Automation experts agree that digitalization is making a noticeable contribution to growth and accelerating general development. SPS IPC Drives is also benefiting from this in its 29th edition: around 1,700 suppliers from 45 nations have announced their participation. The trade fair is also presenting itself with a new slogan: Smart and digital automation. Automation and IT are growing together, which is also reflected in a new hall layout in Nuremberg: In the age of digital transformation, the topics of software and IT are moving to the heart of the exhibition grounds in Halls 5 and 6.

There is an optimistic mood in the automation industry, said Christian Wolf, Managing Director of the automation company Turck and Chairman of the Exhibitor Advisory Board at the trade fair, summarizing the current situation. This is hardly surprising, as all growth in the areas of robotics, automation and digital transformation is based on the components and interaction of electrical automation technology - identification systems, image processing, controllers, bus systems, networking and the cloud.

The latest figures from the ZVEI confirm this: growth in global incoming orders remains in the high single-digit range for 2018, and the outlook for 2019 also remains positive, albeit slightly weaker. The prerequisite for this is that there are no further geopolitical upheavals.

Since the midterm elections in the US, seats have been redistributed, at least in the House of Representatives, where the Democrats have regained the majority. It was not the big blue wave, the Republicans were able to increase their majority in the Senate, but governing is now likely to become more difficult for US President Donald Trump, who will have to be more cooperative on the domestic front. It remains to be seen what consequences this will have - whether Trump will actually seek success in foreign policy - and what consequences the split in Congress will have for trade.

Let us remain attentive, best regards
Yours

Annina Schopen
Editor handling