The 2026 edition of SPS – Smart Production Solutions Guangzhou, South China’s premier trade fair for industrial automation, concluded on 6 March, reinforcing its position as a vital catalyst for the global industrial revolution.
Held at the China Import and Export Fair Complex, the event was co-located with Guangzhou Industrial Technology and Asiamold Select – Guangzhou. Together, the three fairs created a comprehensive ecosystem covering the entire manufacturing value chain—from basic components and sensors to advanced system integration and industrial AI.
Despite global economic shifts, the exhibition saw a significant boost in its international profile. The platform welcomed visitors from 91 overseas countries and regions, marking a 20% increase in international attendance compared to the previous edition.
The event garnered a total of 40,026 visitors with over 1,200 international delegates representing 91 countries. Exhibitors consisted of 424 domestic and international companies.
The exhibition floor served as a high-tech showroom for the “building blocks” of Industry 4.0. Leading global and domestic brands, including Festo, Turck, Lenze, Cognex, Baumer, and Mouser Electronics, showcased innovations in drive systems, connectivity, and industrial robotics.
Speaking to BusinessToday on the sidelines of the event, several exhibitors highlighted their integral roles in the current industrial transformation.
The spokesperson for Raythink who had a prominent presence at the exhibition showcased some amazing thermal imaging devices that were somewhat out of a military movie scene. With markets spanning from Asia to Europe and US, Raythink handheld thermal camera’s are used in various industries for their unique application in detecting gas leakage to measuring hot components while reducing safety risks.
Another exhibitor, Steven Wei, Sales Account Manager at Novanta, noted that the fair provided a critical platform for technical discourse: “We are showcasing ATI brand sensors and motion control drives. This fair is influential in South China, allowing for in-depth technical discussions with professionals who are looking for high-precision solutions.”
Meanwhile, Turck (Tianjin) Sensor Co Ltd used the event to debut its distributed fail-safe system. Mr. Liming Hao, Supervisor of Solution Design, told BusinessToday that their IoT solutions were particularly well-received, with visitors seeking specific applications for large-scale, cost-effective production lines.
Beyond hardware, the fringe programme featured 13 sessions and nearly 80 presentations. The “Digital and Intelligent Transformation in Manufacturing” forum alone attracted over 20,000 online viewers, reflecting the massive demand for digital twin and industrial cybersecurity knowledge.
Chenyu Xing, General Manager of Industry Ecosystem at Midea Cloud Technology, presented on the emerging concept of “AI-agent factories.” He observed that the interaction from the audience exceeded expectations, stating, “The exhibition goes beyond simply showcasing technologies; it drives the circulation of progressive industry concepts.”
For visitors like Paul Van from the French company Aperam (operating in Foshan) and Guowen Zhang from lithium battery giant Sunwoda, the fair provided a roadmap for increasing efficiency.
“The lively demonstrations help identify the right solutions for our production,” said Van, who focused on cobot and sensor technologies. Zhang added that the fair offered a “clear look at how smart manufacturing is evolving,” particularly in increasing the capacity of automated battery production lines.
As the Guangzhou edition closes with strong praise for its networking effectiveness, the SPS global network continues its 2026 tour, with several stops in Southeast Asia and Europe:Among them are in Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Italy and Germany
