Automation trade fair
SPS 2021 planned as a real event
Last November, the SPS was held as a virtual industry get-together. Despite a successful digital premiere, visitors are expected to return to Nuremberg this year.
The virtual SPS Connect attracted a total of 9,121 visitors to the platform last November. By December 31, 2020, they had chatted with 239 exhibitors on the SPS Connect platform, held 4,296 business meetings and learned about the latest products in the automation industry. In 2021, however, the automation industry will once again be able to meet in person in Nuremberg from November 23 to 25, 2021.
SPS Connect in figures
According to the organizer, Mesago Messe Frankfurt, a total of 22,216 connections were made on the virtual AI-supported matchmaking platform and 837,486 recommendations were made.
In November 2020, the offer was extended by a lecture program that addressed current topics in the industry and invited to discussion rounds. Dr. Josef Waltl, Principal Group Program Manager - Industrial IoT/Manufacturing, Microsoft Deutschland GmbH, confirms: "The specialist presentations and the SPS Connect Portal were the highlight of SPS Connect. Software and the application of innovative technologies in industry, such as artificial intelligence, struck a chord with many participants and exhibitors. This could also be an interesting digital companion for the 'normal' trade fair, which is always a highlight for us in our financial year."
Positive outlook for the SPS 2021
According to Mesago, the number of participants at SPS Connect showed that an exchange within the industry, even if it can only take place digitally, is very important. However, the organizer Mesago is planning a physical trade fair again for 2021: "The feedback on SPS 2021 in November has been very positive. Despite the ongoing pandemic, we are currently above the number of exhibition spaces and exhibitors from the previous year at the same time. This confirms the great importance of the trade fair for the automation industry and that even a year like 2020 does not change this significantly," reports Sylke Schulz-Metzner, Vice President SPS at Mesago. Once again this year, a diverse package of measures to protect the health of all participants will apply on site, as was already planned for a physical trade fair in 2020. "We are taking a long-term approach," says Schulz-Metzner. "We will evaluate the situation and the progress of the vaccination program at regular intervals throughout the year and make any necessary adjustments."
Nevertheless, an additional digital offering is planned for SPS 2021.
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