Automate is New Name for International Robots, Vision & Motion Control Show

Collocated with ProMat® at McCormick Place in Chicago, March 21-24, 2011

Ann Arbor, Michigan USA – Automate^SM is the new name for the International Robots, Vision & Motion Control Show sponsored by North America’s leading trade associations for these technologies.  The show will be collocated at McCormick Place in Chicago, March 21-24, 2011, with ProMat® 2011, the leading show for the material handling industry and logistics industry sponsored by Material Handling Industry of America (MHIA).

“We’re very excited about the new show name because it serves as a call to action for companies in every industry,” said Jeffrey A. Burnstein, President of Automation Technologies Council, the umbrella group for Robotic Industries Association (RIA), Automated Imaging Association (AIA) and the Motion Control Association (MCA), sponsors of Automate 2011.

“Now is the time for companies to automate so they can take advantage of technologies like robots, vision and motion that allow them to improve productivity, speed time to market, boost product quality, and lower overall costs,” Burnstein explained.

Burnstein said the new show name, new venue (the event was previously held in Rosemont, Illinois), and collocation with ProMat® 2011 has generated widespread enthusiasm.

“We have some 550 member companies between RIA, AIA, and MCA and they are very excited about the potential of Automate to teach prospective customers how to successfully apply robotics, machine vision, motion control and related technologies used in automated solutions,” Burnstein explained.

“Right at the front of our show we’ll feature a pavilion of leading system integrators who will demonstrate solutions for a wide-range of industries.  This is a major change in our show layout – we want visitors to see solutions first,” said Burnstein.  “Then, once our visitors see how everything works together, they can search the show for leading companies, new products, and importantly, industry expertise to help them develop solutions that meet their specific needs.”

Burnstein said the solutions on display will emphasize more than just manufacturing.  “Robots, vision and motion are critical to automation solutions outside the factory as well.  You see increasing applications in security, medical, lab automation and entertainment, for example, and we plan to highlight these uses on our floor.”

According to the sponsors, some 35,000 people are expected to register for the collocated events of Automate 2011 and ProMat® 2011.  Customers will attend from industries such as automotive, aerospace, agriculture, alternative energy, beverage, consumer goods, defense, electronics, entertainment, fabricated metals, food, furniture, medical devices, packaging, pharmaceuticals, paper, plastics, security, semiconductor, textiles, warehousing and wood.

A large international audience is expected at Automate 2011, in part due to the inclusion of the International Symposium on Robotics (ISR), the world’s leading annual robotics technical conference which is held in the U.S. just once every four years.

ProMat® has traditionally been part of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s international buyers program, which also will contribute to strong overseas participation.

The International Robots, Vision & Motion Control Show has its roots in the original ROBOTS Shows which date back to 1977.  Burnstein noted that material handling is now the largest application area for robotics, which makes the collocation with ProMat® a great fit for robotics companies.

“Our show continues to evolve to meet the needs of customers.  The timing for a broad automation solutions event could not be better, because companies in every industry are looking for ways to apply automation to become stronger global competitors.  Automation needs go well beyond robots, machine vision and motion control to include control systems, sensors, communications networks and more, products we expect to attract to our show,” Burnstein asserted.

For more information about Automate 2011, call the show sponsors at 734/994-6088.

Background on Show Sponsors
Automate 2011 is sponsored by Robotic Industries Association (RIA), the Automated Imaging Association (AIA) and the Motion Control Association (MCA).  Together, these trade associations represent some 550 automation manufacturers, component suppliers, system integrators, end users, consulting firms, and research groups.  In addition to the trade show and accompanying technical conference, the groups develop industry standards, hold industry networking events, collect market statistics, offer educational resources, and provide content-rich websites (Robotic Online, Machine Vision Online, Motion Control Online).

ProMat® 2011 is sponsored by the Material Handling Industry of America (MHIA), the leading non-profit trade association representing the U.S. material handling and logistics industry -- The Industry That Makes the Supply Chain Work®.  MHIA members are material handling and logistics equipment, systems and software manufacturers; consultants; systems integrators and simulators; third party logistics providers and publishers. MHIA provides educational, business development, networking and solution sourcing opportunities for its over 700 member companies and for the larger community of manufacturing, distribution, logistics and supply chain professionals.

ProMat® and The Industry That Makes Supply Chain Work®. are registered marks of Material Handling Industry of America (MHIA).