Growth in three halls - and in dialog

In Halls B1, B2 and B3 at Messe Friedrichshafen, the focus on both days of the trade fair will be on technologies that are changing industrial processes: Industrial automation, robotics and digital solutions. Over 500 exhibitors will present their products and applications in the typical set-up of the event - with manageable stand sizes, a clear structure and a focus on discussions rather than presentation effects.

The format is deliberately compact. And it is growing. "The offering in Friedrichshafen has grown once again compared to last year - both in terms of the number of exhibitors and what we also offer visitors: more presentations, special areas, award ceremonies and tours," says Tanja Waglöhner, Exhibition Director at organizer Easyfairs. "These two days in Friedrichshafen are well invested in order to get up to date quickly and specifically, get to know new solution partners and refresh established contacts."

The claim: efficiency. Those who come here should gain an overview of the market and find specific project partners in a short space of time.

Talk Lounges: Knowledge as a conversation

At the heart of the program are two Talk Lounges - the trade fair's lecture stages. A total of 45 practice-oriented presentations by exhibitors and experts will take place there. The content is geared towards current topics in the industry:

• Smart sensors & intelligent vision
• Robotics
• Digital transformation & IIoT
• Safe automation
• Sustainability in automation
• AI & machine learning
• Retrofit

Instead of just presenting products, the focus is on applications, experiences and concrete implementations.

In addition, panel discussions will explore strategically relevant issues in greater depth:

Under the title "Image processing as the key to efficient automation solutions", experts - moderated by Peter Stiefenhöfer, PS Parcom Service - will discuss with participants from Beckhoff, Sick, MVTec Software and neogramm.

The second round is entitled "Robotics & AI". Moderated by Jens Müller, Müller & Partner Sachverständige, representatives from the Robotic & AI Governance Foundation, Fraunhofer IPA, eco-x and the Work-Life Robotics Institute will take part.

A special highlight will follow on the afternoon of the first day of the trade fair: the Robotik Innovation Awards ceremony of the trade journal Robotik & Produktion from TeDo-Verlag - directly in the Talk Lounge.

Start-ups: early stage meets industry

A new feature in Friedrichshafen is a special area for start-ups, supported by Fraunhofer IPA. It is intended to give young companies visibility - and enable direct exchange with the industry.

Start-up pitches will take place in the Talk Lounge in Hall B3 on both days of the trade fair. A total of 18 start-ups will be using all about automation in Friedrichshafen to present their solutions - in the special area and on their own stands.

Young companies show how industrial automation is being thought of today and how it will be further developed tomorrow. Visitors will encounter fresh approaches to artificial intelligence, digitalization and IIoT - in direct dialogue with founders.

The format focuses on proximity: no grand staging, but concrete applications and discussion situations.

Future Now! Hub: Technology as a lever

Another new special area is called the Future Now! Hub. Its motto: "Cost-efficient and sustainable automation solutions thanks to AI, digitalization and IIoT".

The focus will be on exhibitors who will show how key technologies can help companies - especially SMEs - to make production processes more efficient and sustainable. The message: AI, digitalization and IIoT are not topics of the future, but can already be used in practice today. Specific solutions, use cases and direct contacts will be presented. In addition, the use cases will be presented directly at the Future Now! Hub, stand B3-230, in the Speakers Corner on each day of the trade fair from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in short presentations.

Networked production: data along the entire chain

The joint stand "Networked production", stand B3-123, focuses on the issue of data. The entire chain will be on display - from data acquisition in the machine and field to a clean database and evaluation in dashboards and key figures for maintenance, energy and production. The approach is manufacturer-independent. The aim is to enable companies to work in a networked way without having to set up a large additional infrastructure. The joint stand is organized and curated by in.hub. Several times a day, live sessions will demonstrate the entire process chain directly at the stand - in a transparent and practical way.

Robotics trends in a tour

Robotics traditionally plays a central role at all about automation. Guided tours of the trade fair under the title "Robotics trends" bundle current developments. The tours provide insights - from modular, easy-to-integrate robotics solutions to AI-supported systems for more efficient production. Participation is free of charge. Registration is via the trade fair website.

Entry as infrastructure

Access to the trade fair is intended as a complete package. Entry is free for visitors invited by exhibitors, organizers or partners. The regular price is €25 for a day ticket. Admission includes parking, checkroom, the event app with matchmaking function, the smart badge system for digitally collecting exhibitor information as well as snacks and drinks at the central coffee lounges in the exhibition halls.