Statements from exhibitors at the joint booth in the run-up to the event clearly demonstrate what the industry is truly focused on today: reliable data, seamless connectivity, easy integration, and tangible benefits in day-to-day operations. By 2026, sensor technology will no longer be judged solely on its ability to measure precisely. It is expected to make processes more transparent, maintenance more proactive, systems more flexible, and decision-making faster.

The bottleneck lies not with the sensor, but with access to the data

René Heidl, Head of Technology & Support at Indu-Sol GmbH, puts it most succinctly in an interview with messweb Editor-in-Chief Dirk Schaar. His phrase “From fieldbus to OT backbone” could almost serve as a programmatic headline for the entire joint booth. Heidl describes an industry that has long been operating digitally at the top floor, but on the shop floor is still grappling with structures that hinder rather than promote modern data usage. Expectations for shop floor digitization are often not met, he says, and he explains this with unusual candor, citing everyday frustrations: The data landscape is dismal, budgets are tight, and networks are frequently not set up in a way that allows digitizers to access truly relevant information quickly and cost-effectively.

Away from pure fieldbus thinking, toward open network structures

This is precisely where one of the Solution Center’s most important messages lies: In many places, the problem does not stem from a lack of ideas, but from a lack of connectivity. According to Heidl, people are still laboriously trying to extract usable information from cryptic PLC data blocks, even though often not all data from the field devices is even available there. His call is therefore clear: move away from pure fieldbus thinking toward open network structures that actually enable data access. The fact that many PROFINET devices have long been capable of delivering additional smart sensor data, yet this data remains unused in practice because no one can access it properly, makes his criticism particularly vivid. Digitalization thus often fails due to infrastructure issues long before it reaches the dashboard.

Productivity arises where sensor technology truly improves processes

While Indu-Sol focuses on the structural foundation, Baumer highlights the operational side of this transformation. Regional Sales Manager Dennis Stürz refers to sensor technology as “one of the greatest levers for productivity” in modern production—and this phrasing perfectly captures the tone of the trade show. After all, the question today is no longer whether sensors can provide additional data, but how directly this data contributes to cycle times, quality, setup times, and equipment availability. Baumer therefore relies on solutions designed to make processes “measurably better”: smart sensor technology with diagnostic and parameterization functions, condition monitoring, and predictive maintenance.

IO-Link plays the role of enabler here, because it makes it easier to integrate, configure, and diagnose devices.

This becomes particularly tangible in an example of a packaging or assembly line that Stürz cites. There, an optical sensor detects the product, a rotary encoder provides position data, and an industrial camera checks the label or completeness. The real benefit does not come from the individual device, but from the orchestrated interaction: less scrap, faster format changes, higher availability. Stürz also paints a realistic picture of customer requirements. Today, the demand is not necessarily for the “fastest” or “most precise” sensor, but above all for robust technology, simple integration, and cost-effective use over the entire lifecycle. His formula for this is succinct: “Cost-effectiveness over the entire lifecycle.” Even when it comes to the trendy topic of AI, Baumer remains remarkably level-headed. In image processing, he says, it already delivers real added value, but in the day-to-day operations of many customers, process stability, integration, and data quality remain top priorities.

From individual measurement points to a comprehensive IIoT solution

Wika expands this perspective to include an aspect that is becoming increasingly important at the trade show: the question of how individual measurement points can be transformed into a robust IIoT system. In conversation with Schaar, Thomas Hasenöhrl, Vice President of IIoT Systems & Solutions at Wika, approaches the topic consistently from an end-to-end perspective—“from the sensor to the cloud.” For Wika, a holistic approach means not only combining sensors, connectivity, and software, but also turning them into a complete, end-to-end solution, including consulting, integration, operation, and optimization. This also shifts expectations for sensor technology: it should not only measure, but also be part of a system that transmits data securely, integrates it seamlessly, and causes as little friction as possible in everyday use.

Digitizing existing measurement points without immediately replacing them entirely

This approach is particularly relevant where measurement points are widely dispersed or existing systems have evolved over decades. Wika deliberately takes a low-threshold approach: through retrofit solutions, modern communication modules, and edge technologies that allow existing measurement points to be digitized without immediately replacing them entirely. Where a complete fresh start makes more sense, the company offers end-to-end complete solutions. Hasenöhrl sums up this pragmatism: “Digitization as simple as possible—and as effective as necessary.” The fact that Wika relies on LPWAN or LoRaWAN fits the picture. The technology promises long ranges, low installation costs, and comparatively simple retrofitting—especially where cabling is economically or technically unfeasible.

Security, integration, and predictive maintenance are becoming the standard

As connectivity grows, so does sensitivity to data security. Wika has a clear answer for this as well: end-to-end encryption according to the LoRaWAN standard, ISO 27001-certified processes, and on-premises and private network options are designed to ensure that data sovereignty remains with the customer. At the same time, the company relies on open standard interfaces such as MQTT, OPC UA, and REST APIs so that IIoT solutions do not stand as foreign entities alongside existing control systems, but rather integrate seamlessly into SCADA, DCS, and IT structures. The added value should therefore not arise only in a later digitalization project, but immediately through interaction with existing systems.

Routine tasks in monitoring and early detection are automated

Wika demonstrates that this system concept is also relevant for maintenance with the Rotating Machinery Manager. The combination of temperature, ultrasonic, and vibration measurements is designed to make damage visible much earlier than individual measurement parameters alone. According to Hasenöhrl, machine learning does not replace experts, but rather relieves them of some of their workload. Routine tasks in monitoring and early detection would be automated, while the maintenance team could focus on evaluation and interventions. Even the much-overused buzzword “plug-and-play” takes on substance in this context: no cabling, battery operation, remote access—but embedded in central network management and in an operation that remains manageable even across larger installations.

Gas detection and environmental monitoring sharpen the focus on new requirements

BeLead Sensor demonstrates that smart sensor technology at HANNOVER MESSE 2026 addresses not only efficiency but also safety and environmental responsibility. CEO Chen Xiaohan describes Europe as a “key market” for the company’s sensor strategy—not only because of the market volume, but above all because of the high standards. The focus is on SF₆ detectors and refrigerant sensors for energy infrastructure, industrial refrigeration, environmental protection, and occupational safety. This brings a perspective to the Solution Center that broadens the view: sensor technology determines not only productivity in manufacturing but also leak detection, emission control, and safety levels in critical applications.

Adaptability to harsh industrial environments

Technologically, BeLead emphasizes above all robustness, immunity to interference, and adaptability to harsh industrial environments. The new SF₆ detector uses non-optical NDIR technology without air pumps or hoses and is designed for easy integration and high stability. At the same time, the company highlights compliance with European requirements such as LVD, EMC, RoHS, and REACH, as well as explosion protection aspects. The vision for the future is also clear: miniaturization, multi-gas integration, more edge computing, and predictive functions are set to shape the next generation of industrial gas detection. Here, sensor technology is finally becoming an intelligent, networked, and control-reliable system component.

A joint booth that captures the spirit of the times

It is precisely in the sum of its parts that the new Solution Center reveals its strength. Indu-Sol makes it clear that without open network and data structures, many promises of digitalization remain hollow. Baumer demonstrates how sensor technology directly contributes to productivity, flexibility, and availability. Wika shows how individual measurement points become secure, integrated IIoT systems. And BeLead underscores that sensor technology has long been a key to environmental monitoring, occupational safety, and regulatory compliance. The common thread running through all four discussions is unmistakable: Industry no longer talks about sensors as isolated products, but rather about their contribution within a larger, intelligently networked system. That is precisely why the “Smart Sensors and Measurement Technology” Solution Center is more than just a new joint booth—it is a reflection of what will drive the industry in 2026.

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