Networked manufacturing. Cobots . Artificial intelligence. These are exciting topics in the manufacturing industry. But neither the factory of today nor tomorrow runs without compressed air and vacuum technology. One look at ComVac is proof: the leading trade fair for compressed air and vacuum technology at HANNOVER MESSE is sold out in Hall 26 and expanding into Hall 27.

"ComVac’s success underscores this sector’s importance to advanced manufacturing. With the new area in Hall 27, which covers 2,500 square meters, ComVac has grown 16 percent compared to 2015," says Sonia Wedell-Castellano, project director at Deutsche Messe. Hall 27 features topics such as energy efficiency and energy management, which are also important at ComVac.

ComVac covers the complete range of compressed air and vacuum technology, from generation and processing to pumps and measuring instruments to financing and management. Industrie 4.0 is also an important theme: With the help of sensors and software, machines and work pieces communicate with each other to enable continuous monitoring and production security as well as increased efficiency.

ComVac maintains in 2017 a high level of international participation. The share of foreign exhibitors remains at 75 percent, while the display area they occupy has expanded. China, Italy and Turkey contribute particularly large contingents – together they account for more than one third of ComVac’s total floor space.

Exhibitors include market-leaders such as Atlas Copco , Boge Kompressoren , Ingersoll Rand , Kaeser Kompressoren and Gardner Denver . Aquaair , BETICO or Leobersdorfer Maschinenfabrik (LMF) are among the new exhibitors. China and Korea are sponsoring first-time country pavilions. Resource efficiency, predictive maintenance, oil-free compressed air, and contracting are key topics.

Visitors at HANNOVER MESSE profit from ComVac’s direct proximity to MDA (Motion, Drive & Automation), the leading international trade fair for power transmission and fluid technology. In addition to traditional power transmission topics, the MDA Forum in Hall 19 also covers such crossover areas as Industrie 4.0, predictive maintenance and sustainability. "MDA exhibitors are also ComVac customers, where they are interested mainly in compressors and vacuum pumps," explains Wedell-Castellano.