Mr. Mey, the last AMB was longer ago than we all would have liked - that was in 2018 - how has the trade fair changed since then? Will online elements play a greater role?

Even after the four-year break, our focus for AMB is on the five-day face-to-face event at our Stuttgart exhibition center. Of course, we have also developed digital accompanying formats in the meantime: We are offering a digital foretaste, supplementing the trade fair with our expanded online exhibitor directory, for example, and extending AMB in the digital world. But our main focus is still on what is happening in the exhibition halls. AMB 2022 will feature some changes to the supporting program. For example, our start-up area is brand new. This is where young companies can present their innovations. The Trend Lounge on September 15 will also be dedicated to the topic of climate and sustainability for the first time.

Let's take a look at the exhibition grounds: What new exhibitor groups have been added in the last four years? Are certain segments now less important than in 2018?

Machine tools, precision tools and the corresponding digitalization and automation offerings remain the focal points of the exhibition and thus the core of AMB. All exhibitors are also integrating topics such as sustainability or digitalization into their trade fair presentation, which is not available as a separate special show or special exhibition areas. This shows how important these topics have become in the industry and that they are part of our exhibitors' everyday lives. In the newly created Trend Lounge, we are organizing five theme days together with partners this year, including on industrial security, additive manufacturing (metal) and sustainability.

Additive manufacturing is actually new to the AMB product and service directory. Numerous suppliers of metal-applying machines have already been at AMB in the past. Now that we have included the topic with all the preceding and subsequent process steps in the so-called nomenclature, we can welcome some new exhibitors here.

What are the highlights of the trade fair for you in the preview?

There are indeed numerous highlights at AMB 2022. First and foremost, I can think of the innovations from the exhibiting companies, who are all looking forward to AMB as much as possible and are meticulously preparing their trade fair appearances. We will be showing a good example of today's intelligent production under the leadership of exhibitor Fanuc at the AMB Smart Factory in the East Entrance. Together with five other exhibitors (Zeiss, Cenit, Gewatec, Häberle and Maier Machines), machining and automation experts will be presenting a showcase including a digital image.

How are you dealing with the coronavirus threat at the current event?

Fortunately, there are currently no restrictions or special regulations for trade fairs and events. On the part of Messe Stuttgart, we continue to recommend wearing a medical mask and remind you of the distance and hygiene requirements. Should the general conditions change in September, we have tried and tested hygiene concepts in the drawer that can be rolled out very quickly. First and foremost, however, we are now looking forward to AMB 2022; we can hear the exhibitors, visitors and, of course, us in the project team looking forward to five exciting days in Stuttgart.