Rockwell Automation to Showcase Autonomous Industrial Operations at Hannover Messe 2026
AI / Robotics | 4 min read
Rockwell Automation (NYSE: ROK), the world's largest company dedicated to industrial automation and digital transformation, has announced its presence at Hannover Messe 2026, taking place 20–24 April in Hannover, Germany. The event will serve as the stage for Rockwell to demonstrate how manufacturers are accelerating their journey from automation to full autonomy — powered by industrial-grade AI, embedded intelligence, and secure-by-design architectures built for mission-critical environments. Visitors can meet Rockwell at Hall 27, Stand A22.
"Our focus this year is clear: helping industry move from automation to autonomy to generate measurable business impacts. Visitors will see how industrial AI, digital twins and secure OT architectures are not visions of the future, but high-value, deployable solutions today."
— Jordan Reynolds, Vice President of Artificial Intelligence Autonomy, Rockwell Automation
What Visitors Will See: From Digital Twins to Autonomous AMRs
Rockwell's demonstrations at Hannover Messe 2026 span the full spectrum of its autonomous operations portfolio. At the core will be practical, real-world applications including AI-enabled smart machines and self-adjusting systems that boost productivity, improve quality, and deploy scalable autonomy. Hands-on showcases will feature:
- • Emulate3D™ digital twin software — enabling design, simulation, and validation of industrial systems before physical deployment, reducing engineering time and risk
- • Plex Smart Manufacturing Platform — cloud-native MES delivering real-time visibility and operational intelligence across the manufacturing floor
- • Industrial AI solutions — including a production-ready Industrial AI Agent that enables real-time plant insights, parameter adjustments, summaries, trends, and alerts via a cloud-hosted AI assistant
- • SecureOT™ cybersecurity offering — secure-by-design OT architecture including CIP Security for CRA compliance, EtherNet/IP in-cabinet wiring reduction, and APL-enabled PlantPAx connectivity in hazardous environments, plus CIP Safety over 5G
- • OTTO AMRs — autonomous mobile robots from OTTO by Rockwell (Hall 7, Stand D28) demonstrating end-to-end production flexibility with robotics, laser engraving, and real-time customisation
- • CUBIC Modular System — at Hall 11, Stand B28 — demonstrating modular, scalable power distribution infrastructure as the foundation for digitised, autonomous industrial operations
Partner Ecosystem: Microsoft, AWS, and More
Beyond its own stand, Rockwell will be exhibiting alongside key partners from its PartnerNetwork™ ecosystem, including Microsoft and AWS. A joint architecture integrating Rockwell industrial automation with Azure IoT will enable AI-driven digital twins and autonomous operations, with a live demo hosted on Azure demonstrating real-time data sharing between the Rockwell and Microsoft booths. AWS will showcase AI use cases across maintenance insights, quality detection, and root cause analysis throughout Rockwell's demonstrations. The event will also feature 30-minute guided booth tours covering innovations from autonomous machines to secure OT systems, along with consultant-led discussions for deeper engagement.
Key Takeaways
- • Rockwell Automation will showcase autonomous industrial operations at Hannover Messe 2026 (20–24 April, Hannover) at Hall 27, Stand A22 — demonstrating the practical, deployable path from traditional automation to AI-driven autonomy.
- • Key demonstrations: Emulate3D™ digital twin software, Plex Smart Manufacturing Platform, Industrial AI Agent (real-time plant insights), and SecureOT™ cybersecurity (CIP Security, CRA compliance, CIP Safety over 5G).
- • OTTO AMRs (Hall 7, D28) will demonstrate end-to-end autonomous production with robotics and laser engraving; CUBIC (Hall 11, B28) will showcase modular power distribution as the foundation for autonomous operations.
- • Partner ecosystem showcases include a joint Rockwell–Microsoft Azure IoT architecture for AI-driven digital twins, and AWS-powered AI use cases for maintenance, quality detection, and root cause analysis.
- • Rockwell's overarching message at the event: industrial AI, digital twins, and secure OT architectures are not future visions — they are high-value, deployable solutions available for manufacturers today.