Automation remains a key development area for machine builders and their customers in a wide range of industrial applications. And the need to produce goods faster while addressing the skilled labor shortage many sectors are facing will continue driving the uptake of automation in the years ahead.
While the long-term outlook for industrial automation is positive, as the industry experts from Bosch Rexroth I spoke to for our top story in today’s newsletter point out, there has been a slowdown in recent years. Like many markets, geopolitical events and other market factors have lead many business leaders to be more hesitant about investing in automation.
However, they note there remains interest and excitement in the technological progress occurring in the industry, and overall the outlook for industrial automation is positive.
The Association for Advancing Automation’s (A3) first quarter 2026 robot orders help demonstrate the continued momentum for automation solutions as well. Although North American robot orders were down slightly from the same period in 2025, the association’s data also shows adoption in various sectors besides automotive continues to grow. Sectors such as life sciences and semiconductors are employing robots as well as other automation solutions to keep up with growing demand for their products while ensuring their safe and accurate production.
Is automation an area in which you’re seeing positive market activity? Are there other technological development areas or industries of focus you’re seeing so far in 2026? How are market conditions shaping up so far for the fluid power sector? Take the poll included at the end of the Fluid Power Pulse piece in today’s newsletter, or reach out to me directly at [email protected] to offer your thoughts.
Sara Jensen, Editor, Power & Motion
