"Industrie 4.0 is software-driven," says industry association VDMA. Whether in product development, enterprise resource planning, embedded technologies, system control, or equipment condition monitoring using smart devices, in the end industrial innovations are always put into effect by software. "Industrie 4.0 is all about networking and integration. It’s about networked products and machines and the integration of IT. It’s about collaboration between engineers from all disciplines, and constructing an end-to-end digital value-adding chain," says Arno Reich, Director Digital Factory.

The rapid growth of the leading international trade show for integrated processes and IT solutions does not come as a surprise to the trade show manager. "At HANNOVER MESSE, Digital Factory bundles industrial IT and integrated process solutions that allow machines and components to exchange data, evaluate it, and use it to make industrial processes more efficient," says Reich.

In Halls 6, 7 and 8, and for the first time in Hall 17, Digital Factory is showcasing solutions for all software issues in the industrial process chain – from computer-aided engineering to manufacturing execution systems, additive manufacturing and product lifecycle management. This leading trade show also accommodates the increased integration of various sub-systems in businesses: Process integration, visualization, supply chain management, and virtual commissioning are all important themes at Digital Factory.

A positive effect of the partnership with the USA in 2016 is that a large number of individual and group pavilions from the USA are expected in 2017. This major IT powerhouse has long been one of the largest foreign exhibitors at Digital Factory. Whereas Europe talks about "Industry 4.0" the U.S. economy is on the lookout for software for the "Industrial Internet of Things" (IIoT). The trend however is the same: IT solutions and integrated processes provide more flexibility and efficiency in manufacturing. Factories are becoming more intelligent. The industrial and IT sectors are growing closer together.

In 2017, exhibitors at the additive manufacturing showcase are located for the first time in Hall 6 and are represented by major industry players such as Stratasys , EOS , HP , and ARBURG . The theme is tied in with the 3rd Additive Manufacturing Symposium which will be held on two days at the Convention Center (CC).

The international MES Conference is being held alongside Digital Factory 2017 at the Convention Center (CC). This is a highlight of both Digital Factory and Industrial Automation: Manufacturing execution systems (MES), which are indispensable in achieving digital integration at the production and management levels, are the focus of this event for manufacturers and users in the manufacturing and process industries. For the first time this year, a Guided Tour will be offered at the end of the event, and simultaneous translation into English will also be provided for the first time throughout the entire conference.

The CAE-Forum in Hall 6 (Stand L46) is a communication platform for simulations experts: The stage and the stand demonstrate what can be accomplished in numerical simulation, 3D visualization and 3D printing. In ten sessions, representatives from industry and academia provide information on new software, hardware, methods, and applications used in computer-aided engineering.