AW 2025 showcases the next era of automation

By Staff Report March 12, 2025 7:44 pm IST

Smart Factory & Automation World (AW 2025), Asia’s leading manufacturing innovation exhibition, opened on March 12 and will continue until March 14 at COEX and the Korea International Trade Association. It features participation from 22 countries, 500 companies, and 2,200 booths under the theme “Automation to Autonomy.”

Smart Factory & Automation World (AW 2025), Asia’s leading manufacturing innovation exhibition, opened on March 12 and will continue until March 14 at COEX.

This year’s event, co-hosted by COEX, the Korea Industrial Intelligence Association, the Smart Manufacturing Innovation Promotion Group, the Korea Machine Vision Industry Association, Advanced Media, and the Korea International Trade Association, features participation from 22 countries, 500 companies, and 2,200 booths under the theme “Automation to Autonomy.” Global and domestic manufacturing leaders have gathered to showcase cutting-edge smart factory and automation technologies, including AI-powered manufacturing solutions, collaborative robots, industrial and logistics robots, digital twins, sensors, and machine vision. 

For the first time in Asia, Hyundai Glovis has unveiled Boston Dynamics’ logistics robot, “Stretch.” Designed for high-speed and precision de-palletizing, Stretch enhances warehouse and logistics operations by efficiently handling containerised cargo. Hyundai Glovis also introduced its new smart logistics center currently under construction at Incheon Airport. 

Another first-time exhibitor, Hyundai AutoEver, a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Group, presented its “NEO Factory” solution, an SDF (Software-Defined Factory) system that enables autonomous manufacturing. The NEO Factory system integrates advanced automation technologies to optimize production capacity and capital efficiency. 

Schneider Electric (France), a global leader in industrial automation, is celebrating its 50th anniversary in Korea with an exhibition under the theme “50 Years of Innovation: A Sustainable IMPACT for Smart Factory.” The company is showcasing machine automation solutions and robotics innovations that enhance human-machine collaboration and advance Industry 5.0 smart manufacturing environments, with a strong 

The Smart Logistics Pavilion features leading global logistics companies, including AutoStore (Norway), Libiao Robotics (China), Techman Robot (Taiwan), and CMES (Korea). These companies are showcasing Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs), Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs), logistics robots, and AI-powered logistics automation systems. Additionally, top collaborative robot manufacturers such as Universal Robots, the world’s No. 1 cobot company, and HD Hyundai Robotics, Korea’s leading industrial robot manufacturer, are demonstrating the latest advancements in automation technology. 

During the exhibition, more than 200 expert-led conferences are taking place, including the “2025 Industrial Intelligence Conference” and the “AI Autonomous Manufacturing Innovation Forum.” These sessions provide a platform to discuss trends in manufacturing innovation and autonomous production. 

For the first time, the “AW Open Innovation Round” is being held, selecting the top six innovative manufacturing startups and connecting them with large and mid-sized enterprises for business collaborations and investment opportunities. 

To support global business expansion, the Korea International Trade Association (KITA) is hosting 1:1 export consultation meetings between 23 international buyers from 9 countries, including Indonesia’s largest telecom company, Telkomsel, and 100 Korean companies. 

This year’s Smart Factory & Automation World is expected to set a new attendance record, with over 60,000 pre-registered attendees and a total of approximately 80,000 visitors. More than 1,000 international buyers from Germany, Japan, China, Singapore, Indonesia, and Vietnam are visiting Korea, solidifying AW 2025’s status as Asia’s leading industrial exhibition.

Lee Dong-ki, CEO of COEX, emphasised that AW 2025 provides a unique opportunity to witness firsthand how AI and robotics are transforming manufacturing. He expressed his hope that the innovations showcased at Asia’s top manufacturing innovation exhibition will help businesses discover new opportunities and breakthroughs.