In response to the automation industry’s request to connect and come together in 2021, Reed Exhibitions Africa has postponed the Africa Automation Technology Fair (AATF) from September 2021 to 9 - 11 May 2023, and created Virtual Connect! which will take place in September 2021 and again in 2022.

Virtual Connect! will allow for both African and international industry decision makers and exhibitors to have dedicated and focused meetings, while gaining insights through critical industry content throughout the three-day event.

“Transparency with industry stakeholders is extremely important to us, and as a result of our ongoing discussions with these stakeholders, we have collectively decided to postpone the AATF live event until May 2023, but we are very proud to be able to launch Virtual Connect! as key opportunities for the industry at large to come together, virtually” said Carol Weaving, Managing Director of Reed Exhibitions Africa.

Johan Maartens, CEO of the non-profit Society for Automation Instrumentation Mechatronics and Control (SAIMC NPC), said: “The decision to postpone is absolutely the right one while Covid is still very much a reality in South Africa. The SAIMC is very enthusiastic about showcasing its ever growing and evolving industry at the live event in 2023 and looking forward to engaging with the industry virtually through content, podcasts and great virtual showcases in September”.

“We are truly thankful for our industry partners, which openly and robustly discussed the industry’s objectives and how best the Africa Automation Technology Fair could serve those objectives,” adds Chardonnay Marchesi, Portfolio Director for Africa Automation Technology Fair “We look forward to seeing the industry connect virtually in September.”

Contact Evashnee Naidu, Reed Exhibitions, Tel 011 548-8300, evashnee.naidu@reedexpoafrica.co.za