The industrial automation industry is moving into a more connected stage as manufacturers increasingly combine robotics, artificial intelligence, industrial networking and established automation technologies across production environments.
Recent developments in September 2026 show that the industry is focusing not only on individual automation technologies, but also on how these technologies can operate together at greater scale. The trend is particularly visible in robotics, factory connectivity and the modernization of existing manufacturing infrastructure.
AI and Automation Are Moving Into Practical Manufacturing
The recently concluded IMTS 2026 in Chicago provided a clear view of this transition.
Held from September 14 to 19, the event attracted more than 91,000 registrants and 1,788 exhibiting companies. The show placed strong emphasis on AI, automation and advanced manufacturing technologies, with manufacturers looking for technologies that could improve productivity and address real production challenges.
The focus is increasingly practical.
Rather than treating AI as an isolated digital technology, manufacturers are exploring how it can work with robotics, machine vision, CNC equipment and other production systems. At the IMTS Industrial AI Conference, topics included predictive maintenance, quality, data readiness, edge computing and practical methods for identifying manufacturing applications for AI.
This reflects an important change in the automation market. The question is increasingly shifting from whether AI can be used in manufacturing to how it can be integrated into existing production processes.
Robotics Are Becoming Part of Larger Automation Architectures
Robotics is another area where this shift is becoming visible.
Manufacturers are increasingly deploying robots alongside vision systems, sensors, industrial controllers and connected production equipment. This means that the robot itself is only one part of a larger automation architecture.
The expansion of robotics manufacturing also reflects growing demand. Amazon announced in September that it plans to invest more than $100 million in a new robotics manufacturing facility in Greenwood, Indiana, expected to open in 2028. The company said the facility will increase its robotics manufacturing capacity as it continues expanding automation across its operations.
The development illustrates how robotics is moving beyond isolated automation projects toward larger production ecosystems.
As robot deployment increases, manufacturers also need supporting infrastructure for power, control, communication, sensing, safety and maintenance.
Factory Networks Are Becoming More Important
One of the most important developments accompanying connected automation is the growing importance of industrial networking.
A3 recently highlighted private 5G as an emerging option for factories deploying autonomous mobile robots, automated guided vehicles, machine-vision systems and AI-enabled equipment. These applications create different connectivity requirements from traditional fixed industrial machinery.
Mobile equipment needs continuous communication as it moves through production and logistics areas. At the same time, machine vision and AI applications can generate large amounts of data that must be transferred to local or edge computing systems.
This means that network infrastructure is becoming increasingly connected to automation performance.
For some applications, the communication system is no longer simply a method of connecting machines. It can become an important part of the production architecture itself.
Existing Automation Equipment Still Has a Major Role
Despite the rapid development of AI and robotics, traditional automation hardware remains essential.
Manufacturing facilities often contain multiple generations of PLCs, I/O modules, drives, sensors, motor control equipment and communication components. New robots or AI-enabled systems may therefore need to operate alongside equipment that has been installed for many years.
This creates a gradual modernization model rather than a complete replacement of existing automation systems.
A manufacturer may introduce a new robot while retaining an existing PLC. A vision system may be added to an established production line. A communication module may connect older equipment with a newer manufacturing network.
As a result, modern factories increasingly contain a mixture of established and newly deployed technologies.
Automation Modernization Also Creates Maintenance Requirements
The move toward connected factory systems makes maintenance and spare-parts planning increasingly important.
When a production system contains multiple interconnected devices, a failure in a controller, I/O module, drive or communication component can affect more than one machine or process.
For maintenance and procurement teams, this means that automation modernization is not limited to purchasing new equipment. Existing components must also remain available, maintainable and replaceable.
This is particularly relevant for factories that cannot immediately replace complete automation systems. Maintaining installed equipment while gradually introducing newer technologies can provide a practical path toward modernization.
The result is a market where new automation technologies and established industrial components continue to coexist.
From Individual Technologies to Connected Factory Systems
The latest developments point toward a broader change in how industrial automation is being deployed.
AI, robotics, machine vision, industrial networking and digital manufacturing technologies are increasingly being considered as connected parts of the same production environment.
At the same time, the underlying automation infrastructure remains important. Controllers, I/O modules, drives, sensors, motor control equipment and communication devices continue to provide the physical connection between software intelligence and manufacturing equipment.
This creates a more layered automation environment.
New technologies can add intelligence and flexibility, while established control systems continue to provide reliable machine operation. Industrial networks connect these layers, and maintenance teams must keep the complete system operating over time.
For manufacturers, the practical challenge is therefore not simply adopting the newest automation technology. It is building an environment in which new and existing systems can work together reliably.
A More Connected Automation Market
The latest industry developments suggest that industrial automation is increasingly moving from isolated equipment toward connected and scalable factory systems.
The growth of AI and robotics is creating new requirements for industrial communication, control hardware, sensing and maintenance. Meanwhile, established automation equipment remains an important part of manufacturing operations and modernization projects.
For automation users, this means that future production environments are likely to combine intelligent technologies with existing industrial infrastructure rather than replacing everything at once.
As connected manufacturing continues to expand, reliable automation components, compatible replacement parts and effective maintenance practices will remain important alongside new AI and robotics technologies.
The next stage of industrial automation is therefore not simply about making individual machines smarter. It is increasingly about making the entire manufacturing environment more connected, adaptable and scalable.