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Report - November 24, 2025

Process Industry Automation Report: Emerging Applications Power Growth

The process industry automation market is poised for strong growth, underpinned by exposure to major megatrends and a technological push for digital solutions. The global market is projected to reach $160 billion by 2030.1

For example, sustainability and technology-driven requirements are expanding and being more rigorously enforced. In this increasingly complex regulatory landscape, continuous measurement, reporting, and control across production facilities are becoming mission critical. At the same time, AI is being embedded more deeply across the technology stack, while workforce shortages and rising regionalization in many sectors are accelerating automation and driving greater platform standardization.

These dynamics are giving rise to new applications in process industry automation. “Smart applications, such as AI-enabled optimization, predictive maintenance, emissions management, and cyber threat detection, are fueling growth in the process industry automation market,” says Florian Ripperger, a director.

“Process industry automation continues to be a top technology investment priority for most manufacturers,” adds Mark Brune, a managing director. “Companies that offer comprehensive, integrated automation solutions will remain highly appealing to both customers and investors.”

In this new process industry automation report from our Industrials Group, we share further insights into:

  • The impact of megatrends and advancing technologies

  • New applications including digital twin models and distributed automation architectures

  • Value drivers of key market participants

  • M&A trends to monitor

To discuss this market’s M&A potential, please contact our senior professionals.

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Contacts

Mark Brune, Managing Director, Harris Williams

Mark Brune

Managing Director

Harris-Williams Bio-Crop 0004 0276 JensonDunn

Jenson Dunn

Managing Director

Harris-Williams Bio-Crop 0094 0721 EricLogue

Eric Logue

Managing Director

Harris-Williams Bio-Crop 0010 FlorianRipperger

Florian Ripperger

Director

Harris-Williams Bio-Crop 0025 0031 ChrisToussaint

Chris Toussaint

Managing Director

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