The Affiliation for Advancing Automation (A3), the world’s largest robotics and automation commerce group, celebrates its fiftieth anniversary in 2024.

The worldwide advocate for the advantages of automation now represents greater than 1280 member firms because it promotes automation applied sciences and concepts that rework and redefine the enterprise setting.

Jeff Burnstein, who joined A3 in 1983 and has served as president of the affiliation since 2007, says: “The success of A3 for the previous 5 a long time is straight attributable to the unflagging assist of our members, the unimaginable advances in automation know-how, and the resilience and expertise of the workforce we’ve assembled.

“The previous few years have been an particularly thrilling time as using robotics and different types of automation has hit file ranges.

“We anticipate the subsequent 50 years to be even busier for our group as we assist our member firms and customers as they proceed to embrace automation.

“We sit up for commemorating a legacy of innovation and progress all yr, however particularly because the trade gathers in Chicago this Could for the Automate Present.”

A3 highlights by means of the years

• The Affiliation for Advancing Automation started in 1974 initially because the Robotic Institute of America (RIA), initially based by the Society of Manufacturing Engineers (now SME) and headquartered in Dearborn, Michigan.
• The primary Robots Present, now referred to as Automate, occurred in 1976, co-located with the Assemblex III present. In 1982, RIA separated from SME, altering its identify to the Robotic Industries Affiliation.
• In 1984, RIA started publishing the primary industrial robotic gross sales statistics, solidifying RIA as a trusted useful resource on market tendencies for the robotic trade.
• In 1986, RIA revealed the primary Robotic Security Customary (R15.06), placing RIA on the map for its international management in security and requirements.
• Headquarters then moved to Ann Arbor in 1986, and through the years, started including assist for different automation applied sciences with the AIA-Advancing Imaginative and prescient + Imaging and Movement Management and Motors Affiliation (MCMA).
• These separate associations remained till 2021, when A3 merged RIA, AIA, MCMA and A3 Mexico into one affiliation whereas including a brand new Synthetic Intelligence group to assist industrial automation firms navigate the AI panorama.
• That yr, automate.org grew to become the official residence of the unified A3 and a hub for all automation trade assets.

To see the total timeline of occasions spanning 50 years as an affiliation, go to automate.org/historical past.

Burnstein says: “Whereas the identify of our affiliation has modified through the years, what has by no means wavered is our mission of bringing distributors and customers collectively to benefit from the productiveness and effectivity advantages robotics and automation allow.

“I’ve had a entrance row seat to the expansion of the trade for greater than 40 years and anticipate even better development as extra industries dealing with labor scarcity and effectivity points acknowledge what robotics and automation can do to assist them succeed.”

Primary picture: The primary president of what was to develop into referred to as the Affiliation for Advancing Automation, Don Vincent, and Jeff Burnstein, who took over the position in 2007 and nonetheless leads A3 at this time, talk about robotic gross sales in 1987.