Automate 2026 is already shaping up to be the largest and most exciting edition yet. Now, there’s another reason to get ready early. We’ve added a virtual pre-show keynote (pre-note) ahead of the show to help set the stage for what’s ahead in Chicago.
This session gives you an early look at the conversations, challenges, and opportunities that will carry through the full Automate experience. If you’re planning to attend, it’s a useful way to start thinking about the topics that matter most in modern manufacturing and where the industry is headed next.
A preview of what’s ahead
Today’s industrial organizations are not short on technology. The real challenge is connecting that technology to on-the-floor outcomes.
This session: Challenge Accepted: Competing in the Next Chapter of U.S. Manufacturing, will focus on how manufacturers are thinking about the next chapter of manufacturing and how manufacturers can keep moving when the pressure is on.
What the session will cover
The discussion explores how data, automation, and execution can work together to help teams streamline operations and identify the technologies shown at Automate 2026.
Here are a few ideas the pre-note will explore:
- Automation multiplied by electrification: Why this architecture matters for resilience and productivity in North America.
- Software-defined automation: How open systems can support modernization, reduce friction, and scale AI.
- Industrial intelligence: How digital twins and domain expertise can turn complexity into trusted, real-time decisions.
These are the kinds of topics that will shape a lot of the conversation at Automate 2026. Tune into the pre-note for the full rundown.
Who’s speaking?
Our guest speakers for this session are two leaders helping drive the conversation around industrial automation and digital transformation:
- Gwenaelle Huet, Executive Vice President of Industrial Automation, Schneider Electric
- Caspar Herzberg, CEO, AVEVA
The discussion will be monitored by Robert Husckha, vice president of Education Strategies at the Association for Advancing Automation (A3). Together, they will look at how modern manufacturing organizations can begin the next chapter of digital transformation while navigating energy volatility, workforce pressures, and the need for more connected outcomes.
Watch live June 9
The virtual pre-note will stream live on YouTube and LinkedIn on Tuesday, June 9, at 11 AM ET.
Add it to your calendar, tune in live, and start your Automate journey with a clear view of the ideas driving the future of automation. Learn more about the session here.
Automate is only weeks away. Register now and start planning your Automate experience.
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