Industrial Automation Spending to Grow 6-9% Annually Through 2030

Industrial automation enters sustained growth phase

After several years of sluggish performance, the industrial automation sector is entering a period of robust expansion. According to analysis from Roland Berger, 2026 marks the beginning of a five-year growth cycle, with annual increases projected between 6% and 9% through 2030.

The renewed momentum reflects fundamental shifts in how manufacturers approach production technology. Companies are moving away from traditional automation architectures toward intelligent systems that offer greater flexibility and scalability.

Multiple drivers fuel capital investment

Several converging factors are pushing manufacturers to accelerate automation spending. Factory modernization projects are addressing aging infrastructure, while reshoring initiatives are creating demand for new domestic production capacity. Robotics investments continue to expand beyond automotive into broader industrial applications.

Semiconductor manufacturing represents another significant growth driver, as chipmakers build new fabs and expand existing facilities. These projects require sophisticated automation systems to meet precision and throughput requirements.

Manufacturers are also responding to market pressures for more adaptable production systems. Traditional fixed automation struggles to accommodate product variety and rapid changeovers that modern supply chains demand.

Architecture shift reduces deployment barriers

A key enabler of the projected growth is the industry's transition from proprietary automation platforms to standardized, software-driven architectures. This shift lowers both initial deployment costs and ongoing maintenance expenses.

Standardized platforms also improve scalability, allowing manufacturers to expand automation incrementally rather than requiring wholesale system replacements. The move toward open architectures reduces vendor lock-in and enables integration of best-of-breed components.

Why it matters

This growth cycle represents more than a cyclical upturn—it signals a structural transformation in industrial automation. The shift to intelligent, software-centric systems changes the economics of automation, making it accessible to mid-sized manufacturers who previously found traditional systems too expensive or inflexible. For technology vendors, the transition creates both opportunity and disruption as proprietary hardware advantages give way to software differentiation. Companies that fail to adapt their offerings risk losing ground to competitors offering more open, scalable platforms.

Outlook

The projected 6-9% annual growth rate through 2030 would represent a significant acceleration from recent performance. Sustained expansion at this pace would drive substantial capital equipment demand and reshape competitive dynamics across the automation supply chain.

The forecast was first reported by Engineering.com, citing Roland Berger's analysis of industrial automation market trends.