Trade events for logistics and automation serve two purposes: vendor exhibition (where automation companies demonstrate systems and generate sales leads) and professional education (where operations managers learn about technology trends, hear case studies, and evaluate solutions at scale). Knowing which events are relevant to specific automation decisions helps operations teams prioritize attendance and vendor evaluation efficiently.
Key Takeaways
- MODEX (Atlanta, biennial) and ProMat (Chicago, biennial) are the largest North American material handling and logistics automation trade shows, alternating years and serving as the primary venue for ASRS, AMR, and conveyor vendor demonstrations.
- MANIFEST Logistics (Las Vegas, annual) is the most prominent North American logistics technology conference, focused on logistics software, supply chain visibility, and freight technology rather than hardware automation.
- IMHX (Birmingham, UK, biennial) and LogiMAT (Stuttgart, Germany, annual) are the largest European logistics automation exhibitions, with LogiMAT being the primary venue for European ASRS and intralogistics vendor demonstrations.
- ProLogis World Expo (Paris, annual) and SIL Barcelona are significant European logistics and supply chain events with substantial automation floor presence.
- Attending 1 to 2 major trade events per year is sufficient for most operations teams evaluating automation vendors; live system demonstrations at vendor facility visits are more valuable than trade show floor demonstrations for final vendor selection decisions.
North American Trade Events
MODEX and ProMat
MODEX and ProMat are co-owned by MHI (Material Handling Institute) and alternate between Atlanta (MODEX, even years) and Chicago (ProMat, odd years). Both are the dominant North American trade shows for material handling and warehouse automation, drawing 30,000 to 50,000 attendees and hundreds of exhibitors.
For operations evaluating ASRS, AMRs, conveyor systems, or WMS platforms, MODEX and ProMat provide the highest concentration of vendors in one location. Live robot demonstrations, scaled ASRS mockups, and goods-to-person picking demonstrations are standard features from major vendors.
MODEX 2026: Atlanta, Georgia. MODEX is the primary venue for Dematic, Vanderlande, Swisslog, and other tier-one automation integrators to demonstrate current product capabilities.
ProMat 2027: Chicago, Illinois.
MANIFEST Logistics
MANIFEST Logistics (Las Vegas, annual) is focused on logistics technology companies — TMS platforms, freight brokerage software, supply chain visibility, and last-mile technology — rather than warehouse automation hardware. MANIFEST is the primary North American venue for freight technology and logistics software companies.
For operations evaluating TMS, real-time visibility platforms, or freight technology, MANIFEST is more relevant than MODEX/ProMat. For warehouse automation hardware, MODEX/ProMat is the primary event.
Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP) Edge
CSCMP's annual Edge conference brings supply chain executives and logistics professionals together for strategic sessions on supply chain trends. The exhibition floor is smaller than MODEX/ProMat, but the conference content is more strategic and the attendee profile more senior. Edge is appropriate for operations directors and supply chain executives evaluating automation strategy rather than specific hardware selection.
European Trade Events
LogiMAT Stuttgart
LogiMAT (Stuttgart, Germany, annual) is Europe's largest annual intralogistics trade show, drawing 60,000 to 70,000 attendees and 1,500 to 2,000 exhibitors. LogiMAT is the primary European venue for ASRS, conveyor, and intralogistics robot vendors to demonstrate systems.
German, Austrian, and Swiss automation vendors (SSI Schaefer, Knapp, TGW, Swisslog) have large booth presences at LogiMAT. Vanderlande and Dematic also have significant LogiMAT presences.
For European operations evaluating ASRS or AMR vendors, LogiMAT is the equivalent of MODEX/ProMat — the highest-concentration venue for vendor demonstration.
IMHX Birmingham
IMHX (International Material Handling Exhibition, Birmingham, UK, biennial) is the UK's largest logistics and material handling trade show. IMHX is particularly relevant for UK distribution operations evaluating automation vendors with UK service coverage.
SIL Barcelona
SIL (International Logistics Congress, Barcelona, Spain, annual) is Spain's largest logistics event, drawing attendees from Spain, Portugal, and Latin American markets. SIL is the primary venue for automation vendors targeting Iberian and LatAm logistics markets alongside the broader European attendee base.
How Operations Teams Should Use Trade Events
Before the Event
Identify the specific automation categories you are evaluating. Trade event floors are large and time is limited: knowing in advance whether you are evaluating AMRs, ASRS, WMS, or conveyor systems allows you to prioritize the most relevant vendor booths.
Request pre-booked meetings with target vendors before the event floor opens. Tier-one integrators (Dematic, Vanderlande) have busy booths and pre-booked meetings ensure access to the specific technical resources you need.
During the Event
Live demonstrations at trade show booths are valuable for understanding system concepts but are not a substitute for facility visit demonstrations. Trade show configurations are scaled down; seeing the full system operating in a live distribution environment provides a more accurate performance impression.
Use the event for executive-level introductions and relationship building with vendors you have already shortlisted. Technical deep dives belong in vendor facility visits and RFP processes.
After the Event
Follow up on vendor commitments made at the event within one week. Trade events generate many vendor conversations; the vendor teams follow up selectively, and operations teams that follow up proactively move faster through the evaluation process.
Analytics for Operations Post-Event Evaluation
After evaluating vendors at trade events and advancing to RFP and facility visits, the management reporting and analytics capability of vendor platforms is often underweighted as a selection criterion. LOW/CODE Agency builds custom analytics applications that surface automation platform data as management reporting when native vendor dashboards do not.
Schedule a consultation with our Senior Partners to discuss how a custom analytics layer can complement your automation vendor selection.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the largest logistics automation trade shows in the US?
MODEX (Atlanta, even years) and ProMat (Chicago, odd years) are the largest North American material handling and logistics automation trade shows, organized by MHI. Both draw 30,000 to 50,000 attendees and provide the highest concentration of ASRS, AMR, conveyor, and WMS vendors in North America at a single location.
What is LogiMAT and why is it important?
LogiMAT (Stuttgart, Germany, annual) is Europe's largest annual intralogistics trade show, drawing 60,000 to 70,000 attendees. It is the primary European venue for ASRS and intralogistics automation vendor demonstrations, with strong representation from German, Austrian, and Swiss material handling companies (SSI Schaefer, Knapp, TGW, Swisslog).
What is MANIFEST Logistics?
MANIFEST Logistics is an annual logistics technology conference held in Las Vegas, focused on freight technology, TMS platforms, supply chain visibility, and last-mile logistics software. It is the primary North American venue for logistics software companies rather than warehouse automation hardware vendors.
Should I attend a trade show to evaluate logistics automation vendors?
Trade show attendance is useful for initial vendor identification and concept demonstrations. For final vendor selection, facility visits (seeing the system operating in a live production environment) and structured RFP evaluations are more valuable than trade show demonstrations. Most operations benefit from 1 to 2 major trade show visits during the early vendor evaluation phase.
Are there logistics automation events focused on specific industries?
Yes. The Healthcare Distribution Management Association (HDMA) conference focuses on pharmaceutical distribution, with automation content relevant to pharma DC operators. FMI (Food Industry Association) events address grocery distribution automation. CSCMP Edge covers supply chain strategy broadly. These vertical events complement the general material handling trade shows for industry-specific automation evaluation.