As well as a press conference for the Hannover Messe, which featured an address to the international press by John B. Emerson, ambassador for this year's partner country the USA, journalists also got the chance to talk to exhibitors and find out all about the latest innovations to be presented in April. “We had many conversations with journalists that confirmed that our innovations are perfectly suited to the current hot topics in the industry”, said a delighted Marion Sommerwerck, Weidmüller’s Head of Corporate Communications. “Industry 4.0 and data analysis during production, but also predictive maintenance, are examples of topics currently being focused on by manufacturers all over the world. In Germany in particular, we see ourselves as a trendsetter among medium-sized companies on the path to intelligent factory production.”
Three years ago, the Weidmüller Group was one of the first companies to present a fully operational prototype of a self-correcting stamping and bending machine, which is able to adapt the metal-machining process to the quality of the metal in question. “Weidmüller has now also made progress in the field of big data and analytics”, explains Michael Matthesius, Head of Global Industry Management for Machine Construction. “When it comes to the topic of predictive maintenance, Weidmüller offers solutions for a proactively maintained machinery portfolio, and expands upon this with customer-friendly solutions for secure remote maintenance”. As part of the preview, the new concepts were impressively presented by means of an industry demonstrator, which shows the networked intelligence of linked Weidmüller applications, thereby also creating a module for energy management. “Manufacturing companies are faced with the challenge of constantly rising energy costs,” explains Dr. Björn Six, Head of Weidmüller’s Protection & Monitoring business unit. “Data analysis is playing an increasingly important role in ensuring effective energy management”. With a comprehensive solution consisting of hardware, software and services, the Detmold-based Group is not only scoring top marks from its customers and partners, but also from the media attending the event in Hannover.
“Integrated Industry – Discover Solutions” - that is the overarching motto of the 2016 Hannover Messe. The motto relates on the one hand to the networking of technical systems, and on the other hand to the development of integrated approaches for customers. “As a solution provider that values customer proximity and innovation, this motto is perfect for us”, says Sommerwerck. “We will also be presenting our “Industry 4.0 Cockpit” for the first time at the HMI in April. This will allow visitors to the trade fair stand to operate the applications via remote access. We want to use this opportunity to show that Weidmüller not only understands advanced, intelligent systems, but also uses this type of technology and offers it on the market”.
Weidmüller is also very pleased about the choice of partner country - the USA. “The USA is currently in a phase of industrial renaissance, due not least to the fact that the country's key competence, digitalisation, is now an everyday part of production. Our American customers are very interested in the “Industrial Internet of Things” and in our product range”, Sommerwerck continues. “Our on-site activities, however, also relate to the development of digital industrial standards. For example, we are involved in the Executive Board of ODVA, an association with headquarters in the USA that aims to promote open and compatible information and communication technologies for the field of automation technology”.
With the first official preview, work is now starting in earnest on the preparations for the upcoming Hannover Messe. “At the fair, we will be looking to strengthen our existing networks and to inspire old and new customers alike”, adds Sommerwerck.