Highlights of Hannover Messe 2017: Innovation and Industry Trends

In 2017, the Hannover Messe set a new visitor record with 225,000 visitors. This largest trade fair for capital goods covers the entire industrial value chain. It is divided into the thematic areas of industrial automation and IT, energy and environmental technologies, industrial supply, production technologies and services, and research and development.

World's largest trade fair for capital goods

Since the first event in 1947, when it was launched as the 1947 Hanover Export Fair, some thematic groups have split off, such as Light + Building, now in Frankfurt, the printing sector with drupa in Düsseldorf and CeBIT, which was held at the same location until 1986. However, these reorganizations did not change its status as the world's largest trade fair for capital goods.

Guiding theme Hannover Messe "Integrated Industry – Creating Value"

The Hannover Messe took place from April 24 - 28, 2017 under the motto "Integrated Industry - Creating Value". Neighboring Poland participated as a partner country with 200 companies and demonstrated its leading position in the field of electromobility. In 2017, the following 7 leading trade fairs took place at the Hannover Messe: Industrial Automation, MDA - Motion, Drive & Automation, Digital Factory, Energy, ComVac, Industrial Supply and Research & Technology. In anticipation of the digital age in companies and energy systems, over 500 application examples for Industry 4.0 were on display. Adaptive robots and technical solutions for the energy transition dominated the scene. Visitors had the chance to learn all about the potential of digitalization and then implement these findings in their own companies.

Focus on collaborative robots and machine learning technologies

Whether cobots (collaborative robots), machine learning technologies, internet-based services or technologies for the energy transition - people are also crucial to the success of Industry 4.0. Training skilled workers in the use of virtual and augmented reality, data glasses and tablets is a prerequisite for more added value. Over 150 start-ups focused on the areas that are so important and necessary for Industry 4.0. They presented storage systems for renewable energy grids, operating systems for augmented reality and small wind turbines for cars and trains in the "Young Tech Enterprises" area, where they came into contact with investors, customers and partners.

World capital of Industry 4.0

With more than 6500 exhibitors from over 70 nations, Hannover Messe 2017 presented itself impressively as the "world capital of Industry 4.0", according to Dr. Jochen Köckler, Member of the Executive Board of Deutsche Messe AG. In summary, he stated "more visitors, more internationality, more solutions".