Association for Advancing Automation celebrates 50th anniversary

The Association for Advancing Automation (A3), a robotics and automation trade group, celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2024. The association now represents more than 1,280 member companies as it promotes automation technologies and ideas for businesses.

“The success of A3 for the past five decades is directly attributable to the unflagging support of our members, the incredible advances in automation technology, and the resilience and talent of the team we’ve assembled,” said Jeff Burnstein, A3 President since 2007. “The last few years have been an especially exciting time as the use of robotics and other forms of automation has hit record levels."

"We expect the next 50 years to be even busier for our organization as we support our member companies and users as they continue to embrace automation," Burnstein added. "We look forward to commemorating a legacy of innovation and progress all year, but especially as the industry gathers in Chicago this May for the Automate Show.”

A3's history from safety standards to AI

The Association for Advancing Automation originally formed in 1974 as the Robot Institute of America (RIA). RIA was founded by the Society of Manufacturing Engineers (now SME) and headquartered in Dearborn, Michigan. The first Robots Show - now known as the Automate trade show - took place in 1976 alongside the Assemblex III show. A3 continues to host Automate annually, showcasing new products such as mobile robots and cobots, and technological developments inculding machine vision, and AI navigation.

In 1982, RIA separated from SME, changing its name to the Robotic Industries Association. In 1984, RIA began publishing industrial robot sales statistics. In 1986, RIA published Robot Safety Standard (R15.06), putting RIA on the map for safety and standards. RIA’s headquarters then moved to Ann Arbor in 1986.

The company added support for other automation technologies along with AIA-Advancing Vision and the Imaging and Motion Control and Motors Association (MCMA). All three associations remained separate until 2021, when the RIA, AIA, MCMA, as well as A3 Mexico merged, adding a new Artificial Intelligence group to help industrial automation companies navigate the AI landscape. That year, automate.org became the official home of the unified A3.

To see the full timeline of A3's 50 years as an association, visit automate.org/history.

Jeff Burnstein, Association for Advancing Automation president:

“While the name of our association has changed over the years, what has never wavered is our mission of bringing vendors and users together to take advantage of the productivity and efficiency benefits robotics and automation enable. I’ve had a front row seat to the growth of the industry for more than 40 years and expect even greater growth as more industries facing labor shortage and efficiency issues recognize what robotics and automation can do to help them succeed.”