IT Networking and Energy Efficiency; Robot Technology and Process Automation; Numerous Special Displays Offer Added Value; Keynote Theme "Integrated Industry" a Living Reality

Hannover, Germany and Princeton, N.J - November 13, 2013 - The efficient use of energy and other resources, along with sustainability, networking and mobility, are the major challenges of the future. HANNOVER MESSE 2013 (April 8-12) will illustrate how industry addresses these issues with smart technology and solutions. Industrial Automation, the leading trade fair for process, factory and building automation systems and solutions, focuses on the efficient use of energy and resources, including smart production systems and processes.

"Next year, when the entire sector gathers in Hannover at Industrial Automation, we will have a unique concentration of automation technology know-how at one venue," said Oliver Frese, Senior Vice President at Deutsche Messe AG.

The automation technology sector is an important force behind innovative economic development and is currently experiencing remarkable growth rates worldwide. Mr. Frese attributes this to the extremely high rate of innovation in the field of automation. At the same time, the dynamic pace of innovation represents enormous potential for investors.

Industry is grabbing the chance to introduce cutting-edge products and solutions to automate and optimize industrial processes. The continued growth of process automation is guaranteed. By the end of 2012, the number of contracts awarded to this sector over the entire year will have risen by approximately five percent worldwide.

Daniel Huber, Head of the Process Automation Division in Central Europe, ABB, confirms, "According to the marketing research institute IHS growth in Central Europe is expected to again reach a steady long-term average of about three to four percent - assuming no further global economic upsets occur in the meantime." Speaking about HANNOVER MESSE, Mr. Huber said, "As providers of automation and energy technology we take a very positive view of the restructuring of the automation display category and the move last year of the process automation display into Hall 11."

Solutions aimed at optimizing efficiency in industrial processes - both energy efficiency and the rational use of other resources - will take centre stage at Industrial Automation 2013. Trade visitors will find that the seven halls dedicated to the leading trade fair Industrial Automation house an amazing array of innovative applications of process and production automation, as well as keynote presentations of industrial IT und robot technology. The large number of exhibitors and visitors from across the world includes a high proportion of decision-makers and professionals (96.5 percent in 2012), thus helping to make Industrial Automation one of the flagship events of HANNOVER MESSE.

"The exhibiting companies meet precisely the audience they hope for - well-informed professionals and decision-makers who know what they want and are prepared to invest when they find it", explains Mr. Frese.

Keynote Themes Industrial IT and Energy Efficiency

The unique strength of the trade show Industrial Automation lies in the fact that it embraces all the areas of automation technology ranging from process and energy automation to networked IT-based automation technology. The future of the automation technology industry will be dominated by the close and growing integration of automation and IT applications. This revolutionary change in industrial practice and the role of IT in the factory of the future is described by experts as Industry 4.0, which will be another keynote theme of Industrial Automation next year.

Companies exhibiting in the display category Industrial IT will showcase server and network-based IT solutions which augment automation. These systems permit production processes and value chain networks which, until recently, had been regarded as inconceivable. Visitors to this particular display area will be able to find out in detail about embedded systems and smart production.

Industrial Automation 2013 will also highlight energy efficiency in industrial processes. Exhibitors at the special display devoted to energy efficiency will present products, systems and software for measuring and monitoring energy consumption and show how their leading-edge technology is integral to transparent, systematic energy management. The Efficiency Arena provides an established platform for discussions of every aspect of efficient energy management. One of the issues here is how to achieve significant energy savings by using automated production processes.

Robot Technology As A Core Technology - A Trade Show Crowd-Puller

"Robot technology is now a core technology for industrial production and vital to the realization of energy-efficiency goals and networked automation solutions," explains Mr. Frese. "Increasingly sophisticated high-performance robots are being used in a growing number of areas where they already often contribute to considerable cost-savings and greater flexibility. Robotics forms a core technology which is expanding at an enormous rate and therefore plays a major role at Industrial Automation."

In 2011 alone turnover in the German robot and automation technology sector grew by 35 percent. Understandably, robot technology is a major crowd-puller for HANNOVER MESSE. Consequently, the display space allocated for Application Park Robotics, Automation & Vision at Industrial Automation has been doubled. Other integral elements of the trade show include the Vision Applications Park, a special show that addresses quality assurance and resource-efficiency in modern production processes. This presentation is flanked by the special display Mobile Robots & Autonomous Systems, which covers the entire spectrum of mobile systems for industrial production, the public sector and services.

Added Value Thanks to Numerous Special Displays

Various other special displays augment Industrial Automation 2013, not least Wireless Automation & M2M and Industrial Security & Product Protection in Hall 8, PUMPENplatz in Hall 14 and MicroTechnology - Smart Systems for Automation in Hall 17. Special displays such as these are often the platform favored by innovative small and medium-sized companies for showcasing their expertise.

"This display format allows the leading trade fair Industrial Automation to offer an ideal platform for every company to exhibit its products and reach customers from around the world," added Mr. Frese.

Keynote Theme "Integrated Industry" Brought to Life

By featuring the keynote theme "Integrated Industry" at HANNOVER MESSE 2013, the organizers have placed the spotlight on the increased networking of all areas of industry at the world's most important technology event. The trade show Industrial Automation, with themes such as embedded systems and smart production, will put the focus on integrated automation processes. Intelligent production systems and processes, as well as the realization and coordination of networked, geographically separate production facilities, will demonstrate clearly that "Integrated Industry" is a living reality.

For more information, please contact Aryan Zandieh at (312) 924-1688 or azandieh@hfusa.com.

About HANNOVER MESSE (the Hannover Fair)

The world's leading showcase for industrial technology is staged annually in Hannover, Germany. The next HANNOVER MESSE will be held from 8 to 12 April 2013 and feature Russia as its official Partner Country. HANNOVER MESSE 2013 will comprise 11 flagship fairs: Industrial Automation • Motion, Drive & Automation (MDA) • Energy • Wind • MobiliTec • Digital Factory • ComVac • Industrial Supply • IndustrialGreenTec • Surface Technology • Research & Technology. The upcoming event will place a strong emphasis on industrial automation and IT, energy and environmental technologies, power transmission and control, industrial subcontracting, manufacturing technologies, services and R&D.

About Hannover Fairs USA

Hannover Fairs USA (HFUSA) provides global fair exhibitors lead generation and product launch support across target buyers and distribution networks worldwide. HFUSA works closely with exhibitors to help them maintain their competitive position on and off the show floor and to connect with a broad range of new market audiences. For more information, go to www.hfusa.com.