Automation Expo Journey
Explore the milestones that shaped India's biggest Automation Exhibition.
Automation Expo 2002
The inaugural Automation Expo was launched by Dr. M. Arokiaswamy, creating a platform to showcase industrial automation technologies for India's growing manufacturing sector.
Exhibitors: 150|Visitors: 15,511
Automation Expo 2004
Continued at BEC with increased exhibitors and floor space. The expo broadened its scope to include Instrumentation and Control Systems and introduced a 1-day conference.
Exhibitors: 250|Visitors: 20,465
Automation Expo 2006
Launched by Mr. Ashok Chavan, Industries Minister, Government of Maharashtra, this edition featured first-time participation from international companies across Europe and Asia, positioning it as a truly global industrial trade fair.
Exhibitors: 422|Visitors: 34,569
Automation Expo 2008
Chief Guest — Shri. S. C. Jamir, Governor of Maharashtra.
Automation Expo 2010
Launched by Mr. Richard Timoney, Chairman of Foundation Fieldbus, USA.
Expansion across two halls: Automation 2010 marked a milestone in scale, expanding for the first time into two halls at BEC. This fifth edition significantly increased the expo's footprint and influence, highlighting the industry's demand for a larger platform and paving the way for future growth.
Exhibitors: 681|Visitors: 33,147
Automation Expo 2011
Launched by Mr. Richard Timoney, Chairman of Foundation Fieldbus, USA.
Becoming an annual event: In 2011 the expo shifted from a biennial to an annual event to meet growing industry demand. Following the 2010 expansion, this change ensured momentum was maintained, with each edition continuing to grow in size and scope, drawing more exhibitors and international participants.
Exhibitors: 685|Visitors: 41,251|Booths: 302
Automation Expo 2012
Launched by Mr. P. A. Sangma, Lok Sabha Speaker, the expo hosted its first dual-track conferences on Process Automation (PA) and Factory Automation (FA). It brought together automation professionals, plant heads and solution providers to discuss real-time control systems, field instrumentation, motion control and assembly automation. The event promoted knowledge sharing, practical case studies, and encouraged SMEs to adopt automation.
Exhibitors: 696|Visitors: 43,947|Booths: 360
Automation Expo 2013
Launched by Dr. Gunther Kegel, CEO of Pepperl+Fuchs Global, the expo featured its first MSME Talk Show and Student Project Displays. Special sessions guided MSMEs on affordable automation solutions, encouraging adoption of automation by small and medium enterprises.
Exhibitors: 779|Visitors: 46,036|Booths: 396
Automation Expo 2014
Launched by Mr. Richard Timoney, Chairman of Foundation Fieldbus, USA, the expo featured SIL Safety Workshops and hands-on sessions on industrial cybersecurity and OT network protection, raising awareness on threats and compliance standards.
Exhibitors: 823|Visitors: 44,313|Booths: 484
Automation Expo 2015
Launched by Smt. Vidya, Minister of State, Maharashtra, the expo introduced IIoT, real-time analytics and cloud zones, showcased Industry 4.0 use-cases, and featured a Machine Safety Talk Show on standards, risk assessment and human-machine safety solutions.
Exhibitors: 871|Visitors: 47,383
Automation Expo 2016
Launched by Mr. Farhad Forbes, Co-Chairman, Forbes Marshall, the expo introduced a Student Pavilion for showcasing automation projects and hosted the inaugural CEO Summit at Hotel Sahara Star, Mumbai, connecting industry leaders and academia to discuss India's automation and digitisation roadmap.
Exhibitors: 920|Visitors: 50,000
Automation Expo 2017
Launched by Mr. B. R. Narayanan, Group President, Procurement & Projects, Reliance Industries Ltd., the expo focused on Industrie 4.0, IIoT and smart manufacturing, introduced a Cybersecurity Conference, and welcomed Rwanda as the official Country Partner.
Exhibitors: 928|Visitors: 49,564|Booths: 500
Automation Expo 2018
Launched by Mr. V. V. Surya Rao, Group President, Safety & Operational Risk, Reliance Industries Ltd., the expo introduced India's first dedicated Industrie 4.0 Zone, showcasing smart manufacturing, IIoT, cloud integration and AI-based automation with live demos and presentations.
Exhibitors: 934|Visitors: 45,891
Automation Expo 2019
Launched by Dr. Naushad Forbes, Co-Chairman, Forbes Marshall, the expo focused on Digitalisation in Manufacturing, highlighting end-to-end digital transformation across process, discrete and hybrid industries. Speakers showcased data-driven manufacturing, cloud platforms, MES systems and predictive maintenance, with 171+ international booths from China, Taiwan, Korea, Japan and more.
Exhibitors: 1,005|Visitors: 47,894|Booths: 625
Virtual Show 2021
Hosted virtually during the COVID-19 pandemic, the show featured 103 digital booths, VIP access and smart scheduling for interactions, enabling over 11,000 live chat threads. Partner nations included Canada and China. Focused on digital transformation, it marked the start of a hybrid engagement model in industrial expos.
Visitors: 29,871|Booths: 100
Automation Expo 2022
Launched by Mr. M. K. Srivastava, Director Engineering, NTPC, the expo featured a dedicated Industrie 4.0 Zone and the launch of SHALU, India's humanoid robot. Focused on smart manufacturing, digitalisation and Make in India, exhibitors delivered live demos across auto, pharma, FMCG and electronics sectors.
Exhibitors: 800|Visitors: 40,019|Booths: 433
1st Expo South 2023
Automation Expo South debuts in Chennai. Launched by Ms. S. Madumati, IAS, MD, TRANSIDCI, the inaugural regional edition at Chennai Trade Centre catered to industries in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Telangana and Kerala, featuring focused conferences on AI, Factory Automation and Digital Transformation.
Exhibitors: 200|Visitors: 10,198|Booths: 154
Automation Expo 2023
Launched by Mr. Vinayak Pai, MD & CEO, Tata Projects, the expo focused on Futuristic Instrumentation and Smart Automation, featuring conferences on AI, Factory Automation and Digital Transformation. It also introduced the India Automation Challenge, a national platform for startups, students and professionals to showcase innovative automation solutions.
Exhibitors: 495|Visitors: 39,548|Booths: 500
Automation Expo 2024
Launched by Mr. Subramanian Sarma, President & Board Member, Larsen & Toubro Ltd., the expo showcased Instrumentation & Automation in India with 928 exhibitors and 525 booths, attracting 43,002 visitors.
Exhibitors: 928|Visitors: 43,002|Booths: 525
2nd Expo South 2025
Launched by Mr. Simon Matthieson, Vice President & General Manager, Eaton, the second regional edition continued to strengthen Automation Expo's presence in South India.
Exhibitors: 400|Visitors: 15,988|Booths: 300
Automation Expo 2025
Launched by Mr. B. R. Narayanan, Group President, Procurement & Projects, Reliance Industries Ltd.
Exhibitors: 2,000|Visitors: 51,786|Booths: 700
Automation Expo South 2026
Automation Expo South 2026 was inaugurated by Dharmendra Pratap Yadav, Chairman and Managing Director of the Tamil Nadu Small Industries Corporation Limited, and Haranjan Jan Singh, Senior Economic Officer and Head of the Ontario Trade and Investment Offices. The expo showcased advanced automation solutions driving the future of South India's industrial growth.
Exhibitors: 300+|Visitors: 18,856+|Brands: 500+
Automation Expo 2026
Automation Expo 2026 was inaugurated by Dr. Shrikant Patil, Chief Executive Officer, Maharashtra State Innovation Society, as the Chief Guest. The expo showcased the latest advancements in automation, robotics, AI, and smart manufacturing, reinforcing India's vision for industrial innovation and digital transformation.
Exhibitors: 2,000+|Visitors: 51,012+|Booths: 750+
