‘Integrated Industry’ theme opens 2013 Hannover Messe

Bosch-Rexroth wins Hermes award for innovation; Putin, Merkel speak at ceremony

April 8, 2013

Integration was the theme as Hannover Messe 2013 opened Sunday evening in Hannover, Germany. Russia is the partner nation at this year’s Hannover Messe, and Russian president Vladimir Putin and German chancellor Angela Merkel spoke at Sunday’s opening ceremonies, which launch the start of the world’s largest industrial trade fair.

Both leaders stressed the importance of working together to address the opportunities associated with the changes in the industry and in technology.  According to both leaders, the industrial relationship started several years ago through Hannover Messe has resulted in benefits to both countries, a trend they would like to continue to build upon. More than 100 Russian manufacturing suppliers and companies will exhibit at this year’s event.

The opening ceremonies also featured some spectacular visual displays built around the theme of “Integrated Industry”, the theme of the 2013 Hannover Messe. Speakers referred to an “Industry 4.0 evolution”, which is characterized by high volume, custom product manufacturing enabled by an “integrated industry”.  

That theme was referenced by speakers throughout the opening ceremony, which highlighted the use of intelligent devices and systems that can sense and control on many different but integrated levels.   

That theme was carried through the presentation of the 2013 Hermes Award, presented to the outstanding innovation on display at Hannover Messe. Bosch-Rexroth won the award for its  "Open Core Engineering" project. Open Core Engineering makes it possible to run innovative functions in the form of apps on external devices like smartphones, with native IT apps on smart devices not only able to read data, but also record it to the control system, providing OEMs with a new opportunity to gain a competitive edge by adding individual software functions without the direct support of the control system manufacturer.

More than 6,000 exhibitors from 65 nations will exhibit at Hannover this year, and the annual event is expected to attract more than 250,000 visitors for the week. 

—Reported by Steve Rourke, CFE Media; edited by Bob Vavra, Plant Engineering.