SPS 2025 Wraps with Record Attendance as Industry Leaders Unveil AI-Driven Automation Breakthroughs

Nuremberg Exhibition Draws 56,000 Professionals; Siemens, B&R, Bosch Rexroth Showcase Generative AI, Next-Gen Motion Control, and Cybersecurity Solutions

The 34th edition of SPS – Smart Production Solutions successfully concluded on November 27 in Nuremberg, Germany, solidifying its position as Europe’s flagship event for industrial automation. The three-day exhibition, held across 15 halls at the Nuremberg Exhibition Centre, attracted approximately 56,000 trade visitors and featured 1,175 exhibitors showcasing cutting-edge technologies in smart manufacturing, digitalization, and artificial intelligence (AI).

The visitor numbers significantly increased compared to the previous year, signaling a robust industry momentum despite broader economic challenges. Sylke Schulz-Metzner, Vice President of SPS, emphasized the fair’s unique value: “SPS provides a platform not only for innovation but especially for direct interaction. Once again this year, experts came together to explore solutions, discuss trends, and strengthen their networks.”

Generative AI Takes Center Stage with Autonomous Execution

Siemens Digital Industries stole the spotlight by introducing the Engineering Copilot TIA, a generative AI-powered assistant designed to revolutionize how automation engineers work.

The Copilot, delivered as a managed service beta, integrates seamlessly with TIA Portal versions 19 and 20. Crucially, unlike traditional tools that offer mere suggestions, the Engineering Copilot TIA possesses autonomous AI execution capabilities. It handles time-consuming and repetitive tasks, delegating them based on natural language instructions, thus allowing engineers to focus on high-value activities. Its features span code generation and testing, visualization development, workflow automation, and configuration support for hardware and drives.

Rainer Brehm, COO of the automation business and CTO at Siemens Digital Industries, stated: “With the autonomous execution capabilities of the Engineering Copilot TIA, we’re transforming how engineers work. We empower engineers to work more efficiently and confidently. This is crucial for industrial companies in an increasingly competitive environment.”

B&R and Bosch Rexroth Unveil Core Automation Innovations

B&R: Mastering Motion for the Next Generation

B&R Industrial Automation, ABB’s Machine Automation Division, used the exhibition to launch a breakthrough in motion technology. This innovation is specifically engineered to address current industry challenges: shorter product life cycles, increasing customization, and the need for seamless connectivity. The global launch at Hall 7 featured 26 live demonstrations and expert consultations.

Florian Schneeberger, CEO at B&R, highlighted the system’s impact: “This innovation marks a significant leap forward in motion control. We’ve engineered a solution that not only meets today’s demands but anticipates tomorrow’s challenges, delivering unmatched modularity, openness, and usability.” The new system sets benchmarks in flexibility, sustainability, safety, and cybersecurity, reflecting B&R’s commitment to user-centric automation. Live demonstrations notably included instant format changeovers, reducing setup time from hours to seconds, and synchronized multi-axis motion for energy efficiency and micro-level precision.

Bosch Rexroth: Openness and Security with ctrlX AUTOMATION

Bosch Rexroth showcased the practical combination of openness and security through its automation system ctrlX AUTOMATION and the operating system ctrlX OS. The control platform ctrlX COREplus is now available with AI functions across all performance levels, featuring an optional AI module that enables local data processing at the edge for real-time predictive maintenance or quality control. The company also presented high-performance Industrial PCs equipped with NVIDIA GPUs for demanding vision applications.

A particular highlight was the new Safety PLC app, which achieves functional safety without requiring special hardware. Steffen Winkler, Senior Vice President Sales at Bosch Rexroth, noted: “The software-based safety solution makes safety concepts simpler and more efficient. Machine manufacturers require no additional hardware and can integrate safety functions directly into their control systems.”

The Linux-based ctrlX OS forms the foundation for all ctrlX AUTOMATION solutions, enabling seamless OT-IT communication. It is also designed for future compliance, meeting the requirements of IEC 62443-4-2, Security Level 2, thus preparing it for the Cyber Resilience Act (CRA). The ctrlX World partner network has expanded significantly, uniting over 110 partner companies and 86 apps.

ABB Spotlights Cybersecurity and Value-Driven AI

ABB focused its showcase on applications that generate real value through digitalization, including predictive maintenance and flexible manufacturing strategies. The company demonstrated how AI creates real value for safe, efficient, and future-ready plants. With the rise of digitalization, ABB also heavily emphasized cybersecurity solutions designed to protect production plants, minimize risks, and strengthen operational security against cyberattacks.

Momentum and Knowledge Exchange Across the Industry

The consensus among industry leaders at the fair was clear: AI is rapidly expanding its role. Marcus Bliesze of Siemens noted AI’s “tremendous potential” in new concepts still in the proof-of-concept phase. Gerd Hoppe of Beckhoff Automation reaffirmed the value of SPS as an environment where experts “come together to develop ideas for leveraging AI and other digital tools and discuss new approaches.”

Beyond the exhibitor booths, the fair facilitated large-scale knowledge exchange through extensive educational programming across four stages, including the VDMA/ZVEI Technical Stage. The ‘Automation meets IT’ joint booth continued to be a popular convergence point for traditional automation and modern IT solutions. Furthermore, the final day’s Young Talents Day, including the SPS Makeathon, highlighted the industry’s focus on cultivating the next generation.

Felix Kranert, Vice President of Marketing DACH at Schneider Electric, succinctly captured the fair’s importance: “SPS is a fixed element in the automation industry calendar. If you don’t exhibit here, you don’t exist! At the same time, it provides maximum visibility and is an environment in which key ideas are shared.”

Detailed analysis of SPS 2025 will be released in early 2026. The 35th edition of the trade fair is scheduled for November 24-26, 2026, in Nuremberg.