Trends in automation 2023

"In 2023, a trend for which the course has been set in the last three years will become established among more and more suppliers in the automation industry: Openness. We have noticed that some automation providers are following the approach we introduced in 2019 with ctrlX Automation, designing their hardware and software systems to be open or even participating in our automation toolkit in the form of the partner world ctrlX World," explains Steffen Winkler, Head of Sales Business Unit Automation & Electrification Solutions at Bosch Rexroth. The future does not lie in monolithic structures, but in digital ecosystems that enable new forms of networking and collaboration.

Bosch Rexroth is forecasting an increased level of automation for 2023 - driven, among other things, by the permanent need to increase productivity and the associated competitive pressure coupled with a shortage of skilled workers. In addition, there is a general increase in demand for automation in some promising sectors with high-demand products, for example in electromobility and battery production, warehouse automation and the semiconductor and electrical industries. In addition, completely new fields for automation are emerging, for example in the smart farming segments or the (partially) automated preparation of food portions.

More sustainability and resilient supply chains

Another major trend will shape automation in 2023: Sustainability and climate protection. Sustainable production takes into account factors such as zero emissions and resource efficiency and must also be economical. This also influences the selection criteria for automation solutions and in some cases completely redefines them. More and more energy-saving functions are being integrated into automation components - for example, a smart energy mode in a servo drive. Among other things, this ensures that energy is kept intelligently in the system and load peaks are avoided as far as possible.

"A new trend in terms of sustainability is the reuse of valuable automation components. Professional remanufacturing, for example, gives a used servomotor the quality standard of a new product, including warranty, at a more attractive price," explains Winkler. In this way, automation suppliers such as Bosch Rexroth can also conserve raw materials and reduce the overall costs of recycling processes.

"Last but not least, automation providers and users are focusing on the resilience of their supply chains this year. Global supply chain disruptions are one of the biggest challenges in the industry today. Many companies are therefore strategically rethinking their procurement, development and production strategies. They are (once again) moving towards involving second suppliers or setting up parallel production at at least two locations. These and other measures can achieve greater stability, planning security and ultimately more sustainability," predicts Steffen Winkler.