A Daily Pursuit of Innovation

I am bummed my schedule prevented a quick trip to CES 2026 in Las Vegas this year. Last year, I was wandering the technology halls studying the latest drones, e-bikes, humanoid robots, and electric motor technologies.

As an eighties kid, I remember the Consumer Electronics Show as the place to be for Atari, Coleco and Intellivision updates. A certain game called Tetris for Nintendo debuted on the world stage at CES in 1988. I begged my parents for a “golden ticket” to witness all these amazing video game debuts back then. Alas, my first trip was at age 49, long after I could successfully operate a Mario Kart or properly navigate a controller. (https://www.ces.tech/articles/ces-the-world-s-gaming-showcase)

The trade show has gone through quite an evolution over the years. Sure, the televisions, video games and VR headsets are still front and center, but now we see robots, electric vehicles, flying cars and all the standard acronyms not allowed on a Scrabble board (AMRs, AGVs, WTs, eVTOLS, SaaS, AI, IIoT, and CAE).

Despite envy for those able to drop-by the Schaeffler, Siemens, NVIDIA, and Caterpillar booths at CES 2026, I’m thrilled for the opportunity to report on similar technologies for PTE and Gear Technology magazines throughout the year. (powertransmission.com/subscribe)

Every day is like CES for the entire MPMA team—from editorial to emerging technology, education to the technical division, sales to digital content. Please say hello if you see us at CONAGG/CONEXPO, CTI Symposium USA, Automate, IMTS, Turbomachinery or Pack Expo later this year.

Our editorial game plan is to report on the lasting impact of collaborative robots, the fluctuating EV market and how condition monitoring is changing the way we operate our bearings, gears and motors. We will discuss automation, AI, IIoT and e-Mobility strategies from a mechanical power transmission/motion control perspective. Additionally, we’ll roll out the occasional MRO story highlighting digital solutions to keep shop floors running efficiently.

Our mission is simply to explore how innovation and ingenuity is changing the way our industries design, build and deliver power transmission products moving forward.

Though we physically missed our CES opportunity this year, I promise you extended coverage in the coming weeks and months. Stories like Everrati and the Aria Group launching a new B2B electric vehicle platform designed specifically for manufacturers priced out of electrification, for example. (pictured above)

And with Vegas in mind, I will place a bet you will find one or two MPMA associates navigating the halls at CES in 2027!

Dealer’s choice.