The global integrated drive system market is witnessing sustained expansion, valued at USD 50.17 billion in 2026 and projected to reach USD 94.95 billion by 2034, growing at a CAGR of 8.30%. Growth is being propelled by Industry 4.0 adoption, rising energy efficiency requirements and the increasing integration of industrial IoT across manufacturing systems. Smart motors, servo drives and connected automation platforms are becoming central to modern production environments, with companies such as SEW-EURODRIVE, Siemens, ABB and Rockwell Automation playing a defining role in advancing this segment.

At Hannover Messe 2026, held at Messegelände, Hannover, Germany, between April 20 and 24 under the theme #ThinkTechForward, SEW-EURODRIVE presented a wide-ranging portfolio aligned with these global trends. Located at Hall 13, Stand C68, the company introduced artificial intelligence applications, robotics systems and software-driven automation technologies under the concept “Sustainable thinking. Digital acting.”

The company’s exhibition format converted its stand into an interactive “digital spaceship,” secured y a central Mission Control Center. Visitors traversed through multiple application zones arranged in a planetary format, each demonstrating how drive systems, automation technologies and digital platforms function within a connected industrial environment. Torben Halama, Head of Corporate Communications at SEW-EURODRIVE, said the concept allows visitors to experience how individual technologies operate together within an integrated system.

A key highlight of the presentation was the “Startup Agent,” an artificial intelligence-based project study aimed at simplifying the commissioning of industrial applications. The system introduces a chatbot-style interface that allows operators to configure frequency inverters through conversational input. “For this trade fair model, which we call the Startup Agent, we thought that users would like to move the conveyor belt using a keypad,” stated Leon Kontny, Head of Web Software Development at SEW-EURODRIVE. “To do so, we use the Startup Agent, an AI solution that we have programmed.”

The interface enables users to describe application requirements in a chat window, after which the system requests motor data and completes configuration within seconds. “Here, I can write what the inverter should do if I want to control the conveyor belt using the keypad. After that, the Startup Agent asks me about the motor data and then I’ve finished. The AI takes over the rest,” said Jonas Dunker, UX Specialist in Kontny’s team.

SEW-EURODRIVE has incorporated a real-time visualization layer within the system to maintain operational transparency. “Everything that the AI takes over from the chat and then writes into the inverter is displayed 1:1 in this visualization. The AI does not pass anything else on to the inverter that is not explicitly visible on the software interface,” Kontny said. Users can approve each step or allow automated execution, while maintaining access to a full configuration history.

The system addresses a long-standing operational challenge in industrial environments where even simple applications require time-intensive setup and specialized expertise. Kontny noted that further development is underway, including the ability to create reusable application templates and customized interfaces through AI. “We are confident that we can make the rather complex world of such applications so simple that anyone with a certain technical understanding will be able to perform a startup quickly, easily and safely,” he spotlighted.

Artificial intelligence also featured prominently across the company’s broader portfolio. The DriveRadar® system demonstrated predictive maintenance capabilities by analysing operational data to identify patterns that indicate potential faults, enabling early intervention and reducing downtime.

The introduction of the OrchestrationSuite platform marked a further step toward software-defined automation. The system enables centralized control of production processes, allowing manufacturers to coordinate machines and workflows through a unified interface.

Robotics formed a central pillar of SEW-EURODRIVE’s presentation at Hannover Messe 2026. The company outlined its strategy to develop an open, scalable European robotics portfolio based on its modular technology architecture. Tobias Nittel, Head of Corporate Solution Center – Electronics, stated, “We don’t just want to use robotics in Europe; we want to actively shape it – openly, independently, and with technological sovereignty.”

Demonstrations at the booth included coordinated workflows involving articulated arm robots, delta robots and autonomous mobile robots, illustrating applications across intralogistics and automated production lines. The robotics portfolio is supported by an integrated hardware and software platform designed to simplify deployment and system integration, developed in collaboration with partners such as autonox Robotics, SAFELOG, ScaliRo and ISG.

Industrial capability was further demonstrated through SEW-EURODRIVE’s planetary gear unit technologies, particularly the PPK and XP series, engineered for demanding applications such as sugarcane processing. These operations involve continuous production cycles, torque levels reaching up to 3,300 kilonewton-metres per roller and high thermal loads. “Our XP series of industrial gear units are specifically designed for this high-performance segment with its extreme requirements,” said Kai-Keng Man, Product Manager for Industrial Gear Units at SEW-EURODRIVE.

Additional product showcases included the MOVIDYN decentralized servo system and the P-X.e industrial gear units designed for high-load applications such as cable transport systems. The booth also featured digital twin simulations and real-time system data visualisation through a command interface that demonstrated live machine interactions.

Founded in 1931 and headquartered in Bruchsal, Germany, SEW-EURODRIVE operates with approximately 22,700 employees, 18 production plants and 92 assembly facilities across 57 countries. With around 850 research and development specialists, the company continues to expand its capabilities across drive technology, automation systems and digital industrial solutions. Hannover Messe remains a key platform for industrial technology, and SEW-EURODRIVE’s participation in 2026 presented a consolidated view of automation systems built on artificial intelligence, robotics and digital integration. SEW-EURODRIVE’s approach focuses on simplifying industrial processes, advancing system intelligence and enabling scalable automation across sectors.

As manufacturing systems evolve toward connected and data-driven operations, integrated drive technologies are expected to play a central role in future production environments. SEW-EURODRIVE’s developments point toward industrial systems that operate with higher levels of autonomy and adaptability, supporting faster commissioning and improved efficiency across global manufacturing networks.

SEW-EURODRIVE has confirmed its return to Hannover Messe 2027, where it is expected to present further advancements in artificial intelligence, robotics and digital automation technologies.