Johannesburg – Industry leaders, manufacturers, technology innovators, policymakers and investors from across Africa will gather in Johannesburg in July to debate how automation and Industry 4.0 technologies can drive the continent’s next phase of industrial growth, as African manufacturers face growing pressure to modernise or risk being left behind.
The Manufacturing Indaba 2026 takes place on 14 and 15 July 2026 at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg, and automation is set to be one of the central themes on the agenda.
Sectors represented at the event will include automotive, fast-moving consumer goods, mining, pharmaceuticals, agro-processing, packaging and energy equipment, all industries where the push to modernise operations has become increasingly urgent as competition in both local and international markets intensifies. 
The global industrial automation market is expected to surpass USD 400 billion within the next decade, while Africa’s manufacturing sector is projected to grow significantly, driven by urbanisation, infrastructure development, population growth and expanding regional trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area.
Delegates at the indaba will engage directly with experts and solution providers on topics including artificial intelligence-driven manufacturing, factory automation, smart logistics, robotics, digital transformation, industrial energy efficiency, workforce skills development and the future of African manufacturing competitiveness.
Organisers and industry analysts are at pains to point out that automation on the continent is not about replacing workers. The argument being made is that it is about enabling smarter production, creating higher-skilled jobs and improving industrial capacity, with Africa’s young and rapidly growing workforce seen as a major opportunity to pair technology adoption with vocational training, technical education and digital skills development.
The rise of Industry 4.0 technologies, covering smart sensors, predictive maintenance, cloud computing, industrial artificial intelligence and data analytics, is already helping some businesses cut costs and improve performance. Proponents say African manufacturers can use these tools to leapfrog outdated systems and build modern, scalable production models from the ground up.
Industry leaders are cautioning, however, that realising the full benefits of automation will require deeper collaboration between governments, manufacturers, technology providers, financiers and educational institutions. Reliable energy supply, connectivity, infrastructure investment and supportive industrial policies are all seen as critical to accelerating adoption across the continent.
