world of industries 3/2017 (EN)

WORLD OF INDUSTRIES
to develop additional web-based services and to pursue new business
opportunities outside the boundaries of traditional industries.
At Hannover, companies demonstrate how digitalization can
create innovative and highly customized solutions more quickly
than ever before. The biggest potential of digitalization lies in the
development of completely new business models. Hannover Messe
is increasingly turning into a platform for partnerships between IT
companies and engineering firms, or between startups and major
corporations; something which was previously unheard before.
Rise of the ‘Cobots’
Hannover Messe gives prime importance to collaborative robots
or ‘Cobots’, as they are known. Cobots are designed to work alongside
human workers, assisting them with a variety of tasks. The biggest
advantage these Cobots provide is that they are as simple to
operate, just like a smartphone. Moreover, they are affordable, selflearning
and they can be placed in small-spaced assembly lines.
They are highly adaptable and they are flexible to handle repetitive,
boring and ergonomically challenging tasks. As time goes on, these
Cobots are getting cleverer and cheaper to buy, making them a
cost-effective gateway to the benefits of Industry 4.0, particularly for
smaller companies. Much like drones today, cobots will eventually
develop into a mass market that will give rise to a wealth of totally
new business ideas.
The Energy show: showcasing tomorrow’s energy
system
Digitalization is transforming the energy industry. The energy
system of tomorrow will be fundamentally different from today’s
system which is based on centralized power plants. Creating a
futuristic energy system is not just about digitalizing all the individual
components. It requires a highly co-ordinated effort involving
all the key players and technologies from energy generation, storage
and transmission to distribution. Under the banner ‘Integrated
Energy’ at Hannover, leading companies from all over the industrialized
world cover a wide spectrum of topics including integrated
and smart grids, renewable energy, decentralized supply, energy
storage, energy efficiency. With more than 1200 companies taking
part in the Energy Show on a combined display area of 43,000 m 2 ,
Hannover Messe is about to shape the future of our energy systems.
The Integrated Energy Plaza’s forum programs are organized by
the German Energy Agency (dena) in partnership with a number
of German industry associations, including the VDMA and ZVEI,
offers the visitors a chance to learn more about the key issues
affecting industry.
Poland: the partner country at Hannover Messe
2017
For Germany and many other EU nations, Poland is an important
international trade partner. Poland’s biggest trading partner
is its neighbor, Germany. Machinery, automobiles and electronic
equipment are amongst Poland’s strongest segments. In 2016,
imports and exports generated total foreign trade of more than
€ 350 billion for Poland. Germany is responsible for 23 % of all
Polish imports and 27 % of Poland’s exports. As the Partner Country
at this year’s show, Poland wants to send a clear signal that
the Polish government sees re-industrialization as one of its most
important objectives. Hannover Messe 2017 will be officially inaugurated
by German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Polish Prime
Minister Beata Szydlo.
Photographs: Deutsche Messe AG
www.hannovermesse.de/home
12 WORLD OF INDUSTRIES