Rockwell Automation at CIIE 2026: iTRAK, Emulate3D and Booth 4.1 B3-03
2026-11-04
ExcerptRockwell Automation will exhibit at CIIE 2026 (5-10 November, Shanghai) at booth B3-03 in Hall 4.1. Official CIIE pre-show coverage also names the iTRAK flexible manufacturing line and the Emulate3D dynamic digital twin platform in the Lin-gang display zone. Verified facts, source map and product references.
Rockwell Automation will exhibit at the ninth China International Import Expo (CIIE 2026), 5-10 November 2026 at the National Exhibition and Convention Center in Shanghai, at booth B3-03 in Hall 4.1. Official CIIE pre-show coverage also says the company will bring its iTRAK flexible manufacturing line and the Emulate3D dynamic digital twin simulation platform to the 2,700 m² Lin-gang Special Area display zone, where the two are described as "benchmark technologies" for intelligent, digital and green industrial upgrading. The two technologies address opposite ends of the same problem: iTRAK changes how product moves through a line, while Emulate3D changes how that line is designed and commissioned before any hardware is installed.
Two clarifications matter before the show opens on 5 November. First, the iTRAK and Emulate3D announcement comes from the CIIE-organiser's Lin-gang preview, not from Rockwell's own 29 October press release, which lists the booth, the theme and four exhibit zones but does not name either product. Second, the booth in Hall 4.1 and the Lin-gang display zone in the eastern part of Hall 3 are separate locations. This article separates what each source actually says, quotes the official wording, and maps every figure to its source so that the claims can be checked independently.
Key facts at a glance
| Item | What the sources state | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Event | 9th China International Import Expo (CIIE 2026) | Ministry of Commerce / State Council Information Office |
| Dates and venue | 5-10 November 2026, National Exhibition and Convention Center, Shanghai | Ministry of Commerce, 13 April 2026 |
| Rockwell Automation booth | Hall 4.1, B3-03 | Rockwell Automation / PR Newswire, 29 October 2026 |
| Consecutive CIIE appearances | Sixth consecutive year | Rockwell Automation / PR Newswire |
| Rockwell theme | 链动全局 (reported in some coverage as 链动全局，跨界升维) | Rockwell Automation / PR Newswire |
| Four exhibit zones | 拓新数智生产 · 赋能全球运营 · 共筑绿色竞争 · 链动生态协同 | Rockwell Automation / PR Newswire |
| Technologies named in the Lin-gang preview | "标志性的iTRAK柔性制造产线及动态数字孪生仿真平台Emulate3D" — the signature iTRAK flexible manufacturing line and the Emulate3D dynamic digital twin simulation platform | CIIE official site / People's Daily client, 19 October 2026 |
| Lin-gang display zone | 2,700 m², eastern Hall 3, on the former A1-01 site; theme 开放链世界、合作创未来 | CIIE official site / People's Daily client |
| Lin-gang participants | More than 100 enterprises, up from 78 the previous year; nearly 20 countries and regions; more than 150 featured exhibits | CIIE official site / People's Daily client |
| US corporate exhibition area | More than 50,000 m², first place for the eighth consecutive edition, up 1,500 m² year on year | Xinhua, 3 November 2026 |
| Article verified | 4 November 2026, one day before opening | This article |
What Rockwell Automation will show at CIIE 2026
Rockwell Automation's own 29 October announcement frames the sixth consecutive CIIE appearance around the deep integration of AI with IT/OT, with four exhibit zones covering digital production, global operations, green competitiveness and ecosystem collaboration. It also cites AIoT applications in fast-moving consumer goods and smart water, and describes the company as NYSE-listed (ROK), headquartered in Milwaukee, with about 26,000 employees as of fiscal 2025 operating in more than 100 countries and regions. Notably, that release does not mention iTRAK or Emulate3D by name.
The specific technology list comes from the CIIE organiser's preview of the Lin-gang Special Area display zone, published on the official CIIE site on 19 October 2026 and attributed to the People's Daily client. In the section on the modern industry cluster, alongside Liebherr aerospace components and other exhibits, the preview states:
"罗克韦尔自动化将带来标志性的iTRAK柔性制造产线及动态数字孪生仿真平台Emulate3D，是引领工业领域智能化、数字化、绿色化升级变革的标杆技术"
In English: Rockwell Automation will bring its signature iTRAK flexible manufacturing line and the Emulate3D dynamic digital twin simulation platform, described as benchmark technologies leading the intelligent, digital and green transformation and upgrading of industry. The Chinese term is 标杆技术 — "benchmark" or "reference" technology — rather than a formal metrology "baseline" or a published performance standard. That distinction is worth preserving when quoting this preview.
iTRAK: the flexible manufacturing line
Rockwell's official iTRAK product page describes a linear motor system in which movers are controlled independently on straight or curved track. The company's own summary is that "the rotary-driven chains, belts and gears of the past become history", because iTRAK "replaces hardware with simple, effective software profiles", improving automation precision and service life. Short production runs become more profitable because changeover is a software parameter rather than a mechanical re-build — the core argument for high-mix, low-volume manufacturing.
Emulate3D: the dynamic digital twin
Emulate3D is Rockwell's digital twin software for emulation, simulation and demonstration of automation systems, used for virtual commissioning. Rockwell describes it as working across PLC and CAD platforms, letting engineers see how a machine will run before parts are ordered, find control problems before travelling to site, predict future performance and simulate production-line changes. Where iTRAK creates mechanical flexibility on the plant floor, Emulate3D creates design flexibility upstream: the same virtual model can be tested with different variables, throughput targets and layouts before a single conveyor section is bolted down.
Where to find it: booth 4.1 B3-03 versus the Lin-gang display zone
These are two separate locations inside the same exhibition, and conflating them is the most common error in second-hand coverage of this announcement.
| Location | What the source confirms there | Source of the claim |
|---|---|---|
| Hall 4.1, booth B3-03 | Rockwell Automation's own stand; sixth consecutive CIIE appearance; four themed exhibit zones; AI / IT-OT convergence and AIoT application demonstrations | Rockwell Automation / PR Newswire, 29 October 2026 |
| Lin-gang Special Area display zone, 2,700 m², eastern Hall 3 on the former A1-01 site | iTRAK flexible manufacturing line and Emulate3D dynamic digital twin platform named among more than 150 featured exhibits; zone organised by the Lin-gang Special Area Administration and Lin-gang Group | CIIE official site / People's Daily client, 19 October 2026 |
The Lin-gang zone is a collective regional pavilion, not a Rockwell stand: it gathers more than 100 enterprises from nearly 20 countries and regions, up from 78 the previous year, with more than 40 industry leaders in its modern industry cluster. Other named participants include Tesla, Liebherr and Bürkert. The preview does not say that iTRAK or Emulate3D will be demonstrated only in that zone, nor does it explicitly place them at B3-03. Visitors intending to see either technology should confirm the demonstration location with Rockwell Automation directly.
What iTRAK actually is, in Rockwell's own words
Independent cart technology replaces a mechanically fixed conveyor pitch with individually controlled movers. Rockwell's official iTRAK page lists the following capabilities verbatim or in close paraphrase:
| Official iTRAK claim | What it means on a line |
|---|---|
| "Independently control movers on straight or curved track" | Each carrier can have its own position, speed and acceleration, so product spacing and dwell time are programmable rather than fixed by chain pitch. |
| "Replaces hardware with simple, effective software profiles"; chains, belts and gears become history | Format changes are configured in software, which is the basis for shorter changeover and economical short runs. |
| "Increase productivity by 50% or more" | A vendor-stated ceiling, not a guaranteed result; treat it as a design target requiring throughput validation. |
| "Eliminate bottlenecks and increase productivity" | Movers can be queued, re-spaced or re-routed independently rather than stopping an entire belt. |
| "Improve product quality with zero-pressure conveying" | Products are not forced into contact with each other under back-pressure, reducing scuffing and damage. |
| "Reduce downtime and required maintenance" | Fewer wearing mechanical parts than rotary-driven chains, belts and gearboxes. |
| "Reduce overall machine footprint" | Accumulation and buffering can happen on the track rather than in separate conveyor sections. |
| "Minimise changeover time and expand the profitability of high-mix production" | The economic case for short runs and frequent SKU changes. |
| Build-to-order options: liquid-cooled motor modules, 45° and 135° curves, heavy-load carriers, large-radius curves | The track geometry and thermal design are engineered per project rather than selected from a fixed catalogue. |
Rockwell's separate article on independent cart technology explains the physics: linear motor technology generates electromagnetic force that drives carriers with permanent magnets, without contact parts or wearing components, which is where the maintenance reduction comes from. For plant engineers, the important procurement consequence is that an iTRAK system is a project-engineered motion system, not a drop-in conveyor spare — it has to be specified together with the controller, drives, safety and I/O architecture around it.
What Emulate3D does, and one documented result
Rockwell describes three stages where Emulate3D is applied to a new production facility: demonstrating a concept to stakeholders with a 3D layout before launch; simulating and experimenting with an independent model to test variables such as downtime elimination and scale-up; and offline testing of new production processes so that control logic can be validated before commissioning. Standard material-handling models or custom CAD equipment models can be imported to see throughput changes in near real time.
The most concrete published number comes from Rockwell's customer case study with ECM Technologies, a maker of modular low-pressure carburising furnaces (published 1 February 2024):
| Result reported in the ECM Technologies case | Figure |
|---|---|
| Commissioning / debugging time | Reduced by 50%, even after porting to the customer's own code standard |
| Project lead time for the ICBP Jumbo installation | Estimated reduction of up to five months |
| PLC code | Most of the code fully simulated, tuned and finalised before the line was delivered |
| Integration | Seamless two-way link and interaction with third-party software including MATLAB |
| Other effects | Fewer on-site meetings and less international travel; more projects manageable in parallel |
These figures describe one heat-treatment project, not a CIIE 2026 demonstration and not a general performance guarantee. That distinction is important: the CIIE preview names Emulate3D as a benchmark technology to be shown, while the 50% figure comes from an earlier, separately documented customer deployment. The case is useful because it shows what "virtual commissioning" means in measurable terms — validating control logic against a physics-capable model before hardware exists — which is exactly the capability that pairs naturally with a reconfigurable transport system.
Why the pairing matters: reconfigurable hardware plus virtual commissioning
A flexible transport system and a digital twin solve two sides of the same engineering risk. iTRAK makes the physical line reconfigurable in software, which increases the number of possible configurations, recipes and motion profiles that must be validated. Emulate3D provides the environment in which those configurations can be tested without consuming machine time: control logic, throughput, changeover sequences and safety behaviour can be exercised against a simulated model before commissioning.
Neither technology removes the need for conventional control hardware. Independent cart systems still sit inside a wider architecture of Logix controllers, servo and drive axes, distributed I/O, EtherNet/IP communications, HMI and safety. That is the practical link between a trade-show demonstration and the spare-parts decisions a maintenance team actually makes — and it is why the CIIE announcement is relevant to anyone operating an installed Allen-Bradley base, even if they never specify an iTRAK line.
CIIE 2026 by the numbers
| Metric | Reported figure | Source and date |
|---|---|---|
| Countries, regions and international organisations participating | 162 | State Council Information Office, 16 October 2026; Xinhua, 3 November 2026 |
| Overseas exhibitors | More than 4,100 (4,142 per the SCIO briefing) | Xinhua, 3 November; SCIO, 16 October |
| Total exhibition area | First time above 440,000 m² | Xinhua, 3 November 2026 |
| Corporate / business exhibition area | First time above 370,000 m² | Xinhua, 3 November 2026 |
| US corporate exhibition area | More than 50,000 m²; ranked first for the eighth consecutive edition; up 1,500 m² year on year | Xinhua, 3 November 2026 |
A wording correction worth making. Briefings sometimes compress this into "the US pavilion totals more than 50,000 m²". Xinhua's actual sentence is 「美国企业参展面积超过5万平方米」 — the exhibition area of US enterprises exceeds 50,000 m² — in the context of the corporate/business exhibition, where the US, Germany, the UK and France lead by area. It is not the floor area of a single national pavilion in the National Exhibition, and it is not one contiguous stand. Any specification, press note or internal report citing the 50,000 m² figure should attribute it to US corporate exhibitors collectively and to Xinhua's 3 November report.
What this means if you run Allen-Bradley control hardware
None of the products below is an iTRAK or Emulate3D component. They are the controller, I/O, drive, HMI and safety hardware that surrounds a flexible manufacturing cell, and the part numbers that matter when a line is extended, reconfigured or kept running with spares. We have grouped them by the function they perform in an automation architecture of this kind.
Controllers and motion
A reconfigurable line needs a controller that can coordinate motion, logic and communications on one platform. The Allen-Bradley 1769-L30ERM CompactLogix 5370 controller and the 1769-L24ER-QBFC1B CompactLogix 5370 L2 PAC are compact controller options for machine-level cells; for larger, rack-based systems the 1756-L75 ControlLogix processor and 1756-L81E ControlLogix processor are the corresponding ControlLogix choices. Where the demo involves independent cart or servo axes, the 2097-V34PR3 Kinetix 300 EtherNet/IP indexing servo drive and 2094-BM03-M Kinetix 6000 axis module represent the drive side of the motion architecture. Our earlier comparison, Siemens S7-1500 vs. Allen-Bradley ControlLogix, covers how the two controller ecosystems differ if you are evaluating a platform rather than replacing a unit.
EtherNet/IP and distributed I/O
Virtual commissioning is only as good as the I/O model behind it. The 1769-AENTR CompactLogix two-port adapter, 1734-AENTR POINT I/O EtherNet/IP adapter and 1794-AENTR FLEX I/O dual-port adapter are the network interface points that a simulated cell must mirror. Getting adapter firmware and catalog numbers right is a recurring cause of mismatch between a digital twin and the commissioned line, so capture them before modelling.
Drives, HMI and safety
Conventional axes, operator access and safety logic still need physical hardware: the 22D-D2P3N104 PowerFlex 40P drive covers auxiliary variable-speed motion, while the 2711P-K4M20D PanelView Plus 400 terminal is the local HMI class used at machine level. For safety-rated control, the 1769-L33ERM Compact GuardLogix controller and 1756-L83ES GuardLogix 5580 safety processor pair integrated safety with standard control. Independently controlled movers change guarding assumptions, so safety validation should be treated as a project deliverable rather than inherited from the previous conveyor design. On the documentation side, Rockwell SecureOT: CRA Compliance Begins at the Parts List explains why accurate asset and part-number records now matter beyond maintenance, as cyber-resilience reporting obligations tighten.
How to verify these claims before you cite them
| Claim | Primary source | Caveat |
|---|---|---|
| Booth B3-03, Hall 4.1; sixth consecutive year; four exhibit zones; theme | Rockwell Automation press release distributed by PR Newswire, 29 October 2026 | Does not name iTRAK or Emulate3D |
| iTRAK flexible manufacturing line and Emulate3D platform; "benchmark technologies" | CIIE official website, People's Daily client preview of the Lin-gang display zone, 19 October 2026 | Organiser preview, not a Rockwell product announcement; no specifications or demonstration schedule given |
| iTRAK technical capabilities and the 50% productivity figure | Rockwell Automation official iTRAK product page | Vendor-stated capability, not a CIIE-specific claim or a guaranteed result |
| Emulate3D virtual commissioning and the ECM 50% / five-month figures | Rockwell Automation Emulate3D article (3 June 2022) and ECM Technologies case study (1 February 2024) | Single customer project in heat treatment, unrelated to CIIE 2026 |
| Exhibition scale and US corporate exhibition area | Xinhua, 3 November 2026; SCIO briefing, 16 October 2026 | Pre-opening figures; overseas exhibitor count reported as "over 4,100" by Xinhua and 4,142 by SCIO |
Verification note. This article was checked on 4 November 2026, the day before CIIE 2026 opens. Everything described here is pre-show information: no on-site demonstration, exhibit configuration, product variant or performance measurement has been independently observed. The Chinese-language previews use 标杆技术 ("benchmark technologies") and 参展面积 ("exhibition area of participating enterprises"); neither term implies a formal standard or a single national pavilion. Confirm the exact iTRAK configuration, Emulate3D software version and demonstration location with Rockwell Automation at the show before using any detail in a specification, tender or purchasing decision.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Rockwell Automation exhibiting at CIIE 2026?
Rockwell Automation's own press release gives booth B3-03 in Hall 4.1 of the National Exhibition and Convention Center in Shanghai. The company's iTRAK and Emulate3D technologies are separately named in the CIIE organiser's preview of the 2,700 m² Lin-gang Special Area display zone in the eastern part of Hall 3, on the former A1-01 site. These are two different locations; confirm the demonstration location with the exhibitor.
When and where is the ninth CIIE held?
5 to 10 November 2026 at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (NECC) in Shanghai. The event comprises the National Exhibition, the Corporate/Business Exhibition, the Hongqiao International Economic Forum, supporting professional events and cultural exchange activities.
What is iTRAK?
iTRAK is Rockwell Automation's intelligent track system based on independent cart technology. Linear motors drive individually controlled movers along straight or curved track, replacing rotary-driven chains, belts and gears with software motion profiles. Rockwell lists benefits including productivity increases of 50% or more, zero-pressure conveying, reduced downtime and maintenance, a smaller machine footprint and shorter changeover for high-mix production.
What is Emulate3D?
Emulate3D is Rockwell Automation's dynamic digital twin software for emulation, simulation and demonstration of automation systems, used for virtual commissioning. It works across PLC and CAD platforms, supports concept demonstration, throughput simulation and offline control-logic testing, and lets engineers identify control problems before hardware is built or installed.
Are iTRAK and Emulate3D officially confirmed by Rockwell Automation for CIIE 2026?
They are named in an official CIIE organiser preview published on the CIIE website on 19 October 2026 and attributed to the People's Daily client. Rockwell Automation's own 29 October 2026 press release confirms the booth, the sixth consecutive appearance, the theme and four exhibit zones, but does not name either product. The strongest accurate statement is that the CIIE organiser's Lin-gang preview lists both technologies as Rockwell exhibits.
Is the US pavilion at CIIE 2026 larger than 50,000 m²?
Not exactly. Xinhua reported on 3 November 2026 that the exhibition area of US enterprises exceeds 50,000 m², ranks first for the eighth consecutive edition and grew by 1,500 m² year on year. That is the aggregate corporate exhibition area of US companies, not the floor area of a single national pavilion, and it sits within a business exhibition that exceeded 370,000 m² overall.
Is the 50% commissioning reduction an iTRAK or Emulate3D figure for CIIE 2026?
Neither. The 50% reduction in commissioning/debugging time and the estimated five-month lead-time reduction come from Rockwell's published ECM Technologies case study on an industrial furnace project using Emulate3D, dated 1 February 2024. Rockwell's iTRAK product page separately states that productivity can be increased "by 50% or more". These are two different vendor figures from different contexts and should not be conflated with each other or with the CIIE exhibit.
Does an iTRAK line replace Allen-Bradley PLCs, drives and I/O?
No. Independent cart technology changes the transport mechanism; a cell still requires controllers, motion and servo drives, distributed I/O, EtherNet/IP communications, HMI and safety control. CompactLogix, ControlLogix, GuardLogix, POINT I/O, FLEX I/O, Kinetix, PowerFlex and PanelView hardware remain the surrounding architecture, and their exact catalog numbers and firmware revisions should be captured before any digital twin is built.
Sources
- China International Import Expo official website / People's Daily client, "第九届进博会，2700平米临港展示区首发首展来袭", 19 October 2026 — ciie.org
- Rockwell Automation press release via PR Newswire, sixth consecutive CIIE appearance, Hall 4.1 B3-03, 29 October 2026 — Chinese-language syndication
- Xinhua, "「四叶草」准备就绪 静待第九届进博会召开", 3 November 2026 — xinhuanet.com
- State Council Information Office, press briefing on preparations for the ninth CIIE, 16 October 2026 — scio.gov.cn
- Ministry of Commerce, "第九届进博会将于2026年11月5至10日在上海举办", 13 April 2026 — mofcom.gov.cn
- Rockwell Automation, iTRAK intelligent track systems product page — rockwellautomation.com.cn
- Rockwell Automation, "独立小车技术：下一代运动控制" — rockwellautomation.com.cn
- Rockwell Automation, "借助数字孪生技术，让您的超级工厂尽快启动" (Emulate3D), 3 June 2022 — rockwellautomation.com.cn
- Rockwell Automation, "Emulate3D 软件可将安装和调试时间缩短多达 50%" (ECM Technologies case study), 1 February 2024 — rockwellautomation.com.cn
All facts were verified on 4 November 2026. This is an independent editorial summary by PetroPartsOnline; we are not affiliated with Rockwell Automation, the CIIE Bureau or the Lin-gang Special Area Administration. Product links point to our own catalogue and are provided for part-number reference.
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