The final bell has rung on Automate 2026. That means a week dedicated to knowledge sharing, networking, brand building and socializing for the automation industry is done too.

GlobalSpec was on hand to take it all in and showcase the latest enhancements to our media, product sourcing and engineering toolset — built to provide a smarter, faster way to access engineering knowledge and data.

Thank you to the hundreds of participants who stopped by the booth in the Education Pavilion to meet the team, engage with our offerings and explore our content. (Anyone nab one of our t-shirts?)

Although it is impossible to provide a full, unabridged report on such a large and significant tradeshow, here's a sample of what the GlobalSpec team saw and experienced at Automate 2026.

Images by Beth Molloy and Jim Montanye

Automate 2026 was held at McCormick Place in Chicago, the largest convention center in North America, which welcomed more than 1,000 vendors and 35,000 attendees.

The Automate show floor was busy each day, filled with product demos and debuts, with industrial professionals eager take in the the sights and sounds of automation innovation.

Hardware and equipment, such as this AMR from Autotec, always tend to draw onlookers. Watching their carefully orchestrated movements is hypnotic.

This Flashbot arm was conducting live fab demos, pictured here cutting metal sheeting.

Mantis's MR-X is a high-performance biomimetic dual-arm robot that lifts up to 70 lb, reaches speeds of 10.6 m/s and operates without safety fences or cages. Click to learn more.

The Carnegie Robotics team was there showing off its entry into DARPA's Racer program, which is outfitted with stereo vision cameras, lidar, radar and inertial sensors.

Not to be overtaken off-track, Kawasaki Robotics articulated a full-size dirt bike over attendee heads, powered by the Rollon robot transfer unit.

Some technologies were smaller, but just as impactful. For example, these Rechner Sensors can measure and relay data even under extreme temperatues, from -200° to 250° C

Humanoids have taken the market by storm over the last year. At Automate, this one showed off its dexterity with a dance!

Meanwhile, this one wanted to meet GlobalSpec senior marketing manager, CJ, and get a t-shirt.

Hi sales team! Joining CJ in the booth for this group photo, from left to right, are sales development representative Johnelle Joe, and account executives Dan Ramage, Beth Molloy, Jim Montanye and Jim Leahey.

Calm moments like this were a needed respite - and became more common as the show headed towards its commencement on Thursday afternoon.