Takeaways from Scanautomatic and Framtidens Industri
Factory automation, OT security and energy are merging into one agenda. That was the message from Scanautomatic and ProcessTeknik, held at Svenska Mässan in Gothenburg on 20–22 October. Electrification Hub attended on behalf of our partners.
Across the exhibition floor and conference programme, the discussions ranged from energy and industrial innovation to OT security, ai and digital sovereignty. Together, they point to some of the challenges and opportunities shaping industrial electrification today.
The programme also included Framtidens Industri, Ny Teknik’s conference on the strategic choices shaping the future competitiveness of Swedish industry.
Here are five takeaways we brought back from Gothenburg.
1. Energy decides where industry is built
Access to power and grid capacity is increasingly shaping where industrial investments can be made. At Framtidens Industri, Volvo Cars, ABB, SSAB, Vattenfall and Eneryield discussed how energy infrastructure and investment are becoming critical factors for industrial growth.
2. Start with the problem
Former AB Volvo CTO Lars Stenqvist described a shift in Volvo’s approach to innovation: first define the need, then look for startups and technologies that can solve it. Rather than starting with a technology and searching for an application, innovation starts with a real industrial challenge.
3. OT security is becoming a baseline
As production and energy systems become more connected, cybersecurity is moving closer to the core of industrial operations. A sold-out OT Security Day and a dedicated Secure Digital Industry Area highlighted the growing importance of standards such as IEC 62443 for connected production and energy assets.
4. Production is becoming ai-ready
Connectivity, sensor data and simulation are laying the foundation for ai-driven optimisation. Better access to energy and process data can support decisions across production, energy use and electrification.
5. Digital sovereignty is an industrial issue
Who owns the data and infrastructure is becoming a strategic question. Discussions at Framtidens Industri highlighted how ai, cloud infrastructure and cybersecurity are increasingly becoming business issues, not just technical ones.
To conclude
The common thread across the events was clear: industrial challenges can no longer be addressed in isolation. Energy affects where industry can grow. Electrification places new demands on automation and security. Digital infrastructure and data increasingly connect the different parts of the system.
Perhaps the simplest takeaway is to start with the problem. Well-defined industrial needs make it easier to find the right technology, expertise and partners. This creates better conditions for collaborations that can move towards implementation.
Want to discuss any of these takeaways or hear more from the events? Get in touch with Niklas Sikström, who represented Electrification Hub in Gothenburg.
