T he year 2025 has been rife with uncertainty for industrial automation OEMs and their customers. A cataclysmic shift in U.S. trade policy led to a marketwide mentality of “wait and see.” For automation OEMs, this has manifested broadly as delayed orders from customers rather than outright cancellations.

As we approach 2026, these delays could coalesce as a surge in orders. This, coupled with the reduction of interest rates expected through the rest of the year, has created conditions for a potentially strong rebound during the first half of 2026.

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