Bosch Rexroth, a global leader in drive and control technologies, is poised to showcase its extensive portfolio of factory automation solutions at Automate 2026, scheduled to take place in Chicago. The company will occupy Booth #2810, presenting a comprehensive array of automation components, advanced digital engineering tools, interactive exhibits, and live system demonstrations designed to meet the evolving demands of modern manufacturing. This significant presence comes at a critical juncture as industries worldwide continue their accelerated adoption of automation technologies across diverse production environments, driven by the imperative for enhanced efficiency, productivity, and resilience.
Automate 2026: North America’s Premier Automation Showcase
Automate 2026 stands as North America’s largest and most comprehensive trade show and conference dedicated to automation technologies and solutions. Organized by the Association for Advancing Automation (A3), the event serves as a vital platform for showcasing the latest innovations in robotics, artificial intelligence (AI), machine vision, motion control, and industrial automation. Held typically every two years, Automate draws tens of thousands of attendees, including manufacturers, system integrators, engineers, researchers, and business leaders from a multitude of sectors such as automotive, aerospace, electronics, food and beverage, pharmaceuticals, and logistics. The exhibition floor is renowned for its live demonstrations, offering visitors a hands-on experience with cutting-edge technologies that are transforming industrial operations. Beyond the exhibition, Automate features an extensive conference program with expert-led sessions, workshops, and keynotes addressing pressing industry challenges, emerging trends, and best practices in automation deployment. The choice of Chicago as the host city further underscores the event’s strategic importance, leveraging the region’s robust manufacturing base and its central geographic location within North America. The event acts as a critical nexus for knowledge exchange, networking, and business development, fostering collaboration that propels the automation industry forward.
The Accelerating Imperative of Industrial Automation
The increasing adoption of automation technologies, which forms the backdrop for Bosch Rexroth’s exhibition, is not merely a trend but a fundamental shift in global manufacturing paradigms. Several macroeconomic and industrial factors are fueling this acceleration. A persistent shortage of skilled labor across many industrial sectors has made automation an essential tool for maintaining production levels and mitigating operational risks. Furthermore, global competition mandates continuous improvements in productivity, quality, and cost-efficiency, areas where automation delivers significant advantages. The COVID-19 pandemic starkly highlighted the vulnerabilities of global supply chains, prompting manufacturers to invest in automation to enhance resilience, localize production, and enable greater flexibility in response to market fluctuations. Safety in the workplace is another critical driver, with automation capable of taking over hazardous or ergonomically challenging tasks, thereby reducing workplace injuries.
Market data underscores this growth trajectory. The global industrial automation market was valued at approximately $196 billion in 2022 and is projected to reach over $395 billion by 2032, exhibiting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of around 7.3%. North America, in particular, remains a robust market, consistently ranking among the top regions for robotics sales. In recent years, sales of industrial robots in North America have reached record highs, indicating a sustained commitment to automation investments. This growth is further propelled by advancements in related technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), advanced sensors, and sophisticated data analytics, all of which enhance the capabilities and accessibility of automation solutions. Manufacturers are increasingly seeking integrated, modular, and intelligent systems that can adapt to changing production needs, optimize processes in real-time, and provide valuable data for continuous improvement. Bosch Rexroth’s showcase at Automate 2026 directly addresses these multifaceted industry demands, positioning its solutions as enablers for the factory of the future.
Bosch Rexroth’s Comprehensive Showcase: A Deep Dive into Innovation
At Booth #2810, Bosch Rexroth will present a meticulously curated selection of its advanced factory automation offerings, demonstrating its commitment to delivering integrated and scalable solutions. The exhibition is designed to provide visitors with practical insights into how these technologies can be applied to enhance operational efficiency, safety, and competitiveness across various industrial applications.
Advanced Conveyance Systems for Optimized Material Flow
Central to many modern production lines are efficient and reliable conveyance systems. Bosch Rexroth will prominently feature its TS conveyor systems, renowned for their versatility and robust design, which find application across a broad spectrum of industries, from automotive assembly to electronics manufacturing and intralogistics. Among the highlights will be the TS 7plus, a heavy-duty conveyor system engineered to transport substantial payloads of up to 3,000 kg. This capacity makes it ideal for handling large components, sub-assemblies, or even entire product units in demanding industrial environments. Complementing this is the TS 2plus, a highly adaptable system suitable for lighter to medium loads, offering flexibility and precision in automated assembly and testing processes. Both the TS 7plus and TS 2plus are meticulously constructed upon Bosch Rexroth’s time-tested aluminum framing system, a foundational technology that the company has supplied for over four decades. This extensive experience translates into systems known for their modularity, durability, ease of assembly, and adaptability, allowing manufacturers to quickly reconfigure layouts and scale operations as production requirements evolve. These conveyance solutions are critical for maintaining a smooth, uninterrupted material flow, minimizing bottlenecks, and optimizing throughput in complex manufacturing facilities.
Revolutionizing Control and Automation with ctrlX AUTOMATION
A cornerstone of Bosch Rexroth’s exhibit will be its innovative ctrlX AUTOMATION product suite, which epitomizes the company’s vision for future-proof automation. Visitors will experience a unique, cabinet-free display showcasing the ctrlX DRIVE, a compact and powerful drive solution that simplifies machine design by reducing the need for traditional control cabinets, thereby saving space, reducing wiring complexity, and lowering installation costs. The ctrlX CORE controller, the brain of the system, will also be featured, demonstrating its capabilities as a high-performance, open, and real-time control platform. Its powerful multi-core processing architecture ensures rapid execution of complex automation tasks, while its openness allows for seamless integration with diverse hardware and software ecosystems. Furthermore, the ctrlX FLOW HS smart conveyance system will be presented, highlighting how intelligent material handling can be seamlessly integrated with the broader ctrlX AUTOMATION platform for optimized, data-driven logistics within the factory.
A particularly compelling demonstration will focus on ctrlX OS and its groundbreaking app-based approach to integrating advanced technologies. This operating system is designed to provide the flexibility and ease of use typically associated with smartphone ecosystems, but adapted for the rigorous demands of industrial automation. By leveraging applications from both Bosch Rexroth and a growing network of partner companies, ctrlX OS enables manufacturers to quickly deploy new functionalities, customize their automation systems, and stay agile in response to market changes. The demonstration will vividly illustrate how edge hardware, supporting AI acceleration, can be integrated with ctrlX OS to connect robotics and sophisticated AI-based vision systems. This capability is crucial for enabling real-time decision-making at the machine level, facilitating tasks such as quality inspection, object recognition, predictive maintenance, and adaptive robot control, all of which contribute to higher precision, reduced downtime, and improved product quality. The open nature of ctrlX OS fosters an ecosystem of innovation, allowing users to choose the best-in-class solutions for their specific needs, thereby future-proofing their investments in automation technology.
Precision and Performance in Linear Motion Technology
The linear technology display at Bosch Rexroth’s booth will offer an engaging and interactive experience, featuring a cutting-edge hologram that vividly showcases the company’s comprehensive range of linear motion components. This holographic presentation will allow visitors to explore in detail Bosch Rexroth’s precision screws, robust bearings, and versatile linear modules, visualizing their intricate designs and operational principles. Linear motion components are fundamental to nearly every automated machine, providing the precise, controlled movement essential for tasks such as positioning, assembly, and material handling. The display will underscore the importance of these components in achieving high accuracy, speed, and durability in automated processes.
Beyond the hologram, practical applications will be demonstrated through a Cartesian robot and a Smart Function Kit for Pressing. The Cartesian robot, a fundamental building block in industrial automation, will illustrate its capabilities in precise multi-axis movement, making it ideal for pick-and-place operations, dispensing, and assembly tasks. Its modular design and inherent rigidity make it a popular choice for various automated applications requiring high positional accuracy over a defined workspace. The Smart Function Kit for Pressing demonstration will highlight how these advanced linear motion components are integrated into a complete, ready-to-use solution for automated pressing applications. This kit offers a standardized, pre-configured system that simplifies the design and implementation of pressing, joining, and forming tasks, significantly reducing engineering effort and time-to-market. It provides a scalable and flexible solution, incorporating precision linear axes, force sensors, and intelligent control, ensuring consistent quality and process reliability in critical manufacturing steps. This demonstration will effectively bridge the gap between individual components and their application in sophisticated, integrated automation solutions.
Interactive Engagement and Expert Consultation
To further enrich the visitor experience, a large, interactive touch table will be positioned at the center of the Bosch Rexroth booth. This digital display will serve as an intuitive factory automation showroom, enabling visitors to independently explore and delve deeper into Bosch Rexroth’s extensive automation offerings. Through this interactive platform, attendees can access detailed product information, view application videos, and learn about various industry solutions at their own pace.
Crucially, Bosch Rexroth specialists will be readily available throughout Automate 2026 to engage with visitors. These experts will offer personalized consultations on a wide range of factory automation strategies, with a particular emphasis on approaches that drive operational efficiency, enhance safety protocols, and improve overall productivity. Their presence underscores Bosch Rexroth’s commitment not only to providing leading-edge technology but also to offering the technical expertise and support necessary for successful implementation and optimization. Visitors will have the opportunity to discuss specific challenges, explore potential solutions, and gain valuable insights into how Bosch Rexroth’s integrated portfolio can address their unique manufacturing requirements.
Synergistic Solutions: Kassow Robots and the Future of Collaboration
Adding another layer to Bosch Rexroth’s comprehensive presence, attendees are encouraged to visit the booth of its subsidiary, Kassow Robots, located at Booth #2036. Kassow Robots specializes in collaborative robots (cobots), which are designed to work safely alongside human operators without the need for extensive safety caging. The integration of Kassow Robots within the Bosch Rexroth ecosystem highlights the strategic importance of human-robot collaboration in the modern factory. Cobots offer unparalleled flexibility, ease of programming, and adaptability, making them ideal for tasks requiring frequent changeovers, working in confined spaces, or augmenting human labor in ergonomically challenging roles. By combining Bosch Rexroth’s robust industrial automation platforms with Kassow’s agile cobots, manufacturers can unlock new levels of automation, enhance worker productivity, and address labor shortages more effectively. This synergy underscores a holistic approach to factory automation, recognizing that the optimal solution often involves a blend of traditional industrial automation and flexible collaborative robotics.
A spokesperson for Bosch Rexroth, speaking about their participation, might articulate the company’s strategic vision: "Our presence at Automate 2026 is a testament to our unwavering commitment to driving innovation in industrial automation. We understand the evolving challenges faced by manufacturers – from labor dynamics to the demand for greater flexibility and efficiency. Our integrated portfolio, from robust conveyance and precision linear motion to the open and intelligent ctrlX AUTOMATION platform, is designed to empower our customers to build resilient, sustainable, and highly productive factories of the future. The synergistic display with Kassow Robots further exemplifies our belief in human-centric automation, where technology enhances human capabilities."
Broader Impact and Future Outlook for Manufacturing
The technologies showcased by Bosch Rexroth at Automate 2026 represent significant strides towards the realization of Industry 4.0 and the smart factory concept. The implications of these advancements for manufacturing are profound and far-reaching. Enhanced automation, particularly through open platforms like ctrlX OS, enables greater agility in production, allowing manufacturers to respond rapidly to market demands, facilitate mass customization, and shorten product lifecycles. The integration of AI and vision systems leads to higher quality control, reduced waste, and more efficient resource utilization. Predictive maintenance capabilities, driven by connected automation systems, minimize unplanned downtime, significantly improving overall equipment effectiveness (OEE).
Furthermore, the emphasis on operational efficiency and safety, as highlighted by Bosch Rexroth specialists, underscores a commitment to creating safer and more sustainable manufacturing environments. By automating repetitive or hazardous tasks, companies can improve worker well-being and reallocate human talent to more value-added activities requiring creativity, problem-solving, and critical thinking. The continuous evolution of conveyance, control, and motion technologies, combined with the rise of collaborative robotics, paints a picture of a future where factories are not only highly automated but also intelligently interconnected, adaptive, and human-friendly. Events like Automate 2026 are crucial in disseminating these innovations, fostering dialogue, and accelerating the adoption of transformative technologies that will shape the global manufacturing landscape for decades to come.
For those interested in exploring these pioneering solutions and engaging with Bosch Rexroth’s automation experts, further information can be found by visiting boschrexroth-us.com/automate or by stopping by Booth #2810 at Automate 2026.
