New Taipei City Leads 20 Firms to AUTOMATE 2026, Targeting PLC Market

CHICAGO — As North America's industrial base undergoes its most aggressive reshoring cycle in decades, the demand for next-generation Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) and smart automation components has never been more acute. Against this backdrop, the New Taipei City Government has arrived at AUTOMATE 2026 with a 20-company delegation, positioning Taiwan's advanced manufacturing supply chain directly at the center of the continent's automation transformation.

Hosted at McCormick Place from June 22 to 25, AUTOMATE 2026 stands as North America's largest robotics and automation showcase. The New Taipei City Pavilion (Booth 13047 & 13051) brings together firms spanning precision components, smart equipment, industrial computers, edge computing, and AI-driven system integration — a cross-section of the PLC ecosystem that underpins modern factory floors worldwide.

Why Taiwan's PLC Supply Chain Matters Now

New Taipei City is not a peripheral player. The municipality hosts more than 320,000 enterprises and over 6,000 ICT-related companies, supported by a deeply integrated electronics manufacturing ecosystem. The firms exhibiting at the pavilion this year represent the midstream and upstream tiers of industrial automation — from precision linear guides and servo motors to industrial AI edge computers and full-system integration services.

For global procurement professionals, the pavilion offers direct access to suppliers whose components feed into the PLC architectures of major automation brands. As lead times for European and North American-sourced automation hardware remain extended, Taiwanese alternatives are increasingly viewed as strategic rather than secondary.

What the 20-Company Delegation Brings to McCormick Place

The pavilion is organized around four thematic pillars that map directly onto the needs of modern PLC-driven factories:

1. Precision Components & Motion Control

Several exhibitors specialize in high-precision linear guides, linear motors, servo motors, and driver solutions. These components form the actuation layer that PLCs command in automated assembly lines, semiconductor fabrication, and robotic workcells. Quality and repeatability in these components directly determine overall equipment effectiveness (OEE).

2. Smart Equipment & Automation Hardware

Firms in this category provide integrated automation workstations, automated control valves, and single-axis robots. Their hardware interfaces with PLC systems via standardized industrial protocols, offering drop-in compatibility for factory integrators seeking to reduce deployment time.

3. Industrial AI & Edge Computing

Perhaps the most strategically significant category, these exhibitors present industrial computers and edge AI appliances that sit alongside — or in some architectures, replace — traditional PLCs. As factories adopt machine vision, predictive maintenance, and real-time quality inspection, the line between PLCs and edge AI hardware continues to blur.

4. System Integration & Intelligent Applications

Integration-focused firms bridge the communication gap between disparate PLC brands, SCADA systems, MES platforms, and cloud analytics layers. Their presence signals that Taiwan's automation industry has matured beyond component supply into full-stack solution delivery.

The Reshoring Catalyst: Why North American Buyers Are Paying Attention

North America's industrial automation procurement landscape is being reshaped by two converging forces: the CHIPS Act-driven semiconductor manufacturing buildout and a broader reshoring wave in automotive, pharmaceutical, and consumer goods production. Each new factory requires PLCs, HMIs, motion controllers, and the component ecosystems that support them.

Taiwanese suppliers occupy a unique position. They offer the precision and reliability associated with Asian electronics manufacturing but with supply chains that have proven resilient through recent geopolitical disruptions. For system integrators and OEMs attending AUTOMATE 2026, the New Taipei City Pavilion represents a one-stop sourcing opportunity that spans the full automation stack.

From Taipei to Chicago: A Strategic Platform

The New Taipei City Government's presence at AUTOMATE 2026 is not an isolated initiative. It follows the city's established pattern of organizing collective pavilions at major international trade shows, including Automation Taipei and SEMICON Taiwan, connecting its manufacturing base to global buyers.

With McCormick Place hosting the event across June 22–25, the pavilion at Booth 13047 & 13051 serves as both a product showcase and a strategic platform for partnership discussions. For North American procurement professionals, system integrators, and OEM engineering teams, it offers a rare opportunity to evaluate an entire regional supply chain in a single location.

The New Taipei City Pavilion will remain open throughout AUTOMATE 2026. Procurement and engineering teams attending the show are advised to schedule meetings in advance through the pavilion's official channels to maximize sourcing outcomes.