August 2026 in the Automation Industry: Why It’s Important to Plan Purchases Now

31 July is the precautionary date to keep in mind

Many manufacturers and suppliers have indicated 31 July as their final shipping date before the summer shutdown. Others have not yet published a definitive holiday schedule but may still begin gradually reducing staffing levels, order processing and outbound shipments.

To help customers plan their purchases correctly, we are therefore treating 31 July as the general precautionary deadline for the final shipments from the supply chain.

This does not mean that every order placed by that date can be guaranteed for dispatch. Actual availability will always depend on:

• the product required;

• actual stock availability;

• the manufacturer’s or supplier’s preparation times;

• when the order is confirmed;

• whether production or procurement is required.

If you already have a scheduled installation or repair, we therefore recommend that you do not wait until the last few days. If your request is urgent, please contact us beforehand so that we can check availability.

From 1 August, UGATE’s own warehouse will become particularly important

After suppliers have made their final shipments, we will continue working and dispatching orders, mainly using products already available in our warehouse.

Available items can be prepared normally until our own closure period begins. For products that need to be ordered, however, delivery times will depend on when the relevant supplier or manufacturer reopens and when the goods subsequently become available.

The website cannot always reflect in real time every change occurring over just a few days across a supply chain made up of several different companies. Therefore, if you need a product by a specific date, please contact us before completing your purchase.

From 10 to 28 August, we will consider the supply chain to be effectively at a standstill

Not all brands have officially announced their closure dates yet, and schedules may vary. However, to avoid creating unrealistic expectations, for planning purposes we will consider manufacturers and suppliers to be effectively non-operational from 10 to 28 August.

During this period, you may experience:

• suspended shipments;

• stock information that has not been updated;

• sales and technical departments that are closed or operating with reduced staff;

• an inability to obtain precise confirmations;

• longer lead times for products that need to be manufactured or reordered.

This cautious approach allows us to communicate realistic lead times, even when an individual manufacturer has not yet published complete information.

Why reopening does not mean an immediate return to normal service

At the end of August, manufacturers and suppliers will simultaneously receive a large number of orders accumulated during the shutdown. Stock levels, which are normally reduced during the summer period, may also be insufficient to meet all demand immediately.

The recovery will therefore take time:

• offices will need to process outstanding enquiries and orders;

• warehouses will need to replenish their stock;

• manufacturers will need to receive raw materials and components;

• some products will need to be put back into production;

• transport companies will need to manage a sharp increase in shipments.

Based on our experience, the supply chain gradually returns to normal during the first few weeks of September. Full normalisation may not be reached until around 15 September, or even later, depending on the brand and product.

How to plan your purchases

If you already know which products you will need in August or for your first jobs in September:

• place your order in advance whenever possible;

• do not consider 31 July an automatic guarantee of dispatch;

• ask us to check availability in advance if you have a specific deadline;

• bear in mind that a product not available in UGATE’s warehouse may only become available after the supply chain reopens;

• avoid scheduling urgent work based solely on the standard lead times shown during the rest of the year.

UGATE remains committed to supporting professionals

Our aim is not to promise lead times that no operator can fully control during August. We prefer to explain the situation in advance so that every customer can make an informed decision.

Over the next few days, we will publish UGATE’s complete summer schedule, including all the relevant information about orders, shipments, our closure period and customer support.

If you need to schedule an installation or check the availability of a product, please email us at info@ugateshop.it, stating the product code and the date by which you require it.