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What is International Data Centre Day

What is International Data Centre Day

Events

What is International Data Centre Day and how is it celebrated?

March 25, 2026

Raspberry Pi is best known as a low-cost computing platform for education and hobbyists. Yet a growing ecosystem of industrial hardware vendors is turning the technology into a serious building block for automation and Edge computing.

Raspberry Pi is best known as a low-cost computing platform for education and hobbyists. Yet a growing ecosystem of industrial hardware vendors is turning the technology into a serious building block for automation and Edge computing.

Events

embedded world 2026: Sfera Labs transforms Raspberry Pi into industrial Edge powerhouse

March 15, 2026

RCM Technologies says it has used advanced engineering and process optimisation to more than double ethanol output in a legacy ethanol plant in the US Midwest.

RCM Technologies says it has used advanced engineering and process optimisation to more than double ethanol output in a legacy ethanol plant in the US Midwest.

Energy & Utilities

Precision engineering unlocks hidden capacity in Midwestern ethanol facility

March 14, 2026

Phoenix Contact, one of Germany’s largest electrical component makers, is seeking to position itself at the forefront of industrial electrification by moving towards direct current (DC) supply at its showcase Blomberg factory. The €35 million facility, known as the “all-electric society factory,” demonstrates the company’s vision for a fully electrified industrial ecosystem.

Phoenix Contact, one of Germany’s largest electrical component makers, is seeking to position itself at the forefront of industrial electrification by moving towards direct current (DC) supply at its showcase Blomberg factory. The €35 million facility, known as the “all-electric society factory,” demonstrates the company’s vision for a fully electrified industrial ecosystem.

Electrical & Connectivity

Phoenix Contact pushes the DC current at Blomberg factory

February 27, 2026

Ulrich Leidecker, Chief Operating Officer of Phoenix Contact, has said the family-owned group is restructuring its supply chains and commercial model in response to mounting geopolitical pressures, as it seeks to return to sustained double-digit growth.

Ulrich Leidecker, Chief Operating Officer of Phoenix Contact, has said the family-owned group is restructuring its supply chains and commercial model in response to mounting geopolitical pressures, as it seeks to return to sustained double-digit growth.

Phoenix Contact shifts from components to integrated energy systems amid trade tensions

February 27, 2026

Brazil is seeking to position itself as a global hub for technology and industrial innovation, with its Ambassador to Germany, HE Rodrigo Baena Soares, highlighting the country’s efforts during a press preview of the Hannover Messe on Tuesday. Soares framed the 2026 Hannover Messe as a platform to showcase Brazil’s growing digital, AI, and renewable energy sectors, while deepening industrial and technological cooperation with Germany and the wider European Union.

Brazil is seeking to position itself as a global hub for technology and industrial innovation, with its Ambassador to Germany, HE Rodrigo Baena Soares, highlighting the country’s efforts during a press preview of the Hannover Messe on Tuesday. Soares framed the 2026 Hannover Messe as a platform to showcase Brazil’s growing digital, AI, and renewable energy sectors, while deepening industrial and technological cooperation with Germany and the wider European Union.

Events

‘An awful lot more than coffee in Brazil’ hears Hannover Messe preview

February 25, 2026

Europe’s manufacturers are increasingly turning to artificial intelligence (AI) to address workforce shortages, rising costs, and operational complexity, industry leaders said at the Hannover Messe Press Preview today. The annual trade fair, taking place from 20–24 April, will showcase how AI is transforming factories—from SMEs to large corporations—through robotics, data platforms, and integrated production solutions.

Europe’s manufacturers are increasingly turning to artificial intelligence (AI) to address workforce shortages, rising costs, and operational complexity, industry leaders said at the Hannover Messe Press Preview today. The annual trade fair, taking place from 20–24 April, will showcase how AI is transforming factories—from SMEs to large corporations—through robotics, data platforms, and integrated production solutions.

Events

Europe’s manufacturers seek AI to tackle workforce and cost pressures

February 25, 2026

Hannover Messe, the world’s largest industrial trade fair, is set to become a platform not just for industrial innovation but for high‑level political engagement on defence and security as European capitals accelerate military spending.

Hannover Messe, the world’s largest industrial trade fair, is set to become a platform not just for industrial innovation but for high‑level political engagement on defence and security as European capitals accelerate military spending.

Events

Hannover Messe 2026 spotlights defence amid growing pressure on European leaders to raise funding

February 25, 2026

as factories, power grids, and transport networks adopt AI at pace, ensuring it operates safely has become a pressing challenge. While much of the world talks about accelerating AI, fewer are asking the harder question: how do you control systems that make real-time decisions in high-stakes industrial environments?

as factories, power grids, and transport networks adopt AI at pace, ensuring it operates safely has become a pressing challenge. While much of the world talks about accelerating AI, fewer are asking the harder question: how do you control systems that make real-time decisions in high-stakes industrial environments?

Safety & Compliance

Edge of reason: how UK firms are trying to make industrial AI safer

February 17, 2026

Robotics experts have criticised Elon Musk’s prediction that 10 billion humanoid robots will be in circulation by 2040, calling it “unrealistic”.

Robotics experts have criticised Elon Musk’s prediction that 10 billion humanoid robots will be in circulation by 2040, calling it “unrealistic”.

Robotics

Robotics experts call Elon Musk’s 10 billion humanoid robots prediction “unrealistic”

February 13, 2026

Automation News will be launching its inaugural print magazine at the Hannover Messe trade show in April.

Automation News will be launching its inaugural print magazine at the Hannover Messe trade show in April.

Events

Automation News to launch print magazine at Hannover Messe 2026

February 11, 2026

The rapid rise of AI workloads is forcing data centre operators to rethink the way they design, power, and cool their facilities, industry experts told a webinar hosted by Automation News this week.

The rapid rise of AI workloads is forcing data centre operators to rethink the way they design, power, and cool their facilities, industry experts told a webinar hosted by Automation News this week.

Events

Automation News Webinar: AI boom drives data centres from megawatts to gigawatts

February 11, 2026

Microsoft is pushing the boundaries of data centre construction in the UK with its newest facility in Acton, west London, designed to operate entirely without backup diesel generators.

Microsoft is pushing the boundaries of data centre construction in the UK with its newest facility in Acton, west London, designed to operate entirely without backup diesel generators.

Events

London Tech Expo: inside Microsoft’s new ‘zero generator’ data centre and its AI power demands

February 6, 2026

Manufacturers warned at the Southern Manufacturing Show today that a failure to invest in automation in the UK could compromise national security, with the country falling behind its global peers in industrial robot adoption.

Manufacturers warned at the Southern Manufacturing Show today that a failure to invest in automation in the UK could compromise national security, with the country falling behind its global peers in industrial robot adoption.

Robotics

Manufacturers warn UK’s lag on robotics risks national security

February 3, 2026

Stephen Phipson, Chief Executive of Make UK, declared 2026 “the year of automation,” as the government’s new industrial strategy puts digital transformation and robotics at the core of advanced manufacturing.

Stephen Phipson, Chief Executive of Make UK, declared 2026 “the year of automation,” as the government’s new industrial strategy puts digital transformation and robotics at the core of advanced manufacturing.

“2026 will be the year of automation,” says Make UK chief as energy costs bite

February 3, 2026

Experts are warning that industrial automation is facing a growing cyber security challenge, as Operational Technology (OT) environments struggle to keep pace with increasingly sophisticated threats.

Experts are warning that industrial automation is facing a growing cyber security challenge, as Operational Technology (OT) environments struggle to keep pace with increasingly sophisticated threats.

Safety & Compliance

Half of UK firms expect OT environments to be targeted as automation cyber threats escalate

January 30, 2026

For sixty years, PLCs, have been the backbone of industrial automation. But how can they work as part of an open software defined plant?

For sixty years, PLCs, have been the backbone of industrial automation. But how can they work as part of an open software defined plant?

Factory Automation

How do PLCs work as part of an open software defined plant?

January 27, 2026

Researchers at the US National Renewable Energy Laboratory have developed a new silicon-carbide-based power module designed to dramatically improve the efficiency of electricity conversion, as rising demand from artificial intelligence data centres and advanced manufacturing strains global energy systems.

Researchers at the US National Renewable Energy Laboratory have developed a new silicon-carbide-based power module designed to dramatically improve the efficiency of electricity conversion, as rising demand from artificial intelligence data centres and advanced manufacturing strains global energy systems.

Energy & Utilities

ULIS SiC power module promises fivefold energy density gains for industrial automation

January 26, 2026

Smaller UK manufacturers are increasingly turning to robotics and advanced automation to meet growing demand, improve precision, and remain competitive in sectors such as defence, retail, and automotive. The shift reflects not only rising labour and quality pressures, but also the growing accessibility and flexibility of modern robotic systems.

Smaller UK manufacturers are increasingly turning to robotics and advanced automation to meet growing demand, improve precision, and remain competitive in sectors such as defence, retail, and automotive. The shift reflects not only rising labour and quality pressures, but also the growing accessibility and flexibility of modern robotic systems.

Robotics

Robots in automation: smaller manufacturers embrace robotics as technology barriers fall

January 22, 2026

Japanese manufacturer Mitsubishi Electric has now taken the concept a step further, developing a system in which AI agents do not simply cooperate but actively challenge one another, mirroring human debate to improve complex decision-making.

Japanese manufacturer Mitsubishi Electric has now taken the concept a step further, developing a system in which AI agents do not simply cooperate but actively challenge one another, mirroring human debate to improve complex decision-making.

Mitsubishi Electric unveils adversarial AI system to sharpen industrial decision-making

January 21, 2026