Rockwell Automation spotlights Thailand manufacturing trends

Rockwell Automation hosted its ROKLive Bangkok 2026 event in Bangkok, focusing on industrial technology trends affecting Thailand's manufacturing sector.

The event brought together manufacturers, customers, partners, technology specialists and other industry figures to discuss digitalisation, artificial intelligence and cybersecurity in industrial operations. The programme was intended to connect Thailand's manufacturing goals with practical decisions in plant operations, production systems and industrial infrastructure.

Held under the theme "Create What's Next," the event featured keynote sessions, industry discussions, technology forums and an expo. The agenda focused on how manufacturers are responding to changing customer demand, operational complexity, labour pressures, and rising expectations around efficiency and sustainability.

Gilles Weber, Country Manager, Thailand, at Rockwell Automation, delivered a keynote titled "Creating the Future of Industrial Operations." A separate keynote was given by Dr. Pongsathorn Dechatiwongse Na Ayutthaya, Deputy Director, Division of Bio-Circular-Green Economy, Department of Investment & International Affairs, on the factors shaping Thailand's industrial development and the role of investment, innovation and the Bio-Circular-Green Economy.

Thailand remains one of South East Asia's most established manufacturing bases, with industries ranging from food and beverage to energy and heavy industry. Against that backdrop, the discussions carried wider relevance as companies assess how to modernise production while managing costs, risk and workforce constraints.

Rockwell used the event to highlight a shift from stand-alone projects to broader operational integration. Manufacturers are increasingly examining how digital systems, automation tools and security measures can be connected across sites and functions rather than deployed in isolation.

"Thailand's manufacturers have an opportunity to combine the country's strong industrial base with a new generation of digital, automation and AI capabilities," said Gilles Weber, Country Manager, Thailand, at Rockwell Automation. "ROKLive Bangkok brings government, industry and technology perspectives together, helping manufacturers understand where these technologies can create practical value and how they can move from individual projects towards more connected, resilient and future-ready operations."

Industry focus

Customer perspectives were part of the programme through fireside discussions involving PTT Exploration and Production and PepsiCo Services Asia. Those sessions sat alongside technology updates on integrated architecture, original equipment manufacturer solutions and cybersecurity in industrial settings.

The event structure reflected several areas receiving growing attention from manufacturers in Thailand and across the region. In the afternoon, parallel forums examined smart factory development through digitalisation, the unification of process and power systems in control platforms, new and emerging uses of AI in manufacturing, and industrial cybersecurity centred on resilience.

Each topic pointed to a practical concern for factory operators. Digitalisation can affect throughput, maintenance planning and visibility across production lines, while simpler control platforms can reduce fragmentation in systems often added over time. AI has drawn interest for applications such as monitoring, analysis and maintenance planning, while cybersecurity has become a more pressing board-level issue as operational technology grows more connected.

Technology showcase

The expo featured control platforms, industrial analytics tools using AI, predictive maintenance products, secure operational technology systems and the Plex manufacturing execution system. The line-up reflected how software, controls and security are increasingly presented together as parts of a single industrial operating environment.

For manufacturers in Thailand, that integration challenge is likely to remain central. Many companies are under pressure to improve output and reliability while also meeting tighter compliance demands, managing more complex supply chains and making better use of existing workforces.

Government policy also featured in the discussion through the Bio-Circular-Green Economy framework cited during the keynote programme. The framework has become an important reference point in Thailand's industrial planning, particularly as companies weigh investment choices linked to resource use, environmental performance and longer-term competitiveness.

By bringing together industrial companies, policymakers and technology suppliers, the event highlighted how automation decisions are increasingly tied to broader national and corporate priorities. The emphasis was less on individual products and more on how manufacturers can align investment plans with operational change on the factory floor.

The event was designed to help participants assess technologies, exchange views and identify practical next steps within their organisations. Rockwell employs about 26,000 people and operates in more than 100 countries.