Some 130 companies in Germany totaling 45,000 employees manufacture components and systems for electrical drives, according to the German Electrical and Electronic Manufacturers' Association (ZVEI). Together they meet one-third of global demand for electric motors.

In 2011, German electrical drive manufacturers increased sales by 17 percent to €10.4 billion. Unexpectedly strong demand for industrial AC motors and inverters helped drive this growth, explained Günter Baumüller, acting chairman for the electrical drive field in the ZVEI Automation association in December. The situation of electrical drive engineering largely reflects that of the sectors it serves, mechanical engineering and the automotive industry. "Looking at current indicators, we can expect continued slow growth in drive engineering over the next six months," said Baumüller. "We're no longer euphoric, but the trend is still upward. For 2012 we expect at least a five-percent rise in production."

Energy efficiency concerns dominate this new business: as of mid-2011, only electric motors of class IE2 energy efficiency can be sold in the EU. With this first phase of the European motor regulations, the European Commission aims to achieve long-term reductions in CO2 emissions for energy-using products. ZVEI estimates that energy-efficient motors and electronic speed controllers can save 38 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity in Germany alone, in pumps, ventilators, compressors and conveyor belts. This first phase will be followed by even stricter requirements, where class IE3 energy efficiency will be the required standard as of 2015.

"The motor regulations are only the start of a whole series of new political requirements for drives and their applications, which are becoming more complex and entering into systems and processes," explained Baumüller. The topic is therefore a highlight at HANNOVER MESSE 2012. A focus on manufacturing and using energy efficient drives is visible at the Industrial Automation, Digital Factory, Energy, Research & Technology, CoilTechnica, Industrial Supply, IndustrialGreenTec and MobiliTec tradeshows. "Greentelligence" is this year's leading theme.

Another clear trend here: drive engineering companies are increasingly supplying systems and components for industrial automation. HANNOVER MESSE 2012 recognizes this development with a new exhibitor area in Hall 17. With increasing numbers of electrical drive companies exhibiting at Industrial Automation, a special area has been created for automation engineering components for transmission and hydraulic engineering. Among the highlights in Hall 17 this year are pneumatics, linear technology, drive motors and their components, as well as electrical drive components.