The automation industry had been eagerly awaiting the 39th Motek and 14th Bondexpo. The event exceeded the expectations of the exhibitors.

"Yes, we're back!" said Bettina Schall, Managing Director of P. E. Schall. A total of 453 exhibitors from 25 countries, 17 percent of them from abroad, were represented on 45,000 square meters of gross exhibition space. "I would like to thank everyone who is here today and is actively supporting the relaunch of the presence trade fair," said Project Manager Rainer Bachert. "Motek 2021 completely exceeded our expectations," summarized Ulrich Moser, Head of Marketing & Sales Controlling at IEF Werner. "We were surprised at how many customers came with specific projects and were looking for solutions. It is finally possible to exchange ideas in person again."

Arena of Integration as a living network

Motek/Bondexpo 2021 was one of the first major trade events after the trade fair-free period and was therefore eagerly anticipated. Now it was a complete success. From the very first hour, the trade fair was characterized by intensive professional exchange at the exhibits. "It's good to be here in person, to network," said Thomas Zettlmeier, Technical Sales at Otto Bihler Maschinenfabrik during the Arena of Integration (AoI).

Thyssenkrupp Automation Engineering was also part of the AoI. "It was superbly prepared," says Stefan Fuchs, Head of Product Management at Thyssenkrupp Systeme Engineering, praising the organization of the AoI. "This initiative by the trade fair organizer was an excellent start to the presence trade fair for us, where we found exactly the target group we were looking for."

Using examples from the sales process for customer-specific assembly technology, small series and spare parts production with 3D printing, variant-flexible series assembly and intralogistics, the exhibits in the Arena of Integration made digitalized, networked production processes visible and understandable.

"We meet the right people here"

"The special thing about Motek is that we meet the right people here," stated Dr. Christian Löchte from Formhand. "This includes system integrators and customers who want to get involved in automated handling processes. They are all here, and that's why we feel at home here". Formhand was represented in the start-up area and was highly satisfied with the lively and "fresh" exchange with visitors. With the start-up area, the trade fair organizer deliberately offered young companies a platform to initiate concrete industrial applications with their new ideas and product developments.

The implementation of Messe Stuttgart's comprehensive hygiene concept, fully coordinated with the authorities and implemented on the basis of the current, generally applicable Corona Ordinance of the state of Baden-Württemberg, provided everyone involved with the framework for the live trade fair event. "This Motek/Bondexpo 2021 was a very special trade fair," summarizes Bettina Schall. "It proved that face-to-face trade fairs are indispensable. After all, no format of virtual communication can replace face-to-face meetings in the capital goods industry and in the B-to-B sector. I would like to thank everyone involved for making the Re-Start a success. You are all invited to the next Motek/Bondexpo in Stuttgart from October 4 to 7, 2022."