Industry leaders at the EXPO PACK México 2026 preview forecast a 37% increase in automation investment across Latin America’s packaging and processing sectors. The event, held in Mexico City on May 19, 2026, brought together over 50 media representatives and key figures including Celia Navarrete, Erick Suárez, and Juan Pablo Gómez Sepúlveda. The report highlights warehouse throughput as the top priority for forklift buyers and notes that equipment financing, while slowing in April 2026, remains on track for a record year. Recent acquisitions such as Locus Robotics’ purchase of Nexera and FORT Robotics’ acquisition of Mapless AI signal growing consolidation in automation technology. The shift toward smart manufacturing is driven by AI, IoT, and robotics, with modular vertical farming platforms and automated sortation systems gaining traction.
According to www.mmh.com, industry leaders at the EXPO PACK México 2026 preview forecast a 37% increase in automation investment across Latin America’s packaging and processing sectors.
Industry Leaders Forecast 37% Automation Investment Surge
More than 50 media representatives attended a press conference in Mexico City on May 19, 2026, ahead of the EXPO PACK México 2026 exhibition, which will take place from June 2 to 5, 2026, at Expo Santa Fe, Mexico City.
Organized by PMMI, The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, EXPO PACK México is the region’s premier event, drawing global suppliers and buyers from over 40 vertical markets. The event’s pre-show preview highlighted a pivotal shift toward smart manufacturing, with automation, artificial intelligence, and productivity enhancements driving investment growth.
According to the report, this 37% projected rise in automation investment reflects growing demand for efficiency, workforce optimization, and sustainable production methods across Latin American manufacturing. The data point is derived from industry surveys and executive panels held during the preview.
Key Figures and Strategic Focus Areas
The panel included Celia Navarrete, Director of EXPO PACK; Erick Suárez, President of AMEE (Asociación Mexicana de Envase y Embalaje); Pedro Hugo Alcalá, General Director of AMEXXICOR; Juan Pablo Gómez Sepúlveda, Director of Product Development and IT at GS1 México; and Laura Bonilla, Former President of CANAINCA.
These leaders emphasized that warehouse throughput has become the top priority for forklift buyers, a trend directly linked to automation adoption. The report notes that equipment financing slowed in April 2026 but remains on pace for a record year, signaling sustained capital deployment.
Moreover, recent acquisitions such as Locus Robotics’ purchase of Nexera and FORT Robotics’ acquisition of Mapless AI underscore broader industry consolidation around automation platforms. These moves are accelerating the integration of AI and robotics in material handling operations.
Technology Trends and Market Drivers
The shift toward smart manufacturing is being driven by advancements in robotics, IoT, data capture, and mobile wireless systems. One notable example cited is OnePointOne’s use of an AutoStore-based AS/RS as the foundation for a modular vertical farming platform, leveraging robotics to grow, move, and harvest crops in a controlled indoor environment.
According to the report, warehouse unitizing is evolving with new film materials, smarter equipment, and connected technologies that improve load stability and reduce labor dependency. This trend is supported by growing emphasis on sustainability and right-sized packaging.
Additionally, the State of AMRs report, referenced in the article, indicates a transition from early adoption to scaled deployment of autonomous mobile robots (AMRs), particularly in medium and large-scale distribution centers across Mexico and Central America.
Regional and Global Context
The automation push in Latin America aligns with global trends, including nearshoring initiatives by North American manufacturers. The USMCA trade agreement has facilitated increased cross-border investment in manufacturing infrastructure, with Mexico serving as a key production hub.
Similar investments are underway in the US and EU, where warehouse automation spending reached over $12 billion in 2025, according to a 2024 PMMI study. The Latin American trend is expected to mirror this growth trajectory, with a projected 30% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) in automation investment through 2028.
Supply chain professionals note that automation adoption in the region remains uneven, with larger industrial zones such as Monterrey and Guadalajara leading in technology integration. However, smaller enterprises are increasingly adopting modular systems like VLMs (Vertical Lift Modules) and automated sortation to improve space utilization and throughput.
Source: www.mmh.com
Compiled from international media by the SCI.AI editorial team.
