Automate 2026 was once again filled with new technologies to see for robotics and automation systems. While the humanoid robots and other robotics displays around the show floor drew the attention of many attendees, there was also a lot to see from the component suppliers critical to the operation of robots and automated machines.  

Electric actuators, servo motors, and sensors could be found throughout the show floor as these have become critical automation system components due in part to the precision and efficiency they can provide.  

But there were also several hydraulic and pneumatic technologies on display. While many companies I spoke to at the show noted use of electric options is increasing, they also noted the continued importance of fluid power solutions in various applications.  

Walking the show floor, you could hear the hiss of pneumatics at many booths as this technology continues to be a cost-effective option for end-of-arm tooling on robots, among a range of other uses. 

In many cases, fluid power and electric technologies are coming together to provide the best of both options, something that was demonstrated by several companies at this year’s show.

Emerson was one of several companies which showed how electric and pneumatic technologies are coming together at its Automate booth. To do so, it had several demonstration machines, including one producing a ballpoint pen. The machine featured pneumatic grippers, linear actuators, feeding solutions, and other technologies to show how they can all be used together in a single machine for multi-stage assembly of a product.  

On the hydraulics side, Kyntronics offered a demonstration of its hybrid actuator combining the force of hydraulics with the precision of electric solutions — another one of the ways in which fluid power and electric technologies are coming together to meet various performance and application requirements.  

Flip through this media gallery to see these and other fluid power as well as electromechanical technologies displayed at Automate 2026 to gain an understanding of the developments taking place within the industry and the continued importance of hydraulics and pneumatics as machines become more automated.