From March 27 to March 29, 2024, Seoul’s Coex Hall will host Smart Factory + Automation World 2024, a major convergence point for industrial automation and intelligent manufacturing technologies. Organized by Coex in collaboration with the Korea Industry Intelligentization Association, Korea Machine Vision Industrial Association, and Chomdan INC, the event is positioned under the theme “Leading the Age of Industrial Intelligence,” signaling its focus on Industry 4.0, intelligent factories, and the digitization of production processes.
The scale is substantial: 500 exhibitors, 2,000 booths, and an expected 70,000 visitors. The program extends beyond the exhibition floor with approximately 100 professional sessions, including the 2024 Industrial Digital Transformation Conference, Smart Logistics Conference, Intelligent Robotics Conference, IIoT Innovation Day, Exhibitors’ Seminars, CEO SUMMIT, and AW Docent Tours. These sessions will address topics such as smart logistics, 3D printing, cloud integration, and digital twin technologies, providing attendees with a concentrated view of current and emerging industrial trends.
Exhibition zones are designed to cover the breadth of automation and smart manufacturing. AIMEX will present components critical to automation systems, including sensors, PLCs, DCS units, motion control solutions, industrial PCs, drives, and integrated factory automation systems. The Korea Vision Show will focus on optical and imaging technologies—industrial cameras, precision lenses, lighting systems, and image processing software—key tools for machine vision applications in robotics and quality control.
The Smart Factory Expo will highlight digital factory solutions, big data analytics, artificial intelligence, cloud computing, product lifecycle management (PLM), manufacturing execution systems (MES), enterprise resource planning (ERP), smart sensors, industrial robots, IIoT frameworks, and smart logistics platforms. In parallel, the Smart Logistics Zone will demonstrate automated guided vehicles (AGVs), autonomous mobile robots (AMRs), automated storage and retrieval systems (AS/RS), advanced picking systems, forklifts, conveyors, and integrated logistics solutions.
The event’s structure reflects the growing interdependence of hardware and software in manufacturing. For example, IIoT systems rely on robust sensor networks and real-time data analytics to optimize production lines, while digital twin technology enables engineers to simulate and refine processes before physical implementation. Industrial robotics, showcased in multiple zones, increasingly incorporate machine vision and AI-driven path planning, improving adaptability in complex manufacturing environments.
Exhibitors benefit from targeted exposure to a diverse professional audience, enhanced by extensive online promotion and exclusive offline services. Networking opportunities are embedded in the program through curated AW Docent Tours, the CEO SUMMIT, and focused Exhibitors’ Seminars, facilitating direct engagement between technology providers and decision-makers.
Automation World’s history dates back to 1990, when it debuted as Korea’s first factory automation trade show. Over three decades, it has expanded into a comprehensive platform for smart and digital automation, hosting more than 7,500 exhibitors and attracting 750,000 qualified visitors. This legacy underscores its role as a central meeting point for innovation in industrial engineering.
The 2023 edition set a high benchmark, with 500 exhibitors and 2,000 booths, drawing over 50,000 visitors on its opening day alone. Building on that momentum, the 2024 event is expected to surpass previous records in scale and scope.
In response to pandemic-related challenges, the organizers introduced the AW Online Edition, running from July 1, 2023, to April 30, 2024. This digital platform maintains communication channels between exhibitors and visitors, ensuring continuity of engagement and knowledge exchange without physical attendance constraints.
For engineers, robotics specialists, and manufacturing technologists, Smart Factory + Automation World 2024 offers a concentrated view of how industrial intelligence is reshaping production ecosystems. The integration of automation hardware, AI-driven analytics, and advanced logistics systems illustrates the trajectory toward fully connected, adaptive manufacturing environments.