Industry experts will lead 200 educational seminars spotlighting trends and technologies shaping the future of the supply chain and manufacturing operations to MODEX 2026.
The trade show is being hosted by MHI April 13-16 at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, Georgia. Registration is free.
Safety-focused educational seminars
WERC, a professional organization focused on the role of warehousing, distribution, and fulfillment in supply chains will lead the following safety-relevant seminar:
WERC Distribution Logistics Education Program: Upskill Your Career & Team
- Monday, April 13
- 12:00 to 12:45 p.m.
- MHI Industry Group Theater
- Speakers: Sam Mazzola, MHI instruction designer and Rebecca Woods, MHI director of talent & professional development
- Discover how MHI and WERC are equipping professionals with the critical skills needed for success in today’s warehousing and distribution landscape. The Distribution Logistics Education Program features six courses that build proficiency in fundamentals, equipment, safety, operations, performance, and leadership.
MHI Industry Groups connect MHI members with equipment and system users to create a collaborative environment to address common challenges and opportunities in material handling and supply chains. Groups delivering safety-relevant seminar include:
RMI - Storage Rack Safety 101
- Tuesday, April 14
- 10:30 to 11:15 a.m.
- MHI Industry Group Theater
- This seminar highlights all aspects of safety-focused operation including pallet racking design features for life safety, the importance and type of engineering documentation that should be retained, health and safety inspection ideas, capacity signage, and racking maintenance programs. Sign up for this presentation and bring your questions as we help you achieve your safety compliance goals.
EASE - The Human Advantage: Safety, Ergonomics, and Smarter Automation Decisions
- Tuesday, April 14
- 1:30 to 2:15 p.m.
- MHI Industry Group Theater
- In this panel discussion, three industry leaders share how they’re putting people first while introducing automation and other material-handling innovations. Through real-world examples, the panelists will explore how ergonomic design enhances safety and efficiency, how these approaches align with automation, and why ergonomics becomes especially critical when full automation isn’t feasible. Attendees will walk away with practical insights and firsthand lessons they can apply to create safer, more productive operations without sacrificing human oversight or engagement.
Solutions Community - Brownfield vs Greenfield Condition Monitoring and Reliability for Predictive Maintenance
- Tuesday, April 14
- 3:45 to 4:30 p.m.
- Theater B
- In under 45 minutes, this fast-paced session will explore how predictive maintenance strategies are uniquely tailored to brownfield (existing legacy systems) and greenfield (newly built facilities) environments. You'll gain insights into how technology selection, data integration, and ROI expectations differ when retrofitting aging infrastructure versus designing maintenance intelligence into new operations from the ground up
ProGMA - Verify with Confidence: Why Standardized Testing Is Essential for Guarding Compliance and Safety Assurance
- Wednesday, April 15
- 1:30 to 2:15 p.m.
- MHI Industry Group Theater
- This session will provide an overview of the ANSI MH31 series standards (MH31.1, MH31.2, and MH31.3) and their critical role in ensuring the safety and reliability of steel mesh containment panels, industrial guardrail, and topple barriers. This presentation will explore the risks of unverified products, including potential hidden failures, regulatory exposure, and damage to brand reputation while showing the benefits of rigorous, repeatable testing protocols. Attendees will gain insight into how standardized testing improves design validation, supports supply chain accountability, and enables third party certification that instills buyer and end user confidence.
LODEM - What’s Next at the Dock? Safety, Speed, and Smarter Tech for 2026 and beyond
- Wednesday, April 15
- 3:00 to 3:45 p.m.
- MHI Industry Group Theater
- As industries face rising demands for speed, evolving safety standards, and smarter connected systems, the loading dock is rapidly transforming into a critical hub of innovation. This panel will explore what’s next at the loading dock - how new technologies, intelligent systems, and evolving best practices will help operations not only keep pace but stay ahead. Attendees will gain insights from across the industry on strategies that balance productivity with worker well-being and future-ready resilience.
Attendees can search all MODEX seminars by track, speaker, or date. All educational seminars are complimentary, and MODEX 2026 offers free registration.
Buying teams show interest in purchasing safety products
Over 1,100 exhibitors will showcase their products on the show floor, representing all segments of the material handling, supply chain, and logistics industries including traditional manual equipment, computerized and automated systems, e-commerce fulfillment, AI, and last mile delivery.
When attendees register, they are asked to answer a variety of demographic questions indicating their industry, product interest, buying authority, and spending plans.
MHI said attendees are looking to invest in AI, automation, robotics, and tech solutions to improve the speed and resiliency of their supply chain operations.
MODEX 2026 attendee demographics
- 88% have buying power
- 80% are coming to see new products and innovations
- 65% are coming to network and learn
- 35% plan on spending over $1 million over the next 18 months
- 54% are corporate or senior management
- 33% are middle management or IT/Engineering
- 70% are looking for products for their distribution centers or warehouses
- 24% are looking for solutions for their manufacturing facilities
MODEX 2026 attendees are looking for a wide range of equipment and technologies for their material handling and supply chain operations, including safety and ergonomics equipment.
MHI said 2026 attendees represent the majority of Fortune 1000, top 100 retailers, and top 100 consumer goods firms, with record numbers of buying teams from these firms planning to attend.
