Automation Fair is Rockwell Automation’s annual flagship event, where the company gathers its global industrial ecosystem under one roof.

It is truly a unique, one-of-a-kind event. The familiar sights and sounds of a trade show are present: a massive expo floor, dozens of technical sessions, networking events, and product demos.

But Automation Fair stands out because it’s not a general-purpose trade show. It zeroes in on discrete and process manufacturing. The PartnerNetwork ecosystem—from machine builders and component suppliers to software firms and system integrators—shows end-to-end use cases you rarely see assembled anywhere else.

For that reason, it is a microcosm of the current frontiers of industrial automation. Its show floor is often where problem-solving meets pragmatism.

Automation Fair 2025 takes place November 18 through 20 in Chicago, Illinois, at McCormick Place. If you can't be there, then be here as we offer news and insights from the Windy City.

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