The world's leading trade fair, VISION 2016, records a slight increase in exhibitor numbers / 441 companies from 28 countries attend Messe Stuttgart

Growth as far as the eye can see: VISION 2016, the world's leading trade fair for machine vision, once again recorded a slight increase in exhibitors numbers over 2014. The leased floor area rises by six percent to a total of 10,900 square metres. VISION once again impressively underscores its status as the world's leading trade fair with its international structure: 57% of exhibitors (2014: 53%) come from abroad, and the percentage of companies from China continues to grow. The nation represented with the highest number of exhibitors continues to be the USA with 34 exhibitors.

Glimpse of the future guaranteed

Apart from a host of product launches and over 90 talks on three stages in which experts from around the globe share their knowledge, the organiser is particularly thrilled about presentation of the 22nd VISION Award. This year, the award is presented to Machine Vision Lighting Inc. for its innovation in the field of machine vision illumination - "VISA - Method Lighting (Variable Irradiation Solid Angle) - Overturning conventional wisdom about lighting". "In recent years we have observed, time and time again, how pioneering ideas have won, which rapidly go on to become indispensable products. This underpins the importance of this traditional award," explains Project Manager Florian Niethammer, "and always guarantees a glimpse of the future."

The trade fair will also feature products for the future. Some 20 years ago, the first embedded systems were introduced at VISION - today it is hard to imagine the industrial and non-industrial sector without embedded vision. Florian Niethammer continues: "We showcased the earliest signs of a new technological trend some two decades ago, which has gone on to achieve a breakthrough today. It is therefore worth keeping a look-out at VISION for products that still have to conquer the market."