Regal Rexnord Corp., a global leader in engineered industrial powertrains, automation, and power transmission solutions, is set to make a significant impact at Automate 2026, scheduled to take place from June 22-25 in Chicago. The company will unveil and demonstrate an extensive array of robotics and factory automation products, showcasing integrated solutions designed to meet the evolving demands of modern manufacturing and industrial processes. This strategic exhibition underscores Regal Rexnord’s commitment to driving innovation in motion control and automation, providing critical technologies for manufacturers, machine builders, and system integrators navigating an increasingly complex and automated industrial landscape.
Automate 2026: A Premier Platform for Innovation
Automate, North America’s largest and most comprehensive automation show, serves as a crucial biennial gathering for the robotics, vision, motion control, and artificial intelligence industries. Organized by the Association for Advancing Automation (A3), the event brings together industry leaders, innovators, and thousands of attendees from around the globe to explore the latest advancements transforming manufacturing and logistics. Its significance cannot be overstated; Automate acts as a barometer for the health and direction of the automation sector, fostering collaboration, driving technological adoption, and setting the stage for future industrial trends.
The 2026 edition is anticipated to be particularly impactful, building on the momentum of previous successful shows and reflecting the accelerated pace of automation adoption across diverse sectors. With global industrial automation market size projected to exceed $300 billion by 2027, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of over 9%, events like Automate are vital for showcasing solutions that enable businesses to enhance productivity, improve efficiency, and overcome persistent challenges such as labor shortages and supply chain vulnerabilities. Regal Rexnord’s prominent presence at Automate 2026 positions the company at the forefront of this transformative period, ready to demonstrate how its comprehensive portfolio can empower industries to achieve their automation goals.
Regal Rexnord’s Comprehensive Automation Portfolio
At Booth 17030 in the North Hall, Regal Rexnord will present a curated selection of products from its renowned brands, including Thomson, Kollmorgen, Portescap, Warner Electric, ModSort, Huco, Micron, Boston Gear, Berg, Stearns, Leeson, and Bauer Gear Motor. This diverse collection highlights the company’s unique ability to offer integrated, end-to-end solutions that span the entire automation spectrum. The display will feature cutting-edge technologies for robot transfer, precision servo motion, advanced braking systems, and sophisticated sensing capabilities. These products are meticulously engineered to address critical requirements in modern machine designs, such as the need for flexible layouts, reliable operation, and compact footprints, all while delivering superior performance.
In a statement inferred from industry positioning, a Regal Rexnord executive might comment, "Automate 2026 provides an unparalleled opportunity for us to showcase the breadth and depth of Regal Rexnord’s commitment to automation. Our integrated approach, leveraging the expertise of our diverse brand family, allows us to deliver solutions that not only meet today’s industrial challenges but also anticipate tomorrow’s needs. We understand that manufacturers require systems that can be deployed quickly, integrated seamlessly, and adapted flexibly as production demands evolve. Our exhibits at Automate will demonstrate precisely how our technologies empower our customers to achieve these critical objectives, driving efficiency, innovation, and competitive advantage."
The company’s strategy at Automate is to illustrate how its portfolio supports the burgeoning investment in robotics and connected production systems. Automation teams are increasingly seeking holistic systems that minimize integration efforts and maximize adaptability. Regal Rexnord’s presentation will feature motion control, power transmission, and automation products specifically tailored for a wide array of industrial applications, including robotic cells, advanced material handling systems, precision packaging equipment, autonomous platforms, and general industrial machinery.
Highlighting Key Innovations and Their Impact
Central to Regal Rexnord’s exhibit will be several marquee demonstrations designed to provide attendees with practical insights into the capabilities and benefits of their technologies.
One significant demonstration will feature the Thomson Movotrak Cobot Transfer Unit. This innovative collaborative seventh axis is engineered to dramatically expand the operational envelope of cobot applications, adding up to an impressive 10 meters of horizontal operating range. In an era where collaborative robots (cobots) are increasingly deployed for their flexibility and safety features, their inherent reach limitations often constrain their utility. The Movotrak system directly addresses this challenge, enabling a single cobot to efficiently traverse between multiple workstations or cover a significantly larger process area. This capability is critical for optimizing cell layouts, reducing the need for multiple cobots, and enhancing throughput in dynamic manufacturing environments.
Technically, the Movotrak unit incorporates a sophisticated dual linear-unit design, which ensures robust linear motion, exceptional moment load capacity, and superior stiffness—qualities vital for precise and stable cobot operation. Furthermore, it integrates full-length collision detection across the entire seventh axis, ensuring operator safety in collaborative settings. The inclusion of Freedrive programming simplifies the setup process, allowing operators to intuitively set linear waypoints, thereby accelerating deployment and reducing commissioning time. This innovation is particularly relevant given the projected 30% annual growth rate of the global cobot market, highlighting the demand for solutions that enhance their versatility and adoption.
Another cornerstone of the exhibit will be the Kollmorgen Essentials Motion Systems. This is a comprehensive motion control package meticulously designed to streamline the process for machine builders in specifying, configuring, and setting up complex servo motion systems. The ‘Essentials’ philosophy focuses on simplification without compromising performance, offering a pre-engineered solution that accelerates time-to-market for new machinery. Each system comprises a high-performance servo motor, a compatible servo drive, and advanced single-cable power and data technology, significantly reducing wiring complexity and installation time. Crucially, these systems offer broad compatibility with common industrial Ethernet control systems, facilitating seamless integration into existing plant architectures.
The latest expansion of the Kollmorgen Essentials line introduces the powerful PCMM2G Essentials controller and new high-voltage drive capabilities, extending up to 4 kW. This enhancement caters to more demanding applications, offering increased power and precision for industries such as high-speed packaging, sophisticated warehouse automation, heavy-duty material handling, and precise forming operations. The global servo motor and drive market, valued at over $14 billion in 2023, is driven by the need for higher precision, faster cycle times, and greater energy efficiency. Kollmorgen’s Essentials Motion Systems are strategically positioned to capitalize on this growth by offering a compelling balance of performance, ease of use, and cost-effectiveness.
Regal Rexnord will also showcase the Warner Electric Integrated Position Brake. This innovative component represents a significant advancement in industrial braking technology, combining a spring-applied, electrically released brake with embedded absolute position sensing in a single, compact assembly. The integration of these two critical functions yields substantial benefits for OEMs and system integrators. By eliminating the need for separate braking and position feedback components, the Integrated Position Brake reduces complexity, lowers bill of material costs, and enables significantly shorter drivetrain designs. This compactness is increasingly vital in modern automation, material handling, and mobile equipment applications where space is at a premium and electrified powertrains are becoming standard.
The ability to provide reliable braking and precise absolute position feedback from a single unit not only simplifies machine design but also enhances overall system reliability and performance. It offers greater design flexibility for OEMs striving to create more compact, efficient, and intelligent electric powertrains. The market for industrial brakes is evolving rapidly, with a growing emphasis on integrated, smart solutions that contribute to overall system intelligence and predictive maintenance capabilities. Warner Electric’s offering directly addresses these trends, providing a robust solution for safety, control, and space optimization.
The Power of a Diverse Portfolio: Addressing Industry Demands
The products on display at Automate 2026 collectively demonstrate how Regal Rexnord’s vast portfolio of brands effectively addresses different, yet interconnected, parts of a machine or production line. This integrated approach is a core differentiator for the company. From linear motion and servo control to braking, sensing, gearing, conveying, and power transmission, Regal Rexnord offers a holistic suite of products. This comprehensive capability allows OEMs, system integrators, and manufacturers to source critical components from a single, trusted partner, simplifying procurement, ensuring compatibility, and facilitating streamlined support.
This breadth of offering is particularly valuable in today’s industrial landscape, characterized by complex, multi-component automated systems. For example, a robotic cell may require Thomson linear actuators for precise movement, Kollmorgen servo motors and drives for dynamic control, Portescap miniature motors for intricate tasks, and Warner Electric brakes for safety and positioning. Integrating these components effectively often presents significant engineering challenges. Regal Rexnord’s ability to offer a coordinated suite of solutions, backed by shared expertise and technical support, significantly mitigates these integration hurdles, enabling faster development cycles and more reliable operation.
Strategic Implications and Market Outlook
Regal Rexnord’s robust presence at Automate 2026 comes at a pivotal time for the global manufacturing sector. Several macro trends are driving unprecedented investment in automation:
- Persistent Labor Shortages: Industries worldwide are grappling with a shortage of skilled labor, making automation an indispensable tool for maintaining production levels and driving growth.
- Supply Chain Resilience: The recent global disruptions have highlighted the fragility of traditional supply chains, spurring demand for automated, localized, and flexible manufacturing capabilities.
- Demand for Customization and Flexibility: Consumers increasingly demand personalized products, pushing manufacturers towards adaptable automation systems that can handle mass customization with agility.
- Energy Efficiency and Sustainability: Modern motion control solutions contribute significantly to reducing energy consumption in industrial processes, aligning with global sustainability goals and regulatory pressures.
- Digital Transformation and Industry 4.0: The ongoing integration of IoT, AI, machine learning, and data analytics into manufacturing processes necessitates advanced, connected automation components.
Regal Rexnord’s showcased products directly address these trends. The Thomson Movotrak enhances cobot flexibility, a key element in adaptable production lines. Kollmorgen’s integrated servo systems simplify the deployment of high-performance machinery, crucial for rapid response to market changes. Warner Electric’s smart brakes contribute to the safety and compactness required for the next generation of automated and mobile equipment. By focusing on solutions that offer ease of integration, modularity, reliability, and advanced capabilities, Regal Rexnord is positioning itself as an essential partner for companies seeking to modernize their operations and embrace the principles of Industry 4.0.
The competitive landscape in industrial automation is intense, with numerous players offering specialized components. However, Regal Rexnord’s unique strength lies in its ability to offer an integrated, comprehensive ecosystem of products and solutions. This allows customers to benefit from synergistic technologies, streamlined support, and a unified vision for automation from a single, trusted supplier. This breadth and depth of offering differentiates Regal Rexnord, enabling them to provide higher value and more complete solutions compared to component-specific providers.
Attendees of Automate 2026 are strongly encouraged to visit Regal Rexnord at Booth 17030. This will be an invaluable opportunity to engage directly with product specialists, witness live demonstrations of these transformative technologies, and discuss how Regal Rexnord’s solutions can address specific automation challenges. The insights gained from these interactions will be crucial for manufacturers and system integrators planning their next steps in the journey toward fully optimized, automated production. For those unable to attend, more information about Regal Rexnord’s extensive product portfolio and commitment to innovation can be found at regalrexnord.com.
In conclusion, Regal Rexnord’s participation at Automate 2026 is more than just an exhibition; it is a clear statement of intent. The company is poised to lead the charge in the next wave of industrial automation, providing the critical components and integrated solutions that will power the factories, warehouses, and machines of tomorrow. Their focus on flexible, reliable, and compact designs, coupled with a deep understanding of industry challenges, positions Regal Rexnord as an indispensable partner in the global drive towards smarter, more efficient, and more sustainable manufacturing.
