Automation Expo – The Chronology
Published on : Thursday 28-09-2023
IED Communications presents a brief history of the Automation Expo, an iconic event, contributing to innovation in the automation industry.
India’s biggest and South East Asia’s 2nd biggest Exhibition & Conference Programme, Automation Expo was started in 2002 in a small hall with just around 100 companies. The expo, which has grown into a mega event now attracting over 1000 companies, is the brainchild of visionary founder Dr M Arokiaswamy.
Automation Expo 2002 Edition
The maiden show was conducted at the Nehru Centre, Mumbai, with participation of 150 companies. 15,000 visitors were recorded during three days of the show.
Automation Expo 2004 Edition
The Second Edition of Automation Expo attracted 100 additional exhibitors reaching 250 participants.
Automation Expo 2006 Edition
The Third Edition in 2006 witnessed an exponential rise in the number of participants that crossed 400, reaching a total of 422 exhibitors. The event shifted to the NSE complex.
Automation Expo 2008 Edition
The Fourth Edition with 618 exhibitors was one of the largest shows in India withour being backed by any industry association. The CEO Round Table was introduced.
Automation Expo 2010 Edition
The Fifth Edition with 681 exhibitors scaled a new high. The highlight of this edition was the launch of conferences – four conferences were held during the show.
Automation Expo 2011 Edition
The Sixth Edition of Automation Expo was the turning point as from this year onwards Automation Expo became an annual event. The number of exhibitors increased to 685.
Automation Expo 2012 Edition
The Seventh Edition of the Automation Expo attracted 696 exhibitors and for the first time the event was held in two halls.
Automation Expo 2013 Edition
The Eighth Edition of Automation Expo had 779 exhibitors, another record. The footfalls crossed 45,000 visitors this year.
Automation Expo 2014 Edition
The Ninth Edition witnessed 823 participants making Automation Expo the biggest show in South East Asia and the second biggest show in Asia for the industrial automation sector.
Automation Expo 2015 Edition
The Tenth Edition of Automation Expo, 10 successful shows. Exhibitors count reached 871 and for the first time, the event saw a live display of robotics.
Automation Expo 2016 Edition
The Eleventh Edition with an overwhelming presence of 920 exhibitors expanded Automation Expo across 3 halls with a space of over 25,000 sq.m.
Automation Expo 2017 Edition
Twelfth Edition with 928 exhibitors marked the transition of Automation Expo ‘From a Technology Fair to a Decision Making Forum’.
Automation Expo 2018 Edition
The Thirteenth Edition of Automation Expo saw a slight increase in the number of exhibitors at 934. The theme of the show was Digital Transformation.
Automation Expo 2019 Edition
The Fourteenth Edition created another milestone and witnessed a mammoth participation by 1,005 companies from 25 countries exhibiting in 625 booths.
Automation Expo 2020 Edition
The Covid-19 pandemic and its impact in terms of a stringent lockdown affected every routine and hence there was no Automation Expo in 2020.
Automation Expo 2021 Edition
Once again, no physical show this year but a virtual show, Automation Expo Connect was held online as a Digital Edition of Automation Expo.
Automation Expo 2022 Edition
With the gradual revival of physical events, Automation Expo made a triumphant return with the Fifteenth Edition. Over 800 companies exhibited in 433 booths.
Automation ExpoSouth 2023 – Regional Edition
Another first in the history of Automation Expo – a regional edition in response to popular demand – Automation ExpoSouth, Chennai. More than 200 companies exhibited in 154 booths.
Automation Expo 2023 Edition
The Sixteenth Edition of Automation Expo was a huge success, and the highlight this year was the Indian Automation Challenge. More about this in subsequent pages.
“Automation is no longer an emerging trend or a cutting-edge technology for the future. It is the reality we need to live with, here and now. Today there is a pressing need for every industry in India to embrace automation to take on global competition,” says Dr M Arokiaswamy.