Automate 2024
- Date
- 2024-05-06
- Location
- McCormick Place, Chicago, United States
- Host
- Association for Advancing Automation (A3)
About this event
Automate 2024 is where the robotics and automation world shows up in force. With more than 750 exhibitors and 30,000+ registrants, this is the largest robotics and automation trade show in North America, bringing together the people building, buying, integrating, and scaling the systems that are reshaping manufacturing and industry. If you want a clear view of what is happening now in industrial robotics, this is the room to be in. You will be able to compare technologies side by side, meet the companies behind them, and have the kinds of practical conversations that are hard to get from videos, brochures, or isolated sales calls. About the Event Automate 2024 is an in-person trade show and industry gathering at McCormick Place in Chicago focused on robotics, industrial robotics, automation, and the broader ecosystem around them. It is built for professionals who want to see real systems, understand where the market is heading, and make better decisions about equipment, partnerships, and implementation. This is not a small meetup or a narrow technical workshop. It is a large-scale industry event with the reach to bring together manufacturers, engineers, integrators, technology providers, operations leaders, and people exploring what automation can realistically do inside their organizations. Because of the event’s scale, Automate works on multiple levels at once. It is a place to discover new tools, benchmark vendors, reconnect with industry peers, and get a broader sense of how robotics and automation are being adopted across sectors. Whether you are deep in deployment work or just starting to evaluate solutions, the format supports both hands-on exploration and strategic thinking. For anyone working in or adjacent to industrial automation, the value of being there in person is straightforward: you can move quickly from high-level market awareness to detailed product conversations in a single visit. That kind of efficiency matters when you are trying to separate what is proven from what is merely promising. What to Expect Expect a busy, high-energy trade show environment centered around a large exhibitor floor. With hundreds of exhibitors in one place, the experience is designed for discovery, comparison, and direct interaction. You can expect to spend your time walking the floor, seeing technology up close, asking specific questions, and following threads that are relevant to your team or business. Common activities at an event of this kind include: Exploring exhibitor booths to see robotics and automation solutions firsthand Meeting vendors and solution providers to discuss capabilities, fit, and use cases Networking with peers across manufacturing, engineering, operations, and technology Learning through live conversations that go beyond polished marketing language Scanning the market efficiently by comparing many companies in one venue Because the audience is broad and professionally focused, the conversations tend to be practical. Attendees often come with active questions around deployment, integration, productivity, labor challenges, throughput, quality, safety, and long-term ROI. That makes the event useful not only for discovery, but also for pressure-testing ideas with people who understand the realities of implementation. You should also expect a strong community and networking element. Events at this scale create opportunities for both planned meetings and accidental connections, whether you are reconnecting with existing contacts or meeting new people working on similar problems. If your goal is to leave with a clearer shortlist, sharper questions, or better industry context, the event format supports that. Why Attend Automate 2024 is valuable because it compresses a huge amount of industry access into one place. Instead of scheduling weeks of separate demos and introductory calls, you can evaluate a wide cross-section of the market in person and build a more grounded understanding of what is available right now. For buyers and operators, that means better decision-making. Seeing systems up close and speaking directly with providers can help you assess what feels mature, what fits your environment, and which solutions deserve deeper follow-up after the event. For engineers, technical teams, and implementation-minded attendees, the event offers a chance to ask detailed questions and compare approaches across many companies. It is one thing to read about automation trends; it is another to challenge assumptions, inspect design choices, and hear how different organizations are solving similar problems. For founders, vendors, consultants, recruiters, and community builders, the upside is also clear: Access to a concentrated industry audience New partnerships and business development opportunities Better visibility into current demand and market language A faster read on where the sector is gaining momentum More chances to build relationships that continue after the show Most importantly, attending helps you replace vague impressions with direct evidence. In a field moving as quickly as robotics and automation, that is often the difference between staying informed and actually staying competitive. Practical Details Location: This event is in person at McCormick Place, Chicago, United States. McCormick Place is a fitting venue for an event of this size, and you should plan for a substantial convention-style environment with a lot to cover. When: Monday, May 6 at 12:00 AM UTC. If you are traveling in, it is worth planning your schedule carefully so you have enough time on site to make the most of the scale of the event. A few practical tips can make the experience much more effective: Review your priorities before you arrive so you know which technologies, companies, or conversations matter most Leave room for discovery because some of the best finds happen while walking the floor Wear comfortable shoes and expect to be on your feet Bring a simple note-taking system to track standout vendors, follow-ups, and questions Schedule key meetings early if there are specific companies or contacts you want to see If you work in robotics, industrial automation, manufacturing technology, or adjacent fields, Automate 2024 offers a rare combination of scale, relevance, and efficiency. It is a strong choice for anyone who wants a serious look at the current automation landscape and direct access to the people shaping it.
Who should attend
If you work anywhere near robotics, factory automation, or production technology, this is the room where you can quickly see what is actually moving the industry forward. - **Manufacturing leaders and plant operators** who want practical ways to improve throughput, reduce downtime, and modernize operations with proven automation tools. - **Engineers and technical teams** evaluating robotics, motion control, vision, AI-enabled systems, or integration solutions across real industrial environments. - **Operations, maintenance, and continuous improvement professionals** looking for equipment, software, and process ideas that can make lines safer, faster, and more reliable. - **System integrators, OEMs, and solution providers** who want to compare technologies, meet potential partners, and stay current on what customers will be asking for next. - **Executives and decision-makers** responsible for capital equipment, manufacturing strategy, or digital transformation who need a broad view of the market in one place. - **Anyone exploring advanced manufacturing firsthand** and wanting direct access to a major cross-section of the industry, with 750+ exhibitors and more than 30,000 registrants gathered at McCormick Place in Chicago.