Automate 2024 hit record of 42,895 registrants earlier this month in Chicago

The largest robotics and automation trade show in North America, Automate, achieved record-breaking attendance and exhibitor participation, according to show host the Association for Advancing Automation (A3). A3 said 42,895 registrants convened at Chicago’s McCormick Place from May 6-9, 2024, to explore the latest advancements in robotics, artificial intelligence and automation technologies, a 40% increase over last year's event.

Automate 2024 marked another historic milestone with 867 exhibitors—up 13% from previous year—spanning over 320,000 square feet of exhibit space.

“The tremendous attendance and engagement at Automate 2024 will help stimulate increased adoption of robotics and automation technologies,” said Jeff Burnstein, president of A3.  “Driven by labor shortages, companies throughout the world now seek automation solutions to remain competitive and grow their businesses. Automate has emerged as the one show that offers valuable solutions and real-world expertise designed for users in every industry and application area.”

When asked about the exhibitor experience, first time exhibitor Maik Peters, CEO of Pitco Engineering LLC, added “We were expecting some leads, but we’re surprised by how many quality leads we got at this show—and how fast it happened. Everyone told us Monday was going to be a slow day. But Monday and Tuesday were the best days. And even on the last day, we were still collecting quality leads. It was a blast!”

Economic Impact and Future Events

Notably, Automate 2024 brought a significant economic impact to Chicago, generating an estimated $49.8 million in local spending, according to Choose Chicago.

Looking ahead, Automate 2025 will take place in Detroit, Michigan, from May 12-15, 2025. Booth space for this highly anticipated event is already over 80% reserved. Companies interested in reserving space or exploring sponsorship opportunities can click here.

Automate Rewind

For those unable to attend Automate 2024, Automate Rewind is now available. This digital library will feature recordings of keynote sessions, theater talks, Automate LIVE interviews, and exhibitor spotlights, ensuring that the wealth of knowledge and innovation shared at the event remains accessible. Automate Rewind will be available at http://www.automateshow.com.

Key Highlights from 2024

• Women’s Empowerment Forum: Diane Farrell, Deputy Undersecretary of International Trade, kicked off the inaugural Women’s Empowerment Forum, which featured leading female executives in automation and robotics, including Marina Bill of ABB Robotics, Adi Leviatan of 3M, and Rashmi Misra of Analog Devices. The keynote address by MIT Professor Daniela Rus highlighted the future of robotics and automation.
• Innovation Awards: The event introduced the inaugural Innovation awards, and the addition of an Innovation Stage. This year’s winners were AMD, ECM and GrayMatter Robotics in the categories of hardware, software, and systems respectively.
• Expanded Focus on Education: Automate 2024 celebrated educators and students alike with expanded Student Day activities, a dedicated Educator Day and the inaugural A3 Educator of the Year Award, presented to Danny Murphy, an assistant professor of mechatronics at Central Virginia Community College.
• Engelberger Awards Ceremony: The prestigious Joseph F. Engelberger Robotics Awards dinner honored Joe Gemma for leadership and Dr. Reymond Clavel and Marc-Olivier Demaurex for their pioneering work on the Delta robot.

A3 promotes automation technologies and ideas that transform the way business is done. Members of A3 represent over 1,300 automation manufacturers, component suppliers, system integrators, end users, academic institutions, research groups and consulting firms that drive automation forward worldwide.

A3 hosts a number of industry-leading events, including the International Robot Safety Conference (October 1–3, 2024, Cincinnati, OH); the Humanoid Robot Forum (October 7, 2024, Memphis, TN); the Autonomous Mobile Robots & Logistics Conference (October 8–10, 2024, Memphis, TN); AI & Smart Automation Conference (November 12-13, 2024, Atlanta, GA), A3 Business Forum (January 20-22, 2025, Orlando, FL).