Industrial automation expands as Detroit prepares for 2026 robot safety conference

The industrial automation sector is seeing significant growth and technological advancement. RoboTape has been named an Industry Icon in AI & Robotics for the 2026 List, recognized for its innovation in automating the application of industrial adhesive tape. Developed by Innovative Automation Inc., the RoboTape system utilizes a remote feeding architecture that allows for larger material rolls and increased production uptime. The technology has previously collaborated with 3M to integrate robotic application with adhesive expertise.

Simultaneously, Detroit is positioning itself as a central hub for industrial automation. The city will host the International Robot Safety Conference from November 3-5, 2026, at Huntington Place. This comes amid a surge in North American robot orders, which reached 36,766 units in 2025, a 17.4% increase from the previous year. While automotive orders continue to grow, non-automotive sectors—including food, life sciences, and semiconductors—now account for 55.5% of the North American market, driving the need for standardized safety protocols in human-robot collaboration.