AMT, Hannover forge strong partnership

Peter Eelman, vice president of exhibitions and communications for AMT, discusses the importance of Hannover Messe to his organization and U.S. manufacturers as a whole, and looks back on his 30-year association with Hannover Messe.

By CFE Media January 29, 2016

The Association for Manufacturing Technology (AMT) has enjoyed a strong partnership with Hannover Messe over the past decade. Hannover Fairs USA, the North American affiliate of Hannover Messe, will produce the 2016 Industrial Automation North American pavilion at the 2016 International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS) in Chicago on Sept. 12-16. AMT will have a strong presence at Hannover Messe 2016 on April 24-29 in Germany.

Peter Eelman, vice president of exhibitions and communications for AMT, discusses the importance of Hannover Messe to his organization and U.S. manufacturers as a whole, and looks back on his 30-year association with Hannover Messe:

CFE Media: Why is Hannover Messe important for U.S. manufacturers?

Eelman: Hannover Messe is the world’s largest gathering of industrial suppliers. Hannover Messe encompasses many different lines in manufacturing and suppliers of manufacturing. From AMTs perspective Hannover Messe brings in aspects of the manufacturing plant that go beyond machinery and individual production areas. For this reason, AMT has chosen to display its MTConnect an open, royalty-free software standard that fosters greater interoperability between devices and software applications.

CFE Media: What is the value of the relationship between AMT and Hannover Messe, and with Hannover Fairs USA?

Eelman: Hannover Fairs USA and AMT have partnered over the last six years to bring a variety of components from into IMTS. Some of these areas include industrial automation and motion drives. Our relationship benefits visitors at IMTS by expanding the range of products they can shop for and new technologies to learn about across the manufacturing spectrum. Hannover Messe is our valued partner at IMTS.

CFE Media: Hannover Messe is a commitment of time and money. How do you explain the value to your members looking to explore a more global manufacturing operation?

Eelman: Attendance at Hannover Messe encompasses the entire continent of Europe, and represents the future of manufacturing worldwide. Attending Hannover Messe helps establish and connect U.S. manufacturers to the global community. Attendees and exhibitors from around the world look for and represent the latest manufacturing advances. Attending is gaining a glimpse into the future of manufacturing technology. Another value to AMT members includes the expanded usage and acceptance of MTConnect. For the first time, AMT will introduce this platform to a world-wide audience.

CFE Media: What are the key issues you see for manufacturing as we head into 2016? How will events like Hannover Messe 2016 and IMTS 2016 help manufacturers address these issues?

Eelman: The most talked about area for the future is digital manufacturing. Both IMTS and Hannover Messe offer a variety of insights into how digital manufacturing will proceed in the future as well as foresight into what will be possible including software development of digital manufacturing and current developments in 3D printing and additive manufacturing.

CFE Media: From a personal perspective, what’s been your experience at Hannover Messe? What are some of your memories?

Eelman: I first attended Hannover Messe more than 30 years ago. I was completely awed by the breadth of products on display. As time has gone on, Hannover Messe continues to be a technology must-see for innovations, the next generation of manufacturing.

Tracing the history of Hannover Messe is to trace the development from standardize methods to very innovative, custom solutions in many areas of manufacturing. We look forward to Hannover Messe, an assembly of the absolute latest advances in high-tech manufacturing.

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See additional Hannover Messe 2016 coverage linked below.


Author Bio: Since its founding in 2010, CFE Media and Technology has provided engineers in manufacturing, commercial and industrial buildings, and manufacturing control systems with the knowledge they need to improve their operational efficiency. CFE delivers the right information at the right time around the world through a variety of platforms.