Automate 2026 brings together the best minds and solutions in manufacturing automation. With hundreds of booths competing for your attention, where should you spend your time? 

Taking place June 22–25, 2026 at Chicago's McCormick Place, Automate is the largest automation trade show in North America. The scale is staggering. Over the course of four days, Automate hosts thousands of attendees, hundreds of exhibitors, and countless product launches, live demonstrations, and engineering conversations that can shape the direction of your operation for years to come. 

If you're evaluating partners for your next custom automation project, Isthmus Engineering & Manufacturing at Booth #1275 deserves a spot on your must-visit list.

Everything You Need to Know about Automate 2026

Hosted by the Association for Advancing Automation (A3), Automate is the premier gathering for North America's automation community. Manufacturers, engineers, systems integrators, and automation professionals from virtually every industry convene in Chicago each year to see how this technology is advancing.

The show floor covers the full spectrum of automation technology, from robotics to machine vision to end-of-line packaging and everything in between. Hundreds of exhibitors bring their latest innovations, making it one of the few events where you can evaluate multiple automation partners, compare technologies side by side, and have substantive engineering conversations all under one roof.

If you have been delaying a capital automation project, exploring new production capabilities, or simply trying to understand the automation landscape, Automate is a valuable opportunity. With so much to see, the challenge is knowing how to focus your time. That's where Isthmus Engineering stands out as a clear priority.

What Can Isthmus Engineering Do?

Isthmus Engineering & Manufacturing has been designing and building custom automated manufacturing equipment for over 40 years. We solve complex manufacturing problems across a wide range of industries, approaching every project with a level of precision and commitment that comes from being built differently.

Isthmus is a worker-owned cooperative, which means every employee has a direct, vested interest in the success of every project. This unique model shapes how our team approaches your work, from initial concept through final installation and support.

The capabilities behind our commitment are equally impressive. We handle the full project lifecycle in-house: concept development, mechanical and controls design, CNC machining, Wire EDM (electrical discharge machining), controls assembly, and UL-listed panel building. This fully in-house capability delivers  tighter control over quality and timeline at every stage and ensures a clear line of communication throughout.

For manufacturers in regulated industries, Isthmus also offers rigorous Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT) and Site Acceptance Testing (SAT) processes, as well as full validation and GAMP (good automated manufacturing practice) documentation support. 

The Ideal Custom Manufacturing Automation Partner

At Isthmus, our team works across a broad range of automation disciplines, and each one reflects the same custom-first philosophy.

• Assembly Automation: When your product requires high-precision, multi-step assembly that off-the-shelf equipment simply can't handle, we design purpose-built systems around your exact specifications. 

• Material Handling: Moving parts and products through a facility efficiently requires solutions that fit your specific workflow. Isthmus develops custom conveying, transfer, and part-handling systems designed to integrate seamlessly into existing lines.

• Packaging Equipment: End-of-line and inline packaging demands vary enormously by product, throughput, and facility constraints. Isthmus builds packaging systems around product-specific requirements rather than forcing your operation to conform to a standard machine.

• Custom Process Development: Some manufacturing challenges are entirely new. When no existing solution on the market solves the problem, our team develops proof-of-process and prototype solutions from scratch. 

Why Visit Booth #1275 at Automate 2026?

Trade shows are one of the few environments where you can skip the sales deck and talk directly with the engineers who design and build the equipment. At Booth #1275, that's exactly what you'll find.

The Isthmus team at Automate won't have any marketing generalists reading from a brochure. We’re bringing engineers and project professionals who have worked through thousands of automation applications and are ready to answer your questions.

Give us your toughest challenge. Tell us about the project your team has been putting off because no one could figure out the right approach. Ask your questions about scalability, integration, validation, or timeline. The conversations at Booth #1275 are engineering-driven by design; our goal is to have meaningful conversations with concrete outcomes.

Meet the Custom Automated Manufacturing Equipment Experts

Isthmus Engineering & Manufacturing is built differently from most automation vendors. The combination of 40+ years of experience, worker-owned accountability, deep in-house capabilities, and a genuine custom-first approach makes Isthmus a reliable, long-term engineering partner.

Don’t forget to register for Automate 2026 if you haven’t yet, and mark down Isthmus at booth #1275s a must-see exhibit.

Before the show, we recommend browsing our project examples and key solution areas to get familiar with the scope of work the team has tackled. Then come to Chicago ready to talk. We’re ready to listen.