Hannover Fair to integrate Interkama annually

Hannover, Germany— Combining the process automation exhibits of Interkama with the manufacturing automation exhibits of Hannover Industrial Fair for the first time this year has, apparently, produced better-than-expected results. Interkama, initially slated to run biennially with the fair starting in 2004, will now run annually, as recently announced by show organizer Deutsche Messe AG (DEMAG). The decision by DEMAG was based on input from suppliers, fair attendees, and exhibitor committees.

‘Relaunch’ continues Technology solutions for both process and factory automation will receive added emphasis within one exhibition per the latest format of Hannover Fair. Namely:

Interkama and Factory Automation will form the annual core of the fair going forward, reflecting the “growing convergence” of the process and manufacturing sectors into one industrial automation technology.

Regular annual shows such as Energy, MicroTechnology, Research & Technology , and Subcontracting and Industrial Services & Equipment also will continue annually.

In odd-numbered years (2005, etc.), Robotics and Materials Handling; Motion, Drive & Automation; Compressed Air & Vacuum Technology ; and Surface Technology plus Powder Coating Europe will complement the core exhibits.

In even-numbered years (2006, etc.), two new display sectors will join Interkama’s coverage: Fittings and Field Devices will extend the range of process industry displays, while Pipeline and Exploration will highlight related economic and geopolitical issues.

“All the user industries of industrial automation will now find what they need each year–at the same time and in the same place,” according to DEMAG.

“Positive exhibitor and attendee feedback was the driving force behind the scheduling revision,” says Joachim Schafer, president of DMAG’s U.S. subsidiary, Hannover Fairs USA Inc. “Our surveys indicated that the parallel presentation of process and production automation solutions really appealed to attendees, while exhibitors reported significant increases in contacts with qualified professionals.”

Top management of major exhibitors at the fair — such as ABB AG, Festo AG & Co. KG, Pepperl+Fuchs, and Yamatake Corp. — also concurred in their views about the positive effects of incorporating Interkama into Hannover Fair.

Synergy of process and manufacturing automation makes sense. At the same time, the fair is expanding to an all-time high of 11 display areas for 2005, which includes Digital Factory, the IT solutions venue for manufacturing and processing that debuted in 2004. Fair organizers should be aware that the expansion trend goes counter to other more focused fairs, which have been very successful lately.

Hannover Fair 2005 will take place April 11-15, 2005, in Hannover, Germany. For more information, visit https://www.hfusa.com/hannoverfair or https://www.hannovermesse.de .

For Control Engineering Online ‘s Daily News for April 28, 2004 May 18, 2004 .

Control Engineering Daily News DeskFrank J. Bartos, executive editorfbartos@reedbusiness.com

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