relying solely on cloud computing. Benefits include:
- Real-time Decision Making: Reduced latency for critical operations.
- Enhanced Data Security: Data remains local, addressing privacy and security concerns.
- Reduced Network Bandwidth: Less data needs to be transmitted to the cloud.
- Robustness in Disconnected Environments: Continued operation even without constant cloud connectivity.
This integrated approach with ctrlX OS empowers manufacturers to build highly intelligent, adaptable, and efficient production systems that are ready for the challenges of Industry 4.0 and beyond.
Precision in Motion: Linear Technology Advancements
Bosch Rexroth’s long-standing expertise in linear motion technology will be prominently showcased, emphasizing the precision and reliability essential for modern industrial processes. The display will include:
- Interactive Hologram: An engaging interactive hologram will provide visitors with a dynamic, three-dimensional view of Bosch Rexroth’s extensive range of linear motion components. This innovative presentation method allows for a deeper understanding of the intricate engineering behind screws, bearings, and linear modules.
- Screws: From high-precision ball screws for demanding positioning tasks to robust lead screws for heavy loads, the hologram will illustrate their diverse applications in machine tools, robotics, and automation equipment, highlighting attributes like accuracy, repeatability, and load capacity.
- Bearings: Linear ball bearings, profile rail guides, and other bearing types will be showcased, emphasizing their role in providing smooth, low-friction motion, crucial for precision machinery and long operational life.
- Linear Modules: These pre-assembled, ready-to-install units integrate various linear motion components into compact, high-performance systems. The hologram will demonstrate their versatility and ease of integration into complex automation solutions.
- Cartesian Robot Demonstration: A live demonstration featuring a Cartesian robot will illustrate its capabilities in multi-axis movement and precise positioning. Cartesian robots are widely used in pick-and-place operations, dispensing, and automated assembly due to their accuracy and configurable workspace. This demonstration will show how Bosch Rexroth’s linear components form the backbone of such precise robotic systems.
- Smart Function Kit for Pressing: This demonstration will highlight an automated pressing application, showcasing how the Smart Function Kit integrates components for precise force control and quality monitoring. The "smart" aspect of this kit lies in its ability to gather data, provide feedback, and even adapt its pressing force based on real-time conditions, ensuring consistent product quality and preventing material damage. This is particularly valuable in applications requiring high precision and repeatability, such as automotive assembly or electronics manufacturing.
Further enhancing the visitor experience, a large interactive touch table at the center of the booth will feature a comprehensive factory automation display. This digital showroom will allow attendees to delve deeper into Bosch Rexroth’s extensive automation offerings, exploring product specifications, application examples, and success stories at their own pace.
Industry Landscape: Automation’s Accelerating Trajectory
The robust display by Bosch Rexroth at Automate 2026 aligns with significant global trends in industrial automation. According to various market research reports, the global industrial automation market is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 8-10% from 2023 to 2030, potentially reaching over $400 billion. This growth is underpinned by several key drivers:
- Labor Shortages and Rising Labor Costs: Automation provides a critical solution to the scarcity of skilled labor in manufacturing and helps mitigate the impact of increasing wages, enhancing competitiveness.
- Demand for Higher Quality and Precision: Automated systems consistently deliver products with higher precision and fewer defects than manual processes, crucial for industries like medical devices and aerospace.
- Increased Productivity and Throughput: Automation enables continuous operation, higher production speeds, and optimized resource allocation, leading to significant increases in output.
- Supply Chain Resilience: The ability to automate production and adapt quickly to changes in demand or supply disruptions enhances overall supply chain robustness.
- Mass Customization: Flexible automation systems allow manufacturers to produce a wider variety of products in smaller batches, catering to the growing consumer demand for personalized goods without sacrificing efficiency.
- Sustainability Imperatives: Modern automation solutions often incorporate energy-efficient drives and processes, reducing waste and contributing to environmental sustainability goals.
The solutions presented by Bosch Rexroth directly address these drivers, offering tangible benefits that extend beyond mere cost reduction to encompass enhanced operational agility, improved product quality, and a more sustainable manufacturing footprint.
Expert Engagement and Collaborative Opportunities
Throughout Automate 2026, Bosch Rexroth specialists will be readily available at Booth #2810 to engage with visitors. These experts will offer in-depth discussions on a wide range of factory automation strategies, providing insights into best practices for achieving operational efficiency, ensuring worker safety, and maximizing return on investment from automation initiatives. Their presence underscores Bosch Rexroth’s commitment to not only supplying cutting-edge technology but also providing the consultative support necessary for successful implementation.
Additionally, attendees interested in collaborative robotics will find an opportunity to visit the booth of Bosch Rexroth’s subsidiary, Kassow Robots, located at Booth #2036. Kassow Robots specializes in developing powerful and easy-to-use 7-axis cobots, which are designed to work safely alongside human operators, opening new possibilities for automation in tasks previously considered too complex or delicate for traditional industrial robots. This dual presence highlights Bosch Rexroth’s comprehensive approach to automation, covering both traditional industrial automation and the rapidly expanding field of human-robot collaboration.
Conclusion: Paving the Way for Intelligent Manufacturing
Bosch Rexroth’s robust exhibition at Automate 2026 is poised to be a highlight of the event, offering a compelling vision for the future of industrial automation. By showcasing advanced conveyance systems, the groundbreaking ctrlX AUTOMATION platform with its app-based ctrlX OS, and precision linear motion technologies, the company demonstrates its leadership in providing integrated, flexible, and intelligent solutions. These innovations are not merely technological advancements; they are strategic enablers for manufacturers striving to build more resilient, productive, and adaptable factories in an increasingly automated world. As the industry continues its inexorable march towards Industry 4.0, Bosch Rexroth remains at the forefront, equipping businesses with the tools and expertise necessary to thrive in the era of intelligent manufacturing. For more detailed information on Bosch Rexroth’s presence and offerings at Automate 2026, interested parties are encouraged to visit boschrexroth-us.com/automate.
