With record registrations coming in for Automate 2024 in May, it’s clearer than ever that automation is poised for big growth in North America. Historically high sales in 2021 and 2022 may have tempered last year for myriad reasons—slow U.S. economy, high interest rates, oversupply from over-ordering in 2022, and fewer new manufacturing and distribution centers being built. Yet this year, companies from all industries are coming to Chicago to see the latest innovations and best practices to be ready to purchase and deploy when they get the green light.

However, some indicators point to a recovery of sales starting in the second half of 2024. We foresee this happening not only in manufacturing and automotive but also in industries such as healthcare, construction, agricultural, and pharmaceuticals. More of these companies now recognize the benefits of automating the dull, dirty, and dangerous tasks that can be so hard to fill by human workers, especially young ones.