The 17th edition of Automation Expo witnessed an amazing range of innovative products and solutions, meeting visitor expectations.

Automation Expo is a prominent fixture in the annual calendar of industrial events of India in general, and the mega event in the field of industrial automation. Held regularly since inception in the year 2002, the show was launched initially as a biennial event for the first 5 editions, but after 2010, became an annual fixture. Over the last 22 years, Automation Expo has scaled many peaks to emerge as the largest exhibition on industrial automation in India, and in the process has become the second largest for this segment in Asia – a truly international event with participation from over 25 countries including Germany, USA, Japan and Taiwan.

Automation Expo 2024 – the 17 edition – was held during August 21-24, 2024 at the regular venue, the Bombay Exhibition Centre at NSE Complex, Goregaon (East) in suburban Mumbai. The theme of Automation Expo 2024 was the transformative influence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Robotics on process and factory automation. Over 500 exhibitors were spread across Halls 1 & 2, representing over 1000 comprising the Who’s Who of the global automation fraternity. The list of direct participants included ABB, Adage, Advantech, Alstrut, Autobots, Automotive Robotics, Autonics, Axis,  Balluff, Banner, Bartakke, Baumer, Beckhoff, Belden, Bholanath, Bibus, Burak, CG, Connectwell, Delta, Dynalog, Endress+Hauser, Epson, Excel Enclosures, Fatek, FieldComm Group, Finder, Flir, Fuji, Gauges Bourdon, Griffyn, HMS, Janatics, Jumo, Keba, Keyence, Kuebler, Kuna, Lapp, Luna (Hiwin), MaestroTek, Masibus, Maxon, MTL, Murrelektronik, Nagman, Network Inc, Panasonic, Pepperl & Fuchs, Phoenix Contact, Phoenix Mecano, Pilz, Pizzato Elettrica, Prama Hikvision, R.T.A SPA, Reer, Renu, Robomation, Robonetics, Sanyo Denki, SEW, Taiwan Excellence, Testo, Themis, Trinity Touch, UWT, Yamaha, Yaskawa, Yokogawa and more.

The inaugural ceremony was conducted at the Grande Hall in the NSE Complex, just across the road facing the exhibition halls. The ceremony began with the traditional lighting of the lamp in the presence of Chief Guest, Subramanian Sarma, President (Energy) & Member of the Board, Larsen & Toubro Limited, and Guests of Honour, Mr Vinayak Marathe, Head – India Business Operations, Phillip Townsend Associates, Inc., and Mainak Nandi, Executive Director (Technical), Engineers India Limited. Also present on the occasion were Dr M Arokiaswamy, Chairman, IED Communications – the founder of Automation Expo; Dr B R Mehta, Director Projects, Waaree Group, former Sr VP, Reliance Industries Ltd and Chairman of Board of Governors for Automation Expo 2024; and other distinguished member of the Board of Governors. These are C-Level executives of leading companies in the automation domain who are the mentors for Automation Expo since inception and instrumental in the successful conduct of each edition of the show.

Dr B R Mehta welcomed the Chief Guest, Guest of Honour and the delegates to set the tone for the inaugural ceremony. “I am delighted to welcome here on this occasion the Chief Guest, the Guests of Honour, and all the distinguished guests present – our esteemed exhibitors, solution providers, vendors, and actual users of the technology. Technology is shaping tomorrow's world. One of the driving forces behind future technological developments is automation and this exhibition showcases technological growth and innovations in terms of products, software, and services. Automation is going to play a key role in fueling the global economy, and especially in India, where many projects in the field of oil and gas, refineries, petrochemicals, power, life sciences, pharma and bio, chemicals, cement, steel, textiles, telecommunications, automobile industries are coming up,” he said.

Dr M Arokiaswamy welcomed all the guests and thanked them for their presence at the inauguration ceremony. “I am pleased to welcome all of you here for this mega event, the 2024 edition, which is bigger and better as we had promised. We are on the cusp of the Fifth Industrial Revolution, where digital technology, AI, and physical machinery come together to revolutionise manufacturing and production. Automation Expo 2024 is leading this transformation, showcasing the pivotal role of AI and Robotics in advancing Process Automation and Factory Automation,” he said.

The Inauguration Ceremony was followed by the ceremonial cutting of the ribbon in Hall 1 of the exhibition and the VIPs then made a round of the place, visiting various booths and understanding the innovations showcased by various exhibitors. After visiting the various booths, Chief Guest Mr Subramanian Sarma made the following observation: “I am very delighted to be here and thank the organisers for inviting me. What I see here at this exhibition is so much energy and enthusiasm, with so many young participants. I think I did the right thing, this is a great place for visitors to witness the technology that is rapidly changing and at a very fast pace. The user industries should come here to check the latest developments – there is a lot for them to benefit from. Unless you see the things and see how they work, you may not be able to appreciate the difference they can make in your business.”

Concurrent events at the exhibition were CEO Networking Nite in the evening of August 21st; Conferences on Process Automation, Robotics and Factory Automation spread over two days; and Prize Distribution Ceremony on August 23rd.

The India Automation Challenge launched during the 2023 edition was back during Automation Expo 2024. Conceived and organised by Industrial Automation, India’s leading monthly publication on discrete manufacturing and process automation, the initiative aims to inspire young minds, provide exposure to real-world automation challenges, and create a talent pool of practical solution-oriented professionals. A total of 250 colleges applied for IAC 2024. After months of intense competition and groundbreaking innovations, 10 colleges out of the 38 on the short list have made their way to the finals. These top 10 finalists exhibited innovative and exhilarating projects in the field of automation.

At the core of the IAC 2024 was an unwavering commitment to promote innovation. The challenge serves as a platform for technologists, engineers, and visionaries to showcase their breakthrough ideas and solutions that impact society.

IAC 2024 was supported by the following sponsors:

Axis Solutions Pvt Ltd

Established in 1999 under the visionary leadership of Dr Bijal Sanghvi, Axis Solutions Pvt Ltd is a market leader in delivering diverse industrial solutions. “Axis Solutions Pvt Ltd played a pivotal role in the India Automation Challenge, empowering young talent to excel in automation. By providing mentorship, resources, and industry exposure, Axis helps in nurturing the growth of aspiring engineers, fostering innovation, and preparing them for future challenges in the rapidly evolving automation landscape,” said Dr Bijal Sanghvi, Managing Director, Axis Solutions Pvt Ltd.

VEGA India Level and Pressure Measurement Pvt Ltd

Established with a commitment to excellence, VEGA India Level and Pressure Measurement Pvt Ltd is a wholly-owned subsidiary of VEGA Grieshaber KG, a globally renowned leader in process instrumentation. “The India Automation Challenge (IAC) has not only paved a way to create an industry-academia interface but also has the potential to foster innovations in a sustainable way,” said Sudarsan Srinivasan, Managing Director, VEGA India Level and Pressure Measurement Pvt Ltd.

Murrelektronik

A leading global player in the field of industrial automation, Murrelektronik has established itself as a leading supplier of cutting-edge solutions that simplify and improve machine and system management and monitoring. “This platform was more than just a competition; the event's well-thought-out presentation actualised a strong commitment to align with the vision of creating an engaging environment for industry leaders and students to collaborate and explore new possibilities in automation,” said Chetan TA, Managing Director, Murrelektronik India & South Asia.

Another highlight of Automation Expo 2024 was that for the first time, Women Achievers in Technology who were featured in the March 2024 edition of Industrial Automation were felicitated at the Awards Ceremony on August 23rd during Automation Expo 2024 with the NariShakti plaque. For the last 7 years, Industrial Automation, in its March edition, celebrates Women Achievers in the engineering field using the occasion of International Womens Day celebrated universally on March 8. This year marks the formal recognition of celebrating their success on this larger podium provided by the iconic Automation Expo!

(The complete pictorial report of Automation Expo 2024 will be featured in the October 2024 edition of Industrial Automation. The show report is available on the Industrial Automation portal) 

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