Manufacturing Automation

What Manufacturing Automation does

Manufacturing AUTOMATION is a Canadian B2B trade publication covering robotics, artificial intelligence, motion control, sensors, Industry 4.0, and factory automation. Founded in 1986 and headquartered in Toronto, the title reaches its 40th year of continuous operation in 2026 and is owned by Annex Business Media. It serves engineers, operations managers, and executives at Canadian manufacturers and automation buyers, and is read by automation suppliers seeking access to that audience.

The publication operates a multi-format content platform anchored by a print and digital magazine (automationmag.com) and extended through podcasts, webinars, videos, virtual events, and a jobs board. Editorial coverage spans major North American industry events including Automate and FABTECH Canada, and the title runs the recurring Top 10 Under 40 awards program, now in its fourth year in 2026.

The business model is a traditional B2B trade media model with three revenue streams: paid subscriptions, advertising sold to automation OEMs and system integrators, and event sponsorship. The publication sits within a broader portfolio of Annex Business Media trade titles, which provides shared sales, distribution, and back-office scale. The team is small (1-10 employees) and there are no disclosed funding events, revenue figures, or M&A activity specific to the title.

Name

Manufacturing Automation

Legal name

Manufacturing AUTOMATION

Website

https://automationmag.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Manufacturing AUTOMATION is a 40-year-old Canadian B2B trade publication covering robotics, AI, motion control, sensors, and Industry 4.0 for engineers and executives at Canadian manufacturers and automation suppliers, operating under Annex Business Media.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Automation B2B Media

SIC

Miscellaneous Publishing (2741)

akta.pro primary industry

Factory Automation & Control Systems (PLC/SCADA/DCS) (IMAIAMAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Industrial Automation Software (SCADA, HMI, MES, Historian) (IMAHAHAJ), Discrete Manufacturing IIoT (Automotive/Electronics/Machinery) (IMAIAMAN)

Keywords

• Industrial automation media
• Trade publication
• B2B publishing
• Manufacturing news
• Industry events

Headquarters

HQ city

Toronto

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations

Revenue model

1. Subscription revenue: Paid print and digital subscriptions to the Manufacturing AUTOMATION magazine for industry professionals seeking automation insights and purchasing guidance.
2. Advertising and sponsorships: Automation suppliers and vendors advertise to reach the publication's audience of engineers, managers, and executives responsible for purchasing industrial automation solutions. Includes display advertising, sponsored content, and media kit offerings.
3. Event revenue: Registration fees for virtual events, webinars, and potential sponsorship of industry events and award programs.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Manufacturing AUTOMATION is a B2B trade media publication that publishes news, deep dive articles, product coverage, podcasts, videos, webinars, and virtual events for the Canadian manufacturing automation industry. Its offerings include a print and digital magazine, a news website (automationmag.com), eNews email newsletters, a job board, and industry events such as the annual Top 10 Under 40 awards program. Revenue is generated through subscriptions, advertising and sponsorships from automation suppliers, and event registrations.

Product overview

Manufacturing AUTOMATION is a trade publication/media company serving the Canadian manufacturing and automation industry. The company does not manufacture or sell technology products; rather, it provides media and content services including a print and digital magazine (Manufacturing AUTOMATION), a news website (automationmag.com), a jobs board (Manufacturing Job Site), virtual events, webinars, podcasts, and video content. The publication covers topics such as robotics, artificial intelligence, motion control, sensors, cybersecurity, Industry 4.0, factory automation, and workforce development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Manufacturing AUTOMATION's Top 10 Under 40 Award: An award program recognizing young leaders in the Canadian manufacturing and automation industry, now in its fourth year as of 2026.
• REDWIRE

Products and services

• Manufacturing AUTOMATION Magazine (print and digital) Print and digital trade magazine covering news, deep dives, product announcements, and industry trends for Canadian manufacturing automation professionals responsible for purchasing automation solutions.
• automationmag.com digital news website Continuously updated news website covering robotics, AI, motion control, sensors, industrial control, cybersecurity, supply chain, Industry 4.0, and workforce topics for the Canadian manufacturing automation industry.
• Manufacturing AUTOMATION Podcast Podcast series covering topics such as software-defined manufacturing and predictive maintenance for automation professionals.
• Video content and Tech Chats Video interviews with industry leaders, award winner profiles, and product demonstrations distributed to the publication's audience.
• Virtual events and webinars Live virtual events and webinars featuring industry experts discussing economic outlook, trends, and automation topics, with registration available through the website.
• eNews email newsletters Email newsletters covering stories, cover stories, and 'Just the Good News' curated content delivered to subscribers.
• Manufacturing Job Site Job board connecting manufacturing professionals with employers in the Canadian manufacturing industry.
• Top 10 Under 40 Award program Annual award program recognizing young professionals under 40 making significant contributions to the Canadian manufacturing and automation industry, in its fourth year as of 2026.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Annex Business MediacoreOthersManufacturing AUTOMATION is operated under Annex Business Media, which also operates sister publications including Canadian Manufacturing, Canadian Packaging, Design Engineering, MRO Magazine, and other industry publications in the Manufacturing Group Network.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• InTech Magazine (ISA): Official magazine of the International Society of Automation, covering industrial automation, control, and instrumentation for automation professionals. Comparable editorial content (PLCs, DCS, sensors, process automation), comparable audience (automation engineers), and similar association-affiliated publication model.
• Automation.com: Digital-first B2B media platform for the industrial automation industry, with news, product coverage, and supplier directories. Comparable audience (automation buyers and specifiers) and revenue model (advertising, sponsorships), though digital-only versus Manufacturing AUTOMATION's multi-format approach.
• Automation World: US-based B2B trade publication covering industrial automation, robotics, AI, and motion control, serving engineers, managers, and executives. Directly comparable product offering (news, deep dives, podcasts, videos, events) and audience (automation buyers and specifiers), differing primarily in geography (US vs. Canada).
• Canadian Manufacturing: Sister publication under Annex Business Media covering broader Canadian manufacturing (operations, supply chain, workforce, technology). Same parent company, same Canadian geographic focus, overlapping audience of Canadian manufacturing professionals, and bundled advertising/sponsorship opportunities.
• Design Engineering: Sister publication under Annex Business Media covering Canadian design engineering, motion control, and mechanical/electromechanical design. Same parent, complementary (rather than directly competing) content focus on motion control and design engineers, with cross-publication audience overlap.
• Industrial Equipment News (IEN): US B2B trade media covering industrial equipment, automation products, and manufacturing technology with strong advertising-led revenue model. Comparable audience (manufacturing engineers, operations managers), comparable content mix (product news, deep dives), and directly comparable advertising GTM.
• Smart Industry Magazine: B2B media brand covering the Industrial Internet of Things, smart manufacturing, automation, and Industry 4.0 for manufacturing executives. Directly comparable content categories (IIoT, AI, smart factories, sensors), comparable audience, and advertising-driven revenue model.
• Control Engineering: Long-running US B2B trade publication covering factory automation, control systems, PLCs, SCADA, and instrumentation. Same content categories (motion control, sensors, industrial control), same audience (automation engineers and plant managers), and same revenue model (advertising, subscriptions, events).
• Plant Engineering: US B2B trade publication covering plant operations, maintenance, and industrial automation including robotics, motion control, and Industry 4.0. Highly comparable audience (plant managers, engineers, maintenance leaders), revenue model, and editorial coverage; broader in scope than Manufacturing AUTOMATION but with significant automation overlap.

Emerging players

• Thomas Industry Network: Industrial B2B platform combining supplier directories, content, and digital advertising for the North American industrial market. Comparable audience (engineers and procurement professionals specifying industrial products) and revenue model, but more digital-platform oriented than Manufacturing AUTOMATION's editorial-led model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat2 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@manufacturingautomation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/manufacturing-automation
• Xx.com/automationmag

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Manufacturing Automation