International Fluid Power Conference Goes Digital

The 12th International Fluid Power Conference, Oct. 12-14, will be held online.

Originally scheduled for March in Dresden, Germany, the conference had been postponed until October, but organizers still planned an on-site event with “flexible hygiene concepts,” the conference said in an Aug. 7 news release. 

“Even though some corona-related restrictions have now been lifted, the situation in autumn in particular is unpredictable and a ‘second wave’ [of the coronavirus] seems possible at any time. The organization team therefore decided to actively involve the previous participants in the decision-making process by means of a survey. In this survey, 49% of those questioned expressed concerns over a face-to-face event due to travel restrictions,” the conference said in the news release.

“75% of the respondents answered that they would consider attending an online meeting in principle.”

“Unfortunately, the hygiene concepts required for the original event venue would not have given us an appropriate environment,” Jürgen Weber, head of the conference-planning team, said in the statement. “Therefore, we decided on a digital concept that seems much more attractive under these conditions. All in all, the participation and discussion culture in virtual events surprised me positively this year.” 

The conference will use a web tool that “transports the conference feeling into the participant’s office,” according to the news release. “In principle, the tool is structured like a real conference center and virtually reflects the typical conference day. At the beginning of the conference, participants check in and create an individual profile. Afterward, they enter the foyer, which is the central hub of the conference and where moderators guide them through the program in live mode.” 

Users can follow the conference’s schedule or create an individual conference calendar. Speakers give their presentations live via video stream, while the audience can exchange information via group chat. Users have the opportunity to question speakers in the Speaker’s Corner. 

Users can also switch to a digital exhibition from the foyer. Companies can freely design their digital exhibition stands and decorate them with videos, presentations, or brochures, among other methods. A chat window allows participants and exhibitors to contact each other directly or make an appointment for a video chat. 

Personal networking can occur via chat windows in the foyer, conference rooms, and Speaker’s Corners. Private conference rooms for two or more discussion partners are also available. 

The conference will include more than 100 international expert contributions and an accompanying trade exhibition. The conference has traditionally been a meeting place for international fluid power users, manufacturers, and researchers. 

For more information and to register, visit www.ifk2020.com.