Automate trade show moving to Detroit in 2021

Automate, North America’s largest trade show for the automation industry, is moving to Detroit.

The biennial event, which has been co-located with Promat in Chicago since 2011, has grown to more than 500 exhibitors, over 20,000 attendees,. and 1,000 paid conference registrants. The move for the next event, which will take place May 17-20, 2021 at Cobo Center, was announced on April 9.

“To continue our rapid growth, and better meet the needs of our exhibitors who look to Automate to reach new potential customers, we’ve decided that now is the right time to move Automate to its own location – and Detroit is an ideal fit,” said Jeff Burnstein, president of the Association for Advancing Automation (A3), the show’s organizer. “Detroit is turning into the next major technology hub in the U.S. This is an exciting change for us and our exhibitors, allowing Automate to expand in size and technology scope as the automation industry continues its steady growth.”

Some of  Automate’s biggest exhibitors seemed please by the news. “We’re very excited that Automate will be moving to Detroit in 2021,” said Fanuc America president and CEO Mike Cicco. “It’s evident that Michigan is quickly regaining its strength as a manufacturing and technology powerhouse, and we’re proud that our headquarters has been in the Detroit Metro area since 1982.”

Companies at “Automate 2019” – which is being held this week in Chicago – can reserve space for the 2021 show by visiting the A3 sales office (booth #9667), or by contacting Jim Hamilton at 734-994-6088 for exhibiting information.