Robotic arms and automation equipment booths on a trade show floor

Automation Technology Expo West: What It Is and Why Engineers Attend (ATX West Guide)

ByAlex Morgan

Automation Technology Expo West: What It Is and Why Engineers Attend (ATX West Guide)

Key takeaway: Automation Technology Expo West (ATX West) is North America’s largest annual automation technology trade show, held each February at the Anaheim Convention Center in California. The event covers robotics, motion control, sensors, and AI-driven manufacturing solutions, and runs alongside four other engineering shows under the Informa Markets Engineering (IME) West umbrella.

If you work in manufacturing automation, “ATX West” is a name worth knowing. It is short for Automation Technology Expo West, and it is one of the biggest places in North America where factory-automation vendors show off what they are building. The show brings together robotics companies, sensor makers, motion-control specialists, and software vendors for three days of live demos and technical sessions.

What Is Automation Technology Expo West?

ATX West is the automation-focused show within IME West, the Informa Markets Engineering West event held every February in Anaheim, California. IME West is a five-shows-in-one event: ATX West sits alongside MD&M West (medical design and manufacturing), D&M West (design and manufacturing), Plastec West (plastics), and WestPack (packaging), all sharing the expo floor.

Because of this setup, automation professionals get access to five shows with a single badge. Exhibitors at ATX West display automation hardware and software: industrial robots, collaborative robots (cobots), motion-control systems, machine components, sensors and detectors, vision systems, and AI-driven factory software. The Additive Manufacturing media’s event listing describes ATX West as the nation’s largest annual automation technology event, covering motion control, motors and drives, sensors and detectors, and machine components.

When and Where ATX West Takes Place

ATX West is held at the Anaheim Convention Center, 200 South Anaheim Boulevard in Anaheim, California. The most recent edition, ATX West 2026, ran from February 3 to February 5, 2026. The event has run in Anaheim almost every year since 2014, typically in early February.

Registration and exhibit details for upcoming editions are published on the official IME West website. If you plan to attend, check the official site for confirmed dates rather than relying on third-party listings.

What You See on the Show Floor

The show floor is built around live, working demonstrations rather than brochure displays. Typical exhibit areas include:

  • Robotics and cobots — pick-and-place robots, articulated arms, and collaborative robots in live demos.
  • Motion control — motors, drives, and linear motion systems.
  • Sensors and vision — sensors, detectors, 2D and 3D vision systems, and machine components.
  • Smart factory software — AI-driven automation solutions, machine software, and Industrial IoT platforms.
  • Technical sessions — conference content on smart manufacturing, AI, and factory connectivity, aimed at engineers and system integrators.

Exhibitor lists in past years have included major names in robotic tooling and vision, such as ATI Industrial Automation and LMI Technologies, reflecting the show’s focus on practical, application-level automation products.

Who Should Attend ATX West?

The event is aimed at manufacturing engineers, system integrators, automation project managers, and manufacturing decision-makers. According to the official ATX West page, 87% of verified attendees have purchasing power and 77% have an active project, with attendees spending an average of $150,000+ with exhibitors met at the event within the following year. The official figures also note that 65% have an active project or one planned within the next 12 months.

If your job involves specifying, buying, or integrating automation equipment — whether that’s a single high-speed automation machine or a full line upgrade — the show is designed as a place to compare vendors side by side in three days instead of scheduling months of separate demos.

Analysis: Why This Expo Matters in 2026

The following is analysis, not a verified forecast. Factory automation is in a consolidation phase: buyers are under pressure to prove return on investment before signing off on new equipment. An expo where 87% of attendees hold purchasing power (per the organizer’s figures) suggests vendors treat the floor as a serious sales environment, not a brand showcase.

For smaller manufacturers, the practical value is comparison efficiency. Seeing three vision-system vendors run live demos in one afternoon beats three separate site visits. The co-location with the other IME West shows also matters: a packaging engineer attending WestPack can walk across the hall and evaluate the robotic arms that could automate their line.

How to get the most out of ATX West

  • Define one project first. Bring a specific automation problem — the floor is most useful when vendors demo against your use case.
  • Plan around the co-located shows. If your project touches medical devices, packaging, or plastics, the neighboring halls add relevant suppliers.
  • Use the technical sessions. The conference sessions on smart manufacturing and AI cover practical implementation topics beyond the booth demos.
  • Register early. Badge pricing and session schedules are set on the official IME West site, and conference seats can fill.

FAQ

What is Automation Technology Expo West (ATX West)?

ATX West is the automation technology trade show within IME West, held annually in Anaheim, California. It covers robotics, motion control, sensors, vision systems, and AI-driven manufacturing software, with exhibitors running live demos for engineers, integrators, and buyers.

When is ATX West held?

ATX West takes place each February at the Anaheim Convention Center. The most recent edition, ATX West 2026, ran February 3–5, 2026. Confirm future dates on the official IME West website before making travel plans.

Where is ATX West located?

ATX West is held at the Anaheim Convention Center, 200 South Anaheim Boulevard, Anaheim, California. It is part of IME West, a five-shows-in-one event that also includes MD&M West, D&M West, Plastec West, and WestPack.

Who attends ATX West?

The show targets manufacturing engineers, system integrators, automation project managers, and manufacturing decision-makers. The organizer reports that 87% of verified attendees have purchasing power and 77% have an active project, making it a working buyer’s show.

Is ATX West the same as IME West?

Not exactly. ATX West is one of five co-located shows under the IME West umbrella. Automation Technology Expo West focuses on factory automation, while the other four shows cover medical design, general design and manufacturing, plastics, and packaging.

Sources


Similar Posts