2013 Hannover Messe

Trade Fairs Highlight Industrial Integration in Crucible of Fourth Industrial Revolution

Keynote Theme “Integrated Industry” at Core of Forums, Thematic Clusters, and Competence Centers

The 11 trade fairs staged under the umbrella of Hannover Messe 2013, held from April 8-12, 2013, featured the keynote theme of “Integrated Industry.” The 6,550 exhibitors, highlighting a multitude of innovative products and technology solutions, provided a vivid showcase for this theme. The show’s five core topics: Industrial Automation and IT, Energy and Environmental Technology, Fluid Power and Power Transmission, Industrial Subcontracting, Manufacturing Technology, and Services and R&D, opened up new prospects for expert dialogue across all aspects of Industry 4.0. Below are some highlights of the event.

Industrial Automation

The process technology exhibition area provided comprehensive coverage of topics like pressure, filling level, and temperature measurement, as well as transmission and control engineering, along with a rich program of presentation and discussion forums. The Efficiency Arena offered lectures and debates on all aspects of energy efficiency in industrial processes.

Motion, Drive & Automation (MDA)

The exhibitors at MDA focused on efficient and sustainable intelligent integrated system solutions. All the market leaders in the sector were at MDA, with displays including roller bearings, gears, clutches, hydraulic cylinders and subassemblies, filters, valves, sealing systems, oil supply systems, and power electronics. Key topics of the forum were drive technology for wind energy plants, sealing systems, condition monitoring systems, along with sustainability, energy efficiency, and lightweight construction.

Energy

Exhibits covered the entire energy supply chain, from generation, grid supply, transmission, distribution, and storage, to the latest IT and market mechanisms for smart grids. The focus was on potential savings and efficiency gains from decentralized energy supply solutions. The Renewable Energy Forum featured presentations on wind and bio energy, photovoltaic systems, and solar and geothermal energy.

Wind

Wind power is seen as the driving force among the various renewable energy options. The leading manufacturers, subcontractors, logistics specialists, and service providers were on hand to present their new concept designs and technologies for onshore and offshore solutions. Higher towers, larger nacelles, longer rotor vanes, and more powerful transmission systems are making wind energy plants more powerful. Optimized plants for low-wind locations also have a part to play in making efficient use of wind energy.

MobiliTec

As the flagship tradeshow for electric drive technologies, mobile energy storage, and alternative mobility technologies, this event provided a comprehensive overview of electric mobility solutions. The eMotive pavilion included cutting-edge electric mobility displays. The MobiliTec user forum included discussion and debate on the latest research findings and trends in energy storage technologies and powertrain electrification. Visitors were also able to test-drive the latest electric vehicles on the extended circuit on the open-air site at the exhibition center.

ComVac

Market leaders displayed compressed air and vacuum technology products and solutions—from generation and treatment to distribution and practical applications in systems and machines. The focus was on solutions that consume significantly less electric power and are more maintenance friendly, with lower noise emissions, adding up to clear efficiency gains in production operations. Other sector themes included after-sales segments like maintenance, repair, and service contracts, and consulting and analysis. This included the simulation of compressed air requirements, leakage checks, and audits and evaluation of compressed air systems and finance options.

Industrial Supply

The Industrial Supply exhibitors displayed applications and solutions-oriented products and technologies for functions like solid and sheet metal forming, machined components, systems and subassemblies, casting products, latches and locking systems, operating controls, fastening techniques and joining, and adhesive bonding technology. Lightweight construction topics were a special highlight.

IndustrialGreenTec

Exhibitor displays covered environmental technologies focused primarily on the needs and issues facing SMEs from Germany and abroad. International trade visitors learned from pioneers of sustainable production processes. Special attention was given to best-practice examples in terms of resource efficiency and the conservation of natural resources.

Research and Technology

Technology transfer and partnerships between research and industry were in the spotlight. Exhibiting institutes, universities, and companies had dialogue with industry and political representatives on the new technologies and improvements that will be needed to successfully address the challenges facing industry.

• conference
• networking
• recap