Eleven under one roof

The Hannover Fair remains the world’s leading showcase for industrial technology. Following the success of the 2004 Fair, the event organizer Deutsche Messe AG, working in close collaboration with the exhibitors, has developed and updated the exhibition concept and issued a clear statement of intent. In future this uniquely comprehensive presentation of industrial automation technology worldwide will remain in Hannover. The Fair continues to mirror the rapid convergence of production and process automation in our modern industrial world. It therefore makes sense for production automation and process automation to share a common platform at the world’s leading showcase for industrial technology. Hence the decision that the flagship trade fairs Factory Automation and Interkama+ will in future form the core and centrepiece of each year’s Hannover Fair.

From 11 to 15 April this year Hannover Fair 2005 brings together eleven world-class trade shows under one roof. As well as Factory Automation and Interkama+, the line-up includes Motion, Drive & Automation + Robotics Special, Digital Factory, MicroTechnology, Research & Technology, Energy, ComVac, SurfaceTechnology plus Powder Coating Europe, Subcontracting and Industrial Services & Equipment.

The new focus of the Hannover Fair is a response to changing market needs. Following its transfer from Düsseldorf to Han-nover, Interkama+ was relaunched to universal acclaim in April 2004. As the world’s leading exhibition platform for process automation, Interkama+ benefited from the parallel presence of Factory Automation – and vice versa. The figures speak for themselves: 48 % of the 86,000 trade professionals at Factory Automation also took a look at the displays of process automation. And of the 72,800 visiting professionals who toured the stands at Interkama+, 57 % also went along to see the exhibits at Factory Automation. As a result of this visitor crossover, exhibitors reported they had reached new customer groups and accessed new areas of potential sales.

In 2005 exhibitors and visitors alike can look forward once again to the world’s largest concentration of exhibits exploring all aspects of automation technology. Occupying a net display area of some 60,000 square metres in eight exhibition halls (7 to 9, 11, 14 to 17), the exhibits will document every stage in the value-added chain for manufacturing industry, the process industry and hybrid industries. In many of the user industries, such as food processing, pharmaceuticals and plastics, the various stages have now been integrated into a single continuous production process. One consequence of this technological convergence is that company engineers and designers are now responsible for all automation systems within their organization. These are the very people who need to know each year exactly what is on offer in the industrial automation market.

Only the Hannover Fair can meet that need. In contrast to niche fairs, which can only represent limited segments of industry, Factory Automation and Interkama+ cover the complete spectrum of automation products and systems – from control and monitoring systems for process engineering applications to the use of robotics in production engineering. The list of user industries embraces every commodity from cars to cement.

Digital Factory, the trade show for integrated processes and IT solutions, complements the range of exhibits at Factory Automation and Interkama+ in ideal fashion. Featured here is the complete spectrum of digital concepts and systems for the top-to-bottom optimization of the value-added chain in industry.

An informative new presentation is Wireless Automation. Here the focus is on the trend towards wireless communications in industrial environments. The group display stand, which features a lecture forum and a lounge area, will provide a concentrated overview of the latest technology for wireless operation and monitoring, cable-free control and regulation, remote surveillance by mobile phone, and much more besides.

The supporting program for all automation professionals will highlight key trends and future scenarios. The special presentation Automation Live was one of the major highlights of Hannover Fair 2004, and it features on the program again in 2005. Using the example of an industrial corporation with worldwide operations, the live presentation will feature state-of-the-art integrated automation solutions – with the full participation of key component suppliers.

Motion, Drive & Automation (MDA), the world’s leading trade show for power transmission and control technology, will once again be one of the outstanding events at Hannover Fair 2005. Occupying a net display area of some 55,000 m², this biennial show is the biggest display category at the Hannover Fair in terms of area and serves to boost innovation throughout the industry. From 11 to 15 April 2005 no fewer than 1,300 exhibitors from 35 countries will be showcasing their latest technology in Halls 19 to 26 and on the open-air site.

The keynote theme condition monitoring systems is very evident throughout MDA. Deutsche Messe AG are launching this special presentation in 2005 in order to draw attention to the opportunities provided by monitoring and diagnostic systems for components and plant. In Hall 24 visitors will be able to see how monitoring systems provide protection against damage and faults at an early stage – thus avoiding costly halts in production. These systems are especially valuable in monitoring the operation of plant that is difficult to access.