Automation Day - 10 years of industrial growth and innovation

It's almost time for the 2024 edition of Automation Day. On November 28, the doors will open for the tenth year in a row! Over the past ten years, the event has undergone a fantastic development and has grown not only in size but also in importance for the region and for the industry as a whole.

From a smaller event with fewer participants and a smaller stage at the Production Technology Centre (PTC), Automation Day has transformed into a sought-after forum for exploring the latest trends and technologies in automation and digitalization. Anders Mejlvang, who has been part of the event since its inception, describes the early event as a much smaller gathering. He explains how the event has evolved and grown to the point where it now hosts several hundred participants. Today, the event has around 300 participants and about 20 exhibitors, which generates a lot of networking and new collaborations.

- It has really demanded a lot from those responsible. Just the logistics of the event are a big part today. What started as a small forum has now become a central meeting place, Anders adds.

The PTC is still at the center of the Automation Day as the companies and University West that are linked to it are a big part of both planning and implementation. Here you will now also find the exhibition area that all participants can visit during the event.

Tommy Christensen, project manager at Innovatum Science Park, is the one who started and ran the event ten years ago and has since been involved in the event in various ways. Today he is part of the planning groups and has close contact with companies associated with PTC and Automation Day.

Pictures from Automation Day 2017

Pictures from Automation Day 2017

Pictures from Automation Day 2017

Pictures from Automation Day 2017

A journey towards success

Over the years, Automation Day has attracted both new and returning visitors, much of the success can be attributed to the organizers' constant development of the content. An important common thread in the planning of the event is that there have always been several organizations that have collaborated, today it is Innovatum Science Park, University West and IUC West that run the event. It is exactly the same strength that exists in the Production Technology Centre where several organizations collaborate.

From the very beginning, the Automation Day was organized as a physical demonstration mixed with stories about the participating companies' own experiences. In the early years, when the event had fewer participants, they were divided into smaller groups that rotated between different stations. This concept was dropped after a few years as the number of participants increased. But in recent years, it has happily been revived in the form of workshops where participants can choose to delve deeper into a topic they find interesting.

- " For many participants and companies, a great benefit of the Automation Day is the opportunity to gain insight into how others think and solve their challenges - an exchange of experience that inspires and gives rise to new ideas," says Tommy.

Another success factor is the personal contact between exhibitors and visitors. The event has managed to maintain a sense of community, with regional connections and cross-industry discussions playing a central role.

- There is always something new and exciting to present. It's not just the size of the event that has increased - the variety of industries and technologies has contributed to a broader relevance, and it is precisely this that attracts a multifaceted participation. We have regulars who come back year after year, and they have certainly helped to spread the good reputation of Automation Day, says Anders.

After each event, visitors are asked to complete an evaluation. All comments, both positive and negative, are taken into account. This can be anything from parking space and food to presentation and exhibition. This allows the planning team to be alert and develop the event in the direction that visitors want.

- " As an exhibitor, you get much more personal contact here than at large fairs and it is precisely these meetings that many participants appreciate," says Anders.

Pictures from Automation Day 2018

Pictures from Automation Day 2018

Pictures from Automation Day 2018

Pictures from Automation Day 2018

Pictures from Automation Day 2018

The future of Automation Day

As we celebrate our 10th anniversary, the organizers are looking forward to even more years of innovation and collaboration. Trends such as AI and digitalization are hot topics that will continue to be developed and discussed for many years to come, but other industries, such as the wood industry and welding automation, are also expected to play a major role in the upcoming Automation Days.

- Automation that is easy to use and that companies can change themselves has always been a popular area for the event. Thanks to AI, the possibilities for easy-to-apply automation increase even more," says Tommy.

Both Tommy and Anders have seen how the event's themes have changed over time. For example, collaborative robots were a big trend when Automation Day started, but have since become commonplace for manufacturing companies. Today, AI is the hottest topic in the industry that everyone wants to know more about.

- Human creativity around the utilization of AI will always present something new and exciting. I think AI will be a hot topic for many years to come, but we also look forward to developments in other areas such as the wood industry and welding automation," says Anders.

Automation Day has gone from being a small local event to an important hub for regional industry. This anniversary year marks not only a look back at what has been, but also an exciting journey into the future of manufacturing and digitization.

- Automation Day has become something of the highlight of the year, almost like a party where you end the year with engaging discussions and a wonderful energy boost, Tommy concludes.