The event also serves the interests of all those interested in material flow and intralogistics in the industry. Whether AMR or palletizing robots, AGVs or control software: the range on offer is broad.

Robots have always been at home in logistics - sorting, picking and palletizing. Now they can perform these tasks more flexibly, supported by AI and image processing. In the future, experts expect the automation of manual work processes through a combination of new technologies to make the difference in the competitiveness of logistics service providers. Tobias Kieferl, Product & Market Manager Logistics at Yaskawa's Robotics Division, predicts: "Those who can maximize the efficiency of processes and offer short cycle times with flexible and highly automated systems will have an advantage."

Increasingly powerful AGVs are playing a key role in this. What the latest generations of these driverless transport systems look like and what they can do will also be on show at Automatica. In any case, the use of AGVs and AMRs makes it possible to move away from rigidly interlinked processes in favor of highly flexible intralogistics and production structures. However, mobile robot systems not only transport freely navigating components through the smart factory, but also assist as service robots. This year at Automatica, trade visitors can find out how the possibilities in the various areas of life can be put into practice as quickly as possible.

Six halls of robotics

Starting this year, Automatica will be held together with the "Laser World of Photonics" in a new rhythm; in future, it will be held every two years again. As in the previous year, when the partner was the Analytica laboratory trade fair, the event will occupy six halls. Shortly before the start of the trade fair, 693 exhibitors are listed in the online directory, including 448 from Germany. Last year, there were 574 exhibitors.

The trade fair is complemented by a broad supporting program that offers presentations, demos and discussion panels on several stages - mainly in the exhibition halls - on all four days of the trade fair. Several showcases distributed throughout the halls offer the opportunity to test technologies from different manufacturers. The AGV Mesh-Up of the German Engineering Federation is particularly exciting for intralogistics experts (see the article on the opposite page). The VDMA is an important partner of the trade fair this year.