News Bites: Fluid Power and Electric Motion Control Tech on Display at Automate 2026
Welcome to News Bites, where I bring you a collection of recent news relevant to the hydraulics and pneumatics industry. Through the brief synopses contained in this piece, I aim to help you stay on top of what is going on in the fluid power industry as well as other technological areas of interest that may aid your own work in a quick and easily digestible manner. Like what you see or have your own news to share? Email me at [email protected] to let me know!
This week’s edition is themed around automation and the technologies that will be on display at Automate 2026 — considered North America’s largest event for automation and robotics — which takes place June 22-25.
Hydraulics and pneumatics, as well as electric motion control technologies, play an important role in the operation of automated systems, machines and robots. This collection of Automate news helps demonstrate not only how fluid power and electric technologies are used within automation but also helps showcase the many technological developments taking place within the sector.
Learn more about the need for easy-to-use solutions and other trends driving the automation market by reading my below interviews with companies exhibiting at Automate 2026.
- Bosch Rexroth:Automation Remains an Investment Priority for Industrial Applications
- Delta Motion: Hydraulic Motion Control Still Critical to Industrial Automation
- SMC Corp.: Automation Uptake Benefits from Integrated and Modular Solutions
- Emerson: Automation Systems are Becoming Smarter, More Efficient, and More Adaptable
A key theme among the news highlighted below is the need for technology suppliers to provide solutions which are easy to implement. Engineering teams are strapped for time and need to implement solutions quickly, while at the same time the industry faces a skilled labor shortage. Offering easy-to-use solutions can help address both of these challenges.
Bosch Rexroth Showing How its Conveyance, Control and Linear Motion Technologies are Applied in Automation Systems
The Bosch Rexroth booth at Automate features several demonstrations to showcase the technology areas of focus for the company within the automation space.
Among these demonstrations are the company’s TS conveyors which can be used in a variety of industry verticals and applications. It is built on Bosch Rexroth’s aluminum framing. The new TS 7plus conveyor capable of transporting payloads up to 3,000 kg is among the conveyors on display.
Bosch Rexroth is also showing its control technologies, including a cabinet-free display of its ctrlX DRIVE. As operations look to add more machines and automated systems to meet increased productivity requirements, many are looking to eliminate or at least minimize the use of control cabinets. Instead, control technologies are being integrated directly onto machines, helping to address space constraints and often ease installation by reducing the amount of wiring and other componentry that might otherwise be needed.
The company is also demonstrating its linear technologies for automation systems. An interactive hologram will showcase the complete line of Bosch Rexroth linear motion components including screws, bearings and linear modules. A Cartesian robot and a Smart Function Kit for Pressing demo offers a look at how these components are leveraged within an automated pressing application.
Elmo Displaying New Motion Controllers and Servo Drives with Integrated Functional Safety
Servo drive technology developer Elmo Motion Control has launched a new motion controller and servo drives which the company is showcasing at Automate 2026.
These new products are designed to meet industry requirements for compact devices while also providing a high level of safety. For the latter, functional safety is integrated into the controller and servo drives. This makes it easier for manufacturers to implement safety features and ensure they are certified to industry standards because Elmo has already undertaken the work to certify its products.
The new technologies Elmo is showing at Automate include:
- Titanium Castanet servo drive: Provides compact dual-axis capabilities with functional safety* in the size of a matchbox.
- Titanium Harmonica servo drive: Ultra-compact dual-axis drive engineered to maximize power density up to 50A/100V, 35A/200V with functional safety.*
- Titanium Maestro motion controller: Next-generation multi-axis motion controller with support for up to 256 axes out of the 16 axes at the Ethercat speed of 100uSec.
- Platinum Jori 30A/60A servo drives: Delivers up to 20/40 kW of continuous power in a compact package with functional safety* and introduces SIC (Silicon Carbide) power stage technology.
- Platinum Cymbal servo drive: A rugged package that provides high power up to 17 kW in a compact footprint with functional safety.*
*In certification process.
Emerson Offering Demonstrations of How Both Pneumatic and Electric Solutions can be used in Automation
Emerson’s booth at Automate 2026 includes several demonstrations of how its latest pneumatic and electric technologies can be employed in various automation applications.
Among these demonstrations is a ballpoint pen machine that shows how the company’s comprehensive range of motion control components can be used in an integrated solution.
A hybrid motion demonstration shows how the combination of servo drives, motors, electric actuators and pneumatics in automation systems allows machine builders to capitalize on the strengths of both motion control technologies. With a hybrid system, OEMs can incorporate both the speed and precision of electronic actuation with the flexibility and compliance of pneumatic actuators and grippers in machine designs.
Yet another demonstration focuses on Emerson’s AVENTICS Series CERAM directional valve. It shows a contaminant running through a pneumatic system to demonstrate real-world conditions the valve may encounter and how it is able to continue providing reliable operation even in harsh operating environments.
Festo Exhibiting Pneumatic and Electric Technologies Focused on Ease of Integration
Festo’s Automate 2026 exhibit focuses on motion control, handling systems and other solutions aimed at helping ease integration for machine builders and system integrators.
An example of technologies on display that aid with this is the next generation VTUX valve terminal. It integrates pneumatic control, vacuum generation and I/O into a single device that can be mounted directly near the application where it will be used. This reduces tubing and installation effort, and helps meet industry requirements for reducing cabinet complexity while distributing I/O closer to the application.
The company is also introducing a new CTED multi-protocol interface for the VTUX that allows for direct connection to a wide range of industrial Ethernet networks. It helps simplify installation across multiple control environments and eliminates the need to design automation architectures around a single network standard.
Festo is also showing its Simplified Motion Series (SMS) of electric actuators designed to ease uptake of electric actuation. Many manufacturers are moving to electric for efficiency and precision gains, but these technologies can be more complex than the pneumatic or other systems they’re used to. The SMS line is designed to bring the simplicity traditionally associated with pneumatic motion into electric automation applications. SMS combines motor and drive into a single integrated motion package commissioned directly on the device without specialized software.
Regal Rexnord Showcasing its Range of Motion Control and Power Transmission Tech for Automation
Regal Rexnord and its various brands are showing a range of robotics and factory automation solutions at Automate 2026. Technologies from the company’s brands including Thomson, Kollmorgen, Portescap, Warner Electric, ModSort, Huco, Micron, Boston Gear, Berg, Stearns, LEESON and Bauer Gear Motor will be represented to show the breadth of motion control and power transmission solutions available for the automation sector — many of which can be brought together to create full system solutions which are increasingly desired by customers.
According to the company, a key demonstration at its booth will be the Thomson Movotrak Cobot Transfer Unit (CTU), the first collaborative 7th axis, designed to add up to 10 m of horizontal operating range to cobot applications. The Movotrak CTU enables one cobot to move between multiple workstations or cover a larger process area; the system combines a dual-linear-unit design for precise linear motion.
Also on display is the Kollmorgen Essentials Motion Systems, a complete motion control solution designed to help machine builders specify, configure and set up servo motion more easily. Each system includes a servo motor, servo drive and single cable power/data technology, with support for widely used industrial Ethernet control systems. By offering all necessary components in a single solution, customers only have one supplier to work with which reduces sourcing and better ensures all technologies will work together as desired, leading to easier automation implementation.
About the Author
Sara Jensen
Executive Editor, Power & Motion
Sara Jensen is executive editor of Power & Motion, directing expanded coverage into the modern fluid power space, as well as mechatronic and smart technologies. She has over 15 years of publishing experience. Prior to Power & Motion she spent 11 years with a trade publication for engineers of heavy-duty equipment, the last 3 of which were as the editor and brand lead. Over the course of her time in the B2B industry, Sara has gained an extensive knowledge of various heavy-duty equipment industries — including construction, agriculture, mining and on-road trucks —along with the systems and market trends which impact them such as fluid power and electronic motion control technologies.
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