Regal Rexnord Corp., a global leader in the engineering and manufacturing of industrial powertrain solutions, motion control, and automation components, is set to make a significant impact at Automate 2026. Scheduled to take place from June 22 to June 25 at McCormick Place in Chicago, the premier North American event for automation technologies will serve as a pivotal platform for Regal Rexnord to showcase its latest innovations in robotics and factory automation. The company will feature an expansive portfolio of products from its renowned brands, including Thomson, Kollmorgen, Portescap, Warner Electric, ModSort, Huco, Micron, Boston Gear, Berg, Stearns, Leeson, and Bauer Gear Motor. These offerings are meticulously designed to meet the evolving demands of manufacturers, machine builders, and system integrators focused on enhancing motion control in sophisticated automated systems.
The exhibition at Booth 17030 in the North Hall promises a comprehensive display of solutions tailored for critical areas such as robot transfer, precision servo motion, advanced braking systems, and integrated sensing technologies. These products are engineered to facilitate machine designs that prioritize flexible layouts, ensure reliable operation, and boast compact footprints – essential characteristics for modern industrial environments grappling with space constraints and the need for adaptable production lines. Attendees will have the opportunity to engage with technical experts, witness live demonstrations, and explore how Regal Rexnord’s integrated solutions can address their specific automation challenges.
The Significance of Automate 2026
Automate, produced by the Association for Advancing Automation (A3), stands as North America’s largest and most comprehensive automation event. Held biennially, it brings together leading manufacturers, innovators, and end-users from across the globe to explore the latest advancements in robotics, artificial intelligence, vision systems, motion control, and related automation technologies. The 2026 iteration is anticipated to draw tens of thousands of attendees, making it an unparalleled forum for industry professionals to discover cutting-edge solutions, network with peers, and gain insights into the future trajectory of manufacturing. For companies like Regal Rexnord, Automate provides an invaluable opportunity to demonstrate product capabilities, foster new partnerships, and reinforce their position at the forefront of industrial innovation.
The event’s emphasis on practical applications and emerging trends aligns perfectly with Regal Rexnord’s strategy to provide tangible solutions that address real-world manufacturing challenges. The dynamic environment of Automate encourages direct engagement, allowing Regal Rexnord to gather immediate feedback and understand the pressing needs of the market, thereby informing future research and development initiatives.
Regal Rexnord’s Strategic Vision in Automation
As industries worldwide accelerate their adoption of robotics and connected production systems, automation teams are increasingly seeking solutions that offer rapid deployment, seamless integration, and inherent adaptability to changing production requirements. Regal Rexnord’s presence at Automate 2026 underscores its strategic commitment to empowering these teams with robust, high-performance components and integrated systems. The company’s diverse portfolio is meticulously curated to deliver advanced motion control, power transmission, and automation products critical for a wide array of industrial applications, including sophisticated robotic cells, efficient material handling systems, precision packaging equipment, and cutting-edge autonomous platforms.
A spokesperson for Regal Rexnord emphasized the company’s dedication to innovation: "Our goal is to be the indispensable partner for manufacturers navigating the complexities of modern automation. At Automate 2026, we are showcasing not just individual components, but integrated solutions designed to optimize operational efficiency, enhance flexibility, and reduce the total cost of ownership for our customers. The synergy across our brands allows us to provide comprehensive systems that are reliable, precise, and future-ready." This holistic approach is crucial in an era where system integration and interoperability are paramount to achieving smart manufacturing objectives.
Spotlight on Key Innovations: Enhancing Performance and Flexibility
Regal Rexnord’s booth will feature several groundbreaking products designed to address specific industry pain points and elevate automation capabilities.
Elevating Collaborative Robotics: The Thomson Movotrak Cobot Transfer Unit
One of the anticipated highlights is a live demonstration of the Thomson Movotrak Cobot Transfer Unit. This innovative collaborative seventh axis is engineered to significantly extend the operational envelope of cobot applications, adding up to an impressive 10 meters of horizontal operating range. The Movotrak system enables a single cobot to efficiently traverse between multiple workstations or cover a substantially larger process area, dramatically enhancing its versatility and utility in various production scenarios.
Technically, the Movotrak Cobot Transfer Unit leverages a sophisticated dual linear-unit design. This architecture is crucial for delivering exceptional linear motion precision, superior moment load capacity, and robust stiffness, ensuring stable and accurate movement even under demanding conditions. A key safety feature is its integrated collision detection system, which operates across the entire seventh axis, providing an added layer of protection for both human operators and equipment in collaborative environments. Furthermore, the inclusion of Freedrive programming simplifies the setup process, allowing operators to intuitively guide the cobot to set linear waypoints, thereby reducing commissioning time and increasing operational flexibility. This innovation directly responds to the growing demand for more adaptable and spatially efficient robotic solutions, especially in sectors like assembly, inspection, and material handling, where cobots are increasingly being deployed. Industry analysis indicates that the global collaborative robot market is projected to grow at a CAGR exceeding 20% in the coming years, underscoring the relevance and timeliness of solutions like the Movotrak.
Precision and Efficiency: Kollmorgen Essentials Motion Systems
Another cornerstone of Regal Rexnord’s display will be the Kollmorgen Essentials Motion Systems. This comprehensive motion control package is meticulously designed to streamline the process for machine builders in specifying, configuring, and setting up complex servo motion systems. Each Essentials system is a fully integrated solution, comprising a high-performance servo motor, a responsive servo drive, and advanced single-cable power and data technology. This single-cable approach significantly simplifies wiring, reduces installation time, and minimizes potential points of failure, contributing to a cleaner and more efficient machine design.
Critically, these systems offer robust support for common industrial Ethernet control systems, including EtherCAT, PROFINET, and Ethernet/IP, ensuring seamless integration into a wide array of existing automation architectures. The latest expansion of the Kollmorgen Essentials line introduces the powerful PCMM2G Essentials controller, which offers enhanced processing capabilities and advanced control algorithms. Alongside this, new high-voltage drive capabilities extending up to 4 kW have been incorporated, broadening the application scope for these systems. This expansion is particularly beneficial for demanding applications in high-speed packaging, intricate warehouse automation, heavy-duty material handling, and precise forming processes, where both power and precision are paramount. The ability to rapidly deploy and configure these systems translates into shorter development cycles and faster time-to-market for machine builders, a critical competitive advantage in today’s fast-paced industrial landscape.
Integrated Intelligence: The Warner Electric Integrated Position Brake
Further demonstrating Regal Rexnord’s commitment to integrated solutions is the Warner Electric Integrated Position Brake. This innovative component combines two essential functions into a single, compact assembly: a reliable spring-applied, electrically released brake, and an embedded absolute position sensing capability. By intelligently merging braking and position feedback, this brake eliminates the need for separate components, drastically reducing complexity and assembly time.
The advantages of this integration are manifold. It enables significantly shorter drivetrain designs, allowing OEMs to develop more compact and efficient electric powertrains. This miniaturization is a crucial trend in modern automation, material handling, and mobile equipment, where space is often at a premium. The integrated position sensing provides real-time, absolute position data, enhancing control precision and safety across various applications. This not only optimizes machine performance but also contributes to improved diagnostics and predictive maintenance capabilities. The Warner Electric Integrated Position Brake exemplifies Regal Rexnord’s dedication to developing smart, multi-functional components that drive efficiency, reduce component count, and support the creation of leaner, more agile machinery.
Addressing Modern Manufacturing Challenges and Industry Trends
The products on display at Automate 2026 collectively illustrate how Regal Rexnord’s extensive portfolio addresses diverse facets of a machine or production line, offering solutions from component level to integrated systems. The company’s ability to provide a comprehensive suite of products, encompassing linear motion, servo control, braking, sensing, gearing, conveying, and power transmission, positions it as a vital partner for OEMs, system integrators, and manufacturers globally.
The ongoing digital transformation of manufacturing, often referred to as Industry 4.0, emphasizes connectivity, data-driven decision-making, and automation. Manufacturers are investing heavily in advanced robotics and interconnected production systems to achieve higher levels of productivity, quality, and flexibility. According to recent market reports, the global industrial automation market is projected to reach over $300 billion by 2027, growing at a CAGR of nearly 10%, driven by factors such as labor shortages, rising energy costs, and the increasing demand for customized products.
Regal Rexnord’s offerings directly cater to these trends. The modularity of their solutions, coupled with their emphasis on open connectivity standards like industrial Ethernet, ensures that their products can be deployed quickly and integrated with minimal effort into existing or new production architectures. This adaptability is crucial for manufacturers whose production needs are constantly evolving due to market shifts, technological advancements, and supply chain dynamics. Furthermore, the focus on reliable operation and compact footprints helps optimize valuable factory floor space and reduces operational downtime, leading to significant cost savings and improved return on investment.
A Comprehensive Ecosystem of Brands
The strength of Regal Rexnord lies not just in individual product excellence but in the synergistic capabilities of its diverse brand family. Each brand brings specialized expertise to the table, contributing to a holistic solution ecosystem:
- Thomson: Leader in linear motion systems, including ball screws, linear guides, and actuators.
- Kollmorgen: Renowned for high-performance servo motors, drives, and motion controllers.
- Portescap: Specializes in miniature motors for precision applications.
- Warner Electric: Expertise in clutches, brakes, and tension control systems.
- ModSort: Innovative sortation systems for material handling.
- Huco: Precision couplings for motion control applications.
- Micron: High-precision planetary gearheads.
- Boston Gear: Industrial gears, speed reducers, and other power transmission products.
- Berg: Precision mechanical components.
- Stearns: Electric brakes and clutches.
- Leeson: Electric motors for a wide range of industrial applications.
- Bauer Gear Motor: High-efficiency geared motors.
This extensive portfolio allows Regal Rexnord to provide integrated, optimized solutions for virtually any part of a machine or production line, offering unparalleled versatility and performance to its customers.
Executive Outlook and Future Implications
Looking ahead, Regal Rexnord anticipates that the demand for sophisticated, integrated automation solutions will only intensify. The company is committed to continuous innovation, ensuring its products not only meet current industry standards but also anticipate future requirements. "Our presence at Automate 2026 is a clear statement of our long-term vision and commitment to the automation industry," stated a company representative. "We are dedicated to providing the tools and technologies that will enable our customers to build the factories of tomorrow – smarter, more efficient, and more resilient."
The implications of Regal Rexnord’s showcased technologies extend beyond immediate operational improvements. By facilitating faster deployment, greater flexibility, and enhanced precision, these solutions contribute to a more competitive manufacturing landscape. They enable companies to respond more rapidly to market changes, adopt sustainable practices through optimized energy consumption, and create safer working environments through advanced collaborative robotics and integrated safety features. As manufacturers strive for greater autonomy and intelligence in their production processes, Regal Rexnord’s integrated approach positions them as a critical enabler of this industrial evolution.
Attendees of Automate 2026 are encouraged to visit Regal Rexnord at Booth 17030 in the North Hall. This will provide an invaluable opportunity to view these cutting-edge demonstrations firsthand, engage in in-depth discussions with representatives from its leading motion and automation brands, and explore how these innovations can be leveraged to drive productivity and efficiency in their operations. For further information about Regal Rexnord and its comprehensive range of products, please visit regalrexnord.com.
