Automate 2011 is the place where new investments in machine vision, robotics, motion control and other automation technologies would possibly be planned and envisioned for fueling the growth of the robotics industry.
This was held at the McCormick Place in Chicago from 21st March to 24th March. According to Jeff Burnstein, who is the President of Automation Technologies Council, the primary sponsor of Automate 2011, demand for these technologies has been increasing over the past year, and hence an event like the Automate 2011 focused on both the non-manufacturing and manufacturing applications of motion control, machine vision and robotics. He further stated that in North America the robotics market had grown by 49% in 2010 and possibly machine vision had an even better growth rate. These technologies were aiding companies in almost every industry enhancing and improving product quality, productivity and profitability.
Burnstein revealed that the people who attended the Automate 2011 saw the hottest products from about 150 companies, along with demonstrations by 20 leading system integrators on their solutions. Successful applications are chiefly due to the integrators as they have insights into both the automation technologies and the particular challenges faced by the customers with these technologies. The front part of the show was completely filled with solutions and many conference sessions were arranged to deliberate on case studies of the winning solutions in automation. The main aim was to let the visitors to the event find out how to use the technology to help them rise above their global competitors with help coming from hearing about the inspiring true stories of small companies such as Marlin Steel Wire, whose investment in robotics helped to beat their competitors. Drew Greenblatt, the President of Marlin spoke on March 22nd on Cost Justifying Automation. Burnstein comments that for companies who are yet to introduce robots or vision systems into their workplace, this session would prove to be an eye opener. He said that the company’s size is immaterial for gaining benefits from Automation technologies.
A look at the past and into the future of automation was also depicted in the show. This year being the 50th anniversary of the installation of the first industrial robot, a special tribute pavilion honoring the same was constructed in the show. An another pavilion focusing on Emerging robotics was also featured, wherein the visitors could see the progress of robots from factories to offices, homes, hospitals and other non-industrial environs. Two keynote speeches one from Tom Ridge ,who is the former Secretary of Homeland Security, and another by GM and NASA on the Robonaut 2, were conducted. A session on Robotics in Education was also planned for March 24th at 8:30 am. Burnstein hopes that this program was used by both the educators and the high school students for gaining insights into innovative programs, and also for meeting the important people in the research, supplier and user community. Over 40 tutorials and conference sessions were also offered for all the four days.
Source: http://www.automate2011.com