Automation World

Automation World
Title	Automation World
Category	Trade magazine
Company	Endeavor Business Media
Firstdate	2003
Country	United States
Language	English
Based	Cleveland, Ohio

Automation World

Automation World is a United States-based trade magazine focused on industrial automation, process control, and manufacturing systems. It serves professionals in sectors including General Electric projects, Siemens installations, Honeywell International systems, and Rockwell Automation integration, providing news, analysis, and case studies that intersect with corporations, standards bodies, and technology vendors. The publication bridges reporting on companies such as ABB, Schneider Electric, Yokogawa Electric Corporation, and Emerson Electric with coverage of standards and events involving organizations like ISA (International Society of Automation), IEEE, and OPC Foundation.

Overview

Automation World targets engineers, plant managers, system integrators, and executives involved in manufacturing and process industries. The magazine highlights products and strategies from firms like Mitsubishi Electric, Panasonic Corporation, Omron, FANUC, and Bosch Rexroth while following partnerships and deals with conglomerates such as Siemens Energy and Hitachi. Editorial content often references standards and regulation activities by ISO, IEC, UL (Underwriters Laboratories), and NIST as they affect automation deployment across sectors served by Boeing, Ford Motor Company, General Motors, and Toyota Motor Corporation.

History

Founded in the early 21st century, the title has navigated consolidation and ownership transitions characteristic of trade media, paralleling moves by companies such as Informa, Penton Media, and Endeavor Business Media. Its editorial evolution tracked technological shifts from programmable logic controllers prominent at Siemens and Rockwell Automation to networked architectures championed by Cisco Systems, Juniper Networks, and industrial IoT proponents like PTC and GE Digital. The magazine chronicled major industry events including product launches from Schneider Electric and mergers like Emerson Electric acquisitions, and reported on standardization efforts involving ISA, IEC, and regional bodies such as CSA Group.

Coverage and Content

Topics include control systems, SCADA deployments, distributed control systems used by ExxonMobil, Shell plc, and BP, robotics installations from ABB and KUKA, and sensors supplied by Honeywell International and Endress+Hauser. Features analyze cybersecurity frameworks promoted by NIST and firms like Palo Alto Networks and CrowdStrike, and explore digital transformation strategies implemented by Siemens Digital Industries and Rockwell Automation’s FactoryTalk initiatives. Reportage often cites case studies from manufacturers such as Procter & Gamble, Nestlé, Caterpillar Inc., John Deere, and 3M while reviewing software from Microsoft Azure, Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud Platform, and industrial platforms from AVEVA and Hexagon.

Industry Impact and Influence

The magazine informs purchasing and strategy decisions at industrial firms including Dow Chemical Company, DuPont, ArcelorMittal, and Nucor by publishing product evaluations and vendor comparisons involving suppliers like Siemens and Emerson Electric. It shapes discourse around standards and interoperability that concerns consortia such as OPC Foundation, FieldComm Group, and PI (PROFIBUS & PROFINET International). Automation World has reported on workforce development initiatives tied to institutions like MIT, Carnegie Mellon University, Georgia Institute of Technology, and workforce programs by National Association of Manufacturers.

Events and Conferences

Coverage includes major trade shows and conferences where automation vendors and end users convene, such as Hannover Messe, SPS (Smart Production Solutions), IMTS, Automate, and sessions at IEEE conferences. The magazine profiles speaker lineups including executives from Schneider Electric, ABB, Rockwell Automation, research presentations from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and standards meetings organized by ISA and OPC Foundation.

Digital Presence and Format Evolution

Originally a print-first publication, the title expanded into digital platforms reflecting transitions seen across media companies like Gannett and Condé Nast. It integrated multimedia elements similar to offerings by Forbes and The Wall Street Journal, using webinars, podcasts, and video case studies produced with vendors like Siemens and Emerson Electric and hosted on platforms leveraging Adobe Systems technologies and content delivery networks used by Akamai Technologies.

Awards and Recognition

The magazine and its editorial staff have been recognized within trade media circles and by industry organizations including ASME, ISA, and publishing awards presented by American Society of Business Publication Editors (ASBPE). Industry vendors featured in its case studies—such as ABB, Schneider Electric, and Rockwell Automation—have cited coverage in procurement and marketing materials, and the title’s reporting has been referenced in white papers from consultancies like McKinsey & Company and Deloitte.

Category:Trade magazines