Thailand, in recent years, has been the beneficiary of a significant wave of new manufacturing investment, as global companies diversify their production bases for greater stability in their global supply chains. To capture this trend and establish the country as a regional hub for high-tech production, the government is building upon the nation’s existing strengths in electronics and electrical (E&E) and automotive manufacturing, promoting a national agenda focused on shifting the economy towards innovation and technology, and investing in major infrastructure projects like the Eastern Economic Corridor.
Consequently, the country has seen a surge in foreign direct investment, with applications for investment promotion reaching a record THB 1.06 trillion (USD 32.5 billion) in the first half of 2025, a 139% year-on-year increase for the period. This investment was heavily concentrated in high-tech sectors, led by the digital industry, with technically demanding data centre projects driving growth. This was complemented by significant growth in new project applications for key industries, including a 51% increase in the E&E sector and a 27% rise for the automotive sector.[1]
For local manufacturers, the combination of foreign investment and government support creates a compelling case for investing in technologies to improve efficiency and produce higher-specification goods, especially in industrial automation and advanced electronics manufacturing. To meet this demand, the Intelligent Asia Thailand platform co-locate two complementary events: Automation Thailand, for cross-industry automation solutions, and PCB Thailand, for the specialised PCB and electronics assembly supply chains.
Automation Thailand: Aligning with the national strategy for high-tech production
The Thai government's focus on high-tech production encourages the adoption of automation technologies to build a more competitive industrial sector. However, recent industry analysis points to the primary barriers to adoption: a lack of expertise, insufficient time for implementation, and a shortage of staff qualified to manage and operate new automation systems.[2]
Automation Thailand 2026 will feature a wide range of exhibitors, from technology providers to the system integrators responsible for designing and managing implementation projects. This provides industrial buyers from across Southeast Asia with a single venue to source the technologies and expertise required to digitise their factories. The 2026 edition will focus on five key application areas: industrial automation, robotics, inspection and measuring equipment, digital factory systems, and warehouse and logistics automation, showcasing technologies including AI-driven automation, Industry 5.0 solutions, smart factory transformation tools, and carbon-efficient manufacturing technologies.
To help build expertise in these areas and address the industry's knowledge gap, the second edition of SPS Stage Bangkok will return on a larger scale as part of the Automation Thailand fringe programme. In the dedicated demo zone, attendees can explore the latest technologies from leading companies drawn from the wider SPS network of automation events. This will be complemented by a seminar stage focused on key automation trends and the industrial impact of emerging technologies in Southeast Asia.
PCB Thailand: a dedicated platform for Thailand’s high-growth PCB and E&E sectors
Printed circuit boards (PCBs) house and integrate the electronic components that power modern devices. As such, they are a vital upstream component supporting Thailand’s high-tech industrial transformation. Thailand's printed circuit board (PCB) industry is projected to capture 20 – 25% of the global market by 2027, led by strong demand from the electric vehicle (EV), artificial intelligence (AI), and electronics manufacturing services (EMS) sectors.[3]
To support this foundational sector in Thailand and the broader growth of the E&E industry across Southeast Asia, PCB Thailand provides the country’s only dedicated platform for these technologies. The exhibition brings together companies from across the entire PCB value chain, from material producers to electronics assembly specialists, with a scope covering printed circuit board fabrication, EMS technologies, components and testing.
Advanced components, from HDI/IC carrier boards to flexible and rigid PCBs, will be featured alongside the equipment for their fabrication, such as smart automation and handling systems. The hardware showcase will also include process equipment and a comprehensive range of advanced testing and inspection solutions. Complementing these technologies, leading software providers will present platforms for supply chain management and connectivity.
Intelligent Asia Thailand, Automation Thailand and PCB Thailand are jointly organised by Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd Taiwan Branch, Yorkers Trade & Marketing Service Co Ltd and GMTX Company Ltd. For more details, please contact: Israel.Gogol@taiwan.messefrankfurt.com.
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Press information and photographic material:
https://automationthailand.tw.messefrankfurt.com/thailand/en/press.html
[1] "Board of Investment sees 139% rise in applications in first half.", 25 July 2025, Bangkok Post, https://qr.messefrankfurt.com/84bac, (retrieved 31 July 2025)
[2] "I4R for Circular Economy: Transition Trends and Readiness of Thailand Automobile Sector", December 2020, Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA), https://qr.messefrankfurt.com/v298d, (retrieved 3 August 2025)
[3] "Share of global printed circuit board market set to surge", 26 June 2025, Bangkok Post, https://qr.messefrankfurt.com/O30ec, (retrieved 3 August 2025)
Background information on Messe Frankfurt
The Messe Frankfurt Group is the world’s largest trade fair, congress and event organiser with its own exhibition grounds. With a workforce of some 2,500 people at its headquarters in Frankfurt am Main and in 29 subsidiaries, it organises events around the world. Group sales in financial year 2024 were around € 775 million. We serve our customers’ business interests efficiently within the framework of our Fairs & Events, Locations and Services business fields. One of Messe Frankfurt’s key strengths is its powerful and closely knit global sales network, which covers around 180 countries in all regions of the world. Our comprehensive range of services – both onsite and online – ensures that customers worldwide enjoy consistently high quality and flexibility when planning, organising and running their events. We are using our digital expertise to develop new business models. The wide range of services includes renting exhibition grounds, trade fair construction and marketing, personnel and food services.
Sustainability is a central pillar of our corporate strategy. Here, we strike a healthy balance between ecological and economic interests, social responsibility and diversity.
For more information, please visit our website at: www.messefrankfurt.com/sustainability
With its headquarters in Frankfurt am Main, the company is owned by the City of Frankfurt (60 percent) and
the State of Hesse (40 percent).
For more information, please visit our website at: www.messefrankfurt.com
Background information on Yorkers Trade & Marketing Service Co Ltd
Yorkers Trade & Marketing Service Co. Ltd., has been a leader in organizing Exhibitions & Trade Fairs in ASEAN and South Asia for over three decades. Yorkers have held numerous machinery-related events in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam. Having amassed abundant experiences in the field, Yorkers Trade Fairs will serve as the best platforms for exploring trade opportunities in the emerging markets.
Background information on GMTX Co Ltd
Founded in 1992, GMTX has established itself as a leader in Thailand’s B2B marketing platform for various industries over the past 32 years. Our comprehensive platform includes trade exhibitions, e-marketplaces, business matching, lead generation, seminars, roadshows, digital media, and marketing services. GMTX covers a wide range of content and industries, including manufacturing sectors, 4.0 technologies, biotechnologies, sustainability, and future industries. Our strength lies in the seamless integration of data-driven marketing with omni-channel and content marketing strategies. This approach enables us to reach hundreds of thousands of industry audiences both online and offline, hosting 15 events annually across all regions of Thailand. GMTX’s platform is dedicated to facilitating technological exchange, enhancing the competitiveness of Thai industries, and fostering collaboration between domestic and international enterprises. Our mission is encapsulated in our motto ‘Speed Up B2B Supply Chain’
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