HANNOVER MESSE 2014 will start on 7 April, with strong international participation, and a much talked-about lead theme - "Integrated Industry - NEXT STEPS." Deutsche Messe Managing Board member Dr. Jochen Köckler: "The huge exhibitor turnout is testimony to the global manufacturing industry's return to growth and stability. Around 5,000 companies from all over the world are coming to Hannover in April to show their technology solutions for tomorrow's intelligent factories and the transformation of our energy system." In 2014, the world's most important industrial technology fair will have "Integrated Industry - NEXT STEPS" as its lead theme. The theme reflects the fact that many of the innovation highlights on show map out the next steps along the road to tomorrow's intelligent, self-organizing factories. The Netherlands is this year's HANNOVER MESSE Partner Country.
The ongoing trend toward factory digitization and integration is making production processes increasingly faster, more efficient and more flexible. Köckler: "Digitization has made our homes and cars smart. Now it's our factories' turn. HANNOVER MESSE 2014 will show the way to our smart factory future." The lead theme will be strongly reflected throughout the exhibition halls. Visitors can look forward to live demonstrations of fully operational production plants that show how products will be made in the future. They can also go on guided Industry 4.0 tours where they will discover the smart solutions that are now available on the market and learn how these solutions can be integrated into existing manufacturing plants and what they offer in terms of enhanced flexibility and efficiency. "Essentially, it's all about helping companies retain their competitive edge. At HANNOVER MESSE, industry professionals can find out how they can manufacture faster and more efficiently than their competitors," explained Köckler.
"The game is on. The Industry 4.0 idea may have its origins here in Germany, but nations like the USA and China are also investing billions into production research and are coming to Hannover to make informed decisions about what steps to take next on the road to the smart factory. Tom Donohue, President of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and Jay Timmons, President of the U.S. National Association of Manufacturers, are among the VIP guests who will be visiting HANNOVER MESSE for the first time this year," Köckler added. "And it's obvious why they are coming. Germany is the world's top supplier of mechanical and plant engineering technology and also has the requisite IT capability to lead the field in smart manufacturing systems. At HANNOVER MESSE, the world can see how German companies, research institutes and industry associations work closely together to realize the Industry 4.0 vision. I am confident that we will all experience five very exciting days in Hannover this April."
