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.
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.
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).
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.
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.
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.
Exhibitors: 871|Visitors: 47,383
Automation Expo 2016
Launched by Mr. Farhad Forbes, Co-Chairman, Forbes Marshall, the expo introduced a Student Pavilion and hosted the inaugural CEO Summit at Hotel Sahara Star, Mumbai.
Exhibitors: 920|Visitors: 50,000
Automation Expo 2017
Launched by Mr. B. R. Narayanan, Group President, Reliance Industries Ltd., the expo focused on Industrie 4.0, IIoT and smart manufacturing, introduced a Cybersecurity Conference.
Exhibitors: 928|Visitors: 49,564|Booths: 500
Automation Expo 2018
Launched by Mr. V. V. Surya Rao, Group President, Reliance Industries Ltd., the expo introduced India's first dedicated Industrie 4.0 Zone, showcasing smart manufacturing and AI.
Exhibitors: 934|Visitors: 45,891
Automation Expo 2019
Launched by Dr. Naushad Forbes, Co-Chairman, Forbes Marshall, highlighting end-to-end digital transformation with 171+ international booths from China, Taiwan, Korea, and Japan.
Exhibitors: 1,005|Visitors: 47,894|Booths: 625
Virtual Show 2021
Hosted virtually during the COVID-19 pandemic, the show featured 103 digital booths enabling over 11,000 live chat threads. Focused on digital transformation in a hybrid era.
Visitors: 29,871|Booths: 100
Automation Expo 2022
Launched by Mr. M. K. Srivastava, Director Engineering, NTPC, featuring the launch of SHALU, India's humanoid robot, alongside smart manufacturing and Make in India initiatives.
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, at Chennai Trade Centre catering to Southern Indian industries.
Exhibitors: 200|Visitors: 10,198|Booths: 154
Automation Expo 2023
Launched by Mr. Vinayak Pai, MD & CEO, Tata Projects, focusing on Futuristic Instrumentation and Smart Automation, and introducing the India Automation Challenge.
Exhibitors: 495|Visitors: 39,548|Booths: 500
Automation Expo 2024
Launched by Mr. Subramanian Sarma, President & Board Member, Larsen & Toubro Ltd., showcasing Instrumentation & Automation in India with 525 booths.
Exhibitors: 928|Visitors: 43,002|Booths: 525
2nd Expo South 2025
Launched by Mr. Simon Matthieson, Vice President & General Manager, Eaton, continuing 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
Inaugurated by Dharmendra Pratap Yadav, CMD of TANSIDCO, showcasing advanced automation solutions driving South India's industrial growth.
Exhibitors: 300+|Visitors: 18,856+|Brands: 500+
Automation Expo 2026
Inaugurated by Dr. Shrikant Patil, CEO of Maharashtra State Innovation Society, showcasing breakthroughs in AI, robotics, and smart manufacturing.
Exhibitors: 2,000+|Visitors: 51,012+|Booths: 750+
