These two examples show: Maintenance is undergoing major changes. Wrenches and lubricants are still needed, but completely different tools are being added. And this process is only just beginning. In the not-too-distant future, maintenance technicians will be guided through inspection processes using augmented reality tools such as AR glasses. The operating data collected from the machine components will enable clear predictions to be made about the remaining service life and replacement at the optimum (and individual) time in terms of predictive maintenance. There will be a digital twin for each machine, which will contain all maintenance-relevant data and simplify the identification of causes of failure and the ordering of spare parts, for example.

Visitors to Maintenance, which takes place in Dortmund on February 12 and 13, 2020, will find out what impact these and other innovations can have in the practice of maintenance.In 11 years, Maintenance has developed into Germany's leading trade fair for industrial maintenance. It will be able to expand this position in the coming year, as the number of exhibitors is already encouragingly high. The broad spectrum of exhibitors is also reflected by the Part of Artexis Easyfairs premium partners. With Hansa-Flex, SAP and Carl Werthenbach, a hydraulics specialist, a leading global software provider and a service-oriented trading company will be taking part.

Additional impetus will be provided by the diverse supporting program, which will introduce visitors to current and future hot topics in maintenance in various formats - for example with presentations on the Science and SolutionCenter stages, discussion panels and guided tours of the trade fair. Maria Soloveva, Project Manager of the organizer Easyfairs Germany, explains: "We are focusing on predictive maintenance and machine learning, among other things." Visitors can also take part in guided tours on the current topics of "Data analytics in maintenance" and "Mobile assistance systems". In planning the supporting program, the trade fair organizer is working with leading experts from institutes and associations - such as the Fraunhofer IML, the FIR at RWTH Aachen University and the VDI.