In good hands
At the stand run by Anhalt University of Applied Sciences, designers Thomas Kores and Philipp Rösler from Dessau are unveiling their fully interactive prototype of a medical diagnostic glove that acts as an all-in-one stethoscope, thermometer and pulse monitor.

Now here's a very literal interpretation of the term "healing hands"! The MediGlove project being showcased by the Anhalt University of Applied Sciences / Research & Technology Transfer Center at HANNOVER MESSE 2016 is set to make medical examinations more relaxing and natural by combining a number of innovative technologies into a glove. This wearable aid for medical personnel such as doctors, nurses and carers combines the traditional standard examination instruments such as stethoscope, thermometer and pulse monitor into one practical modular device.

The MediGlove should not only make examinations more intuitive, but also measure vital signs in high-resolution using natural gestures and automatically record them in a patient’s digital medical records, thus providing a more permanent and thorough record. The MediGlove, which stems from a design project at the Anhalt University of Applied Sciences, has already won two special awards - at the Future Convention by Cisco Systems and mm1 Consulting & Management in 2014 and the BESTFORM Mehr|Wert|Award from the German state of Saxony-Anhalt in 2015. Further interdisciplinary development work is currently being conducted on the MediGlove, and a fully interactive prototype of the latest generation is on show to the public for the very first time at HANNOVER MESSE 2016.

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Robot Times
TeDo, the publishing company behind successful trade titles SPS-MAGAZIN and IT&Production, is launching a new magazine dedicated to robotics & production. The first edition is being launched at HANNOVER MESSE 2016.

TeDo Verlag has good reason for launching its new trade magazine for robotics & production, as the world of robotics is undergoing considerable change and the technology is set to play an increasingly pivotal role in smart factories. As the motor of technology and cost-efficiency, robotics provides a gateway to countless new industrial fields and applications and is also encroaching into small and medium-sized businesses. And because robots are set to work alongside humans as integral components of state-of-the-art production, there is a pressing need for well-thought-out articles based on thorough research. Tedo Verlag is at HANNOVER MESSE 2016 to explain the aims of the new Robotics & Production magazine and to reveal the key topics lined up.

TeDo Verlag has been publishing specialist magazines for trade and industry for over 25 years, and its success comes from delivering the precise information the sectors require. Leading on from the subjects covered in IT&Production and SPS-MAGAZIN, the new Robotics & Production series is set to become the number one medium for yet another dynamic sector and will keep users and manufacturers alike bang up-to-date with the latest developments and trends. It will cover everything from procurement, integration and maintenance through to induction, training, engineering and research and development. The first run of 44,500 copies of Robotics & Production is being printed to coincide with the start of HANNOVER MESSE 2016. The occasion couldn’t be better, considering the spotlight is once again on robotics this year at the world’s most important industrial trade fair.

Visions of the future today!
Weidmüller Interface GmbH offers a virtual take on the HANNOVER MESSE headline "ntegrated Industry - Discover Solutions" with its Industry 4.0 cockpit, inviting visitors to take an interactive look at intelligent production.

Many people still consider the universally heralded assets of Industry 4.0 - such as customized, highly flexible, self-controlling production units - as more science-fiction than fact. However, innovative visionaries and pioneers such as Weidmüller Interface GmbH already offer very real market-ready solutions to help manufacturing companies embrace the Industrial Internet of Things and securely manage production from the cloud - and all this without having to replace their entire machine base. The Industry 4.0 cockpit that Weidmüller is exhibiting at HANNOVER MESSE 2016 is the perfect example of this year's "Integrated Industry - Discover Solutions" headline. The company is inviting visitors to explore the world of intelligent production.

An enticing multi-display console offers visitors interactive access to a series of networked applications and demonstrators at the stand, and enables them to record and analyze data and to configure parameters - thereby making them the intuitive manager of an industrial production system. The Industry 4.0 cockpit provides a clear insight into how technical systems are networked and suggests end-to-end solutions for customers. At HANNOVER MESSE 2016, Weidmüller is focusing on Industry 4.0 solutions for data analytics, remote maintenance, energy management and condition monitoring.

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Build-It-Yourself Industry 4.0!
PSI is exhibiting a dynamic production planning and control system at HANNOVER MESSE 2016 that uses integrated product components from throughout the PSI Group.

If you’d like a chance to inspect the software behind Industry 4.0, head straight to the stand of PSI Automotive & Industry GmbH. Under the banner "Integrated Industry - Discover Solutions", the company is demonstrating a dynamic approach to planning and controlling production that uses a "smart production management - end-to-end integration" scenario to show how it meets the complex demands of contract manufacturing using integrated product components from throughout the PSI Group. Faced with extreme order customization and a wide range of variants, the scenario also accommodates last-minute customer requirements and considers a wide range of production factors - from the availability of equipment through to ergonomically optimized workstations.

The integrated PSI system plans and calculates automatically optimized production workflows in conjunction with ERP order management and the control center, and calmly accommodates any last-minute changes to production parameters, such as faults or amendments to orders. "In PSI's trade fair scenario," says Karl Tröger, head of product management, "various high-tech software modules interact seamlessly to juggle incredibly complex processes and requirements in next to real time and thus boost production efficiency immensely. The scenario pools the entire innovative force of the PSI Group and highlights our clear focus on production and Industry 4.0 topics."

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Industry 4.0 - safety first!

Under the motto "We automate. Safely", experts from Pilz GmbH are exhibiting product innovations, industry solutions and services at this year’s world-leading "Industrial Automation" trade fair.

The internationally successful technological pioneer Pilz GmbH from Ostfildern, near Stuttgart, specializes in power transmission, control technology and sensor technology and focuses mainly on safe automation technology by developing customized safety solutions for humans, machines and the environment. Hence the company's motto "We automate. Safely." at this year's world-leading "Industrial Automation" trade fair in Hannover, where it is exhibiting product innovations, industry solutions and services. Pilz is using a real-life human-robot application to demonstrate the kind of collaboration that is already possible without protective devices. Visitors can see right up close how humans and robots will soon be working safely together in close proximity.

Robotics is just one of the factors Pilz already covers when it comes to the headline topic of Industry 4.0., and the company is using a live demonstrator to show how far developments have progressed to date. On show are efficient and user-friendly solutions that use distributed intelligence to perform control tasks in a modular system. At their heart lies the Industry 4.0-capable PSS 4000 automation system, which can be used as either a multi-master or master-slave system and is already being used successfully in numerous applications in a wide range of sectors. Extremely diverse functions and permutations ensure optimum interplay between the hardware and software components, networked devices and the real-time Ethernet SafetyNET p. Pilz has carefully chosen a modular and distributable approach for its Industry 4.0-capable PSS 4000 automation system.

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Taking the weight out of screws
Weippert Kunststofftechnik GmbH & Co. KG is showcasing its extra-robust WT plastic screws at HANNOVER MESSE 2016, which weigh up to 70 percent less than their aluminum and stainless steel counterparts - and meet all the technical standards.

The engineers at Weippert are drawing very clear comparisons at HANNOVER MESSE 2016. The WT M6x40 plastic screw made from PA6 GF30 is just 1.6 grams and the one made from PA6 GF50 only 1.8 grams - compared to the equivalent A2 metal screw, which weighs in at 9.3 grams. It's not always necessarily a problem that plastic screws aren’t as robust as steel. In many cases, a single design modification to reflect their mechanical properties is enough to make plastic screws a viable alternative to steel. And even if the plastic screw needs to be slightly larger than a steel one, e.g. an M6 in place of an M4, this still saves considerable weight.

Weippert is showing visitors to HANNOVER MESSE 2016 the measures it takes to make plastic screws a real alternative to steel - such as modifying the shape of its WT plastic screw heads to improve their mechanical properties. Besides the main advantages of plastic screws such as their corrosion-resistance, additional chemical benefits can also be gained thanks to the huge variety of plastic granulates and fillers available, such as GF, LGF and CRP. These offer various different qualities such as UV-resistance, electrical conductivity, heat-resistance, food safety, and weather- or acid-resistance. What's more, plastic screws can be colored any way the customer likes or requires. This all goes to show why plastic screws should appeal to a great many sectors, such as the electrical and electronics industry, plant and tank construction, robotics and gripping technology, automotive engineering, the furniture industry, and water and sewage technology.

Everything under control
Knürr Technical Furniture, one of the world’s leading developers of technical workstation systems for control consoles, control rooms and electronic laboratories for more than 20 years, is exhibiting its innovative Knürr Dacobas Advanced control room console for the very first time in Hannover.

Whether it's control rooms, control consoles and control stations for major industrial concerns or the operations centers at transportation companies, airports or energy providers, these hubs of activity frequently operate 24 hours a day. Thus it goes without saying that the demands placed on the technology and furniture in these environments are correspondingly high and that ergonomic design is a must. Knürr Technical Furniture from Arnstorf in Lower Bavaria has been one of the leading specialists in furniture for mission-critical environments for over 20 years. It designs, manufactures and sells technical workstation systems for control consoles, control rooms and electronic laboratories all over the world. At HANNOVER MESSE 2016, the company is exhibiting it latest development - the innovative Knürr Dacobas Advanced control room console.

If it’s the ergonomic qualities of this furniture that appeal most to users, technicians are looking for quick and simple ways of exchanging components in a matter of minutes if the need arises. Nowadays, modularity is key - and customers look for maximum flexibility so they can combine the individual components any which way they like to form a wide variety of workplace set-ups. Knürr’s new Dacobas Advanced control room console sets entirely new standards in fulfilling all these requirements. Not only is the system modular and thus future-proof, but a long list of special properties means it wins hands down in terms of ergonomics and efficiency. These include its straight or lowered monitor level, low-noise, passive ventilation, adaptability to existing interiors, maximum stability, range of worktop depths, integrated technical pedestal, convenient cable management and, last but not least, its standards compliance.

A cunning plan!
Developers from DUALIS are showing how their GANTTPLAN fine planning tool and Visual Components 3D product suite can aid Industry 4.0-compliant production planning and control.

A more modern version of the saying "good planning is half the battle" to suit the fourth industrial revolution might read "meticulous planning equals efficient production" - and DUALIS GmbH IT Solution is at HANNOVER MESSE 2016 to show just what this means in reality. The company from Saxony is showcasing its APS GANTTPLAN (advanced planning and scheduling) system, a production planning and control solution that optimizes production processes in smart electronic factories, at the Smart Electronic Factory e.V. pavilion in Hall 7. DUALIS also has another trade fair highlight up its sleeve – the Visual Components product suite for 3D simulations of smart processes.

The company’s APS GANTTPLAN, which has already enjoyed success on the market for a number of years, is a modular fine planning tool that is also accessible via the cloud. All the signs suggest it will play a key role in smart production by performing detailed order scheduling and displaying outcomes on graphic control panels, which would aid the planning and management of production factors such as personnel, material and scheduling. In turn, this would make processes more efficient and planning more reliable. As an interface between production and management levels, GANTTPLAN can boost digital networking by means of its seamless integration into existing MES and ERP systems.

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Soft landings ahoy!
Breedt Production Tooling and Design, an innovative small company from the USA - partner country of HANNOVER MESSE 2016 - is exhibiting an innovative fender system to protect small and large harbors worldwide from the relentless knocks from ships' hulls.

Breedt Production Tooling and Design is an innovative small company from the partner country of HANNOVER MESSE 2016, the United States of America. The city of Kent, where Breedt PTD is located, lies just 30 kilometers south of Seattle - and it's also right on the waterfront. No wonder, then, that the product it’s unveiling in the USA Industrial Supply Pavilion is a maritime innovation. Breedt PTD has developed a groundbreaking new fender system that could soon be protecting small and large harbors all over the world from the relentless ramming they suffer.

With a valuable hand from German sealant and rubber specialist M+R from Seligenstadt, this newly designed fender looks set to place all the existing systems well and truly in the shade. Manufactured from zinc-free EPDM (ethylene propylene diene monomer) rubber, the fender is REACH-certified (EU chemicals regulation) and thus meets the strictest environmental criteria. Thanks to their various hollow compartments, the distinctly modular fenders can absorb impacts with little counter-reaction, no matter the angle or speed of the knock. And these floating fenders are just as efficient at low or high tide, as they’re always at just the right height to provide optimum protection. What's more, the basic design concept is extremely adaptable, so it can easily be customized to meet the requirements of a wide variety of maritime facilities.

Smart blades not rough-and-ready rotors
In the "Smart Blades" project, the DLR's Institute of Composite Structures and Adaptive Systems is developing concepts to counter the structural loads that the rotor blades of ever-larger wind turbines have to accommodate. A demonstrator at the researchers’ stand will give visitors to HANNOVER MESSE 2016 a clear idea of how it all works.

Virtually nobody could have failed to notice that wind turbines have been getting bigger and bigger over recent years. The reason behind this development is that wind farm operators want to increase their output while making more efficient use of their location. However, this growth in size also puts greater demands on the technology being used. Rotor blades in particular are becoming increasingly sensitive to cyclical loads, which means that the downside to this continuous growth is a shorter service life. That is why the Institute of Composite Structures and Adaptive Systems at the German Aerospace Center (DLR) is researching and developing various technologies in the "Smart Blades" project in order to help reduce loads. Thanks to a demonstrator that the institute is bringing to HANNOVER MESSE 2016, visitors to the fair can find out a lot more about the approaches the research team is taking and their progress so far.

The institute is currently working on two concepts - a largely passive technology based purely on a combination of structural and aerodynamic properties and an active approach that utilizes special drives. The demonstrator at the fair is an example of the active technology, which utilizes a flexible actively controlled trailing edge that can influence the uplift on the rotor blade, rather like the flaps on an aircraft wing. Compared with adjusting the entire rotor blade, this approach has the advantage of significantly reducing the moving mass at the active trailing edge, which results in faster adjustment times and smaller drive elements. These developments are intended either to boost service life or reduce structural mass without affecting the service life or size of blades.

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How SMEs also benefit from Industry 4.0
SOLIHDE GmbH has brought its business software IONE to HANNOVER MESSE 2016 to show how small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) can also benefit from the huge potential of Industry 4.0 by making optimum use of digital technology.

Bielefeld-based SOLIHDE GmbH noticed that, when it comes to the potential of Industry 4.0, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have so far only scratched the surface. However, by harnessing the opportunities of digital technologies, SMEs can also do a great deal more to rationalize and optimize their business processes. At HANNOVER MESSE 2016, the company is showcasing the benefits that its IONE business software offers in precisely these areas. Indeed, as a mid-size company itself, SOLIHDE and its software developers have a keen insight into the situation facing many SMEs.

Again and again, the developers in Bielefeld are confronted with the same question: "Why digitalize when everything’s been working fine analog?" For them, the answer is obvious - by reconstructing the physical world in a digital world, IONE taps into brand new opportunities that open up whole new horizons for businesses. To do that, the software maps the various processes involved in day-to-day operations as interlinked modules. What's more, depending on their size and growth, companies can order additional modules or remove existing ones at any time. Thanks to its intuitive ease of use and adaptability, IONE can also be used by any company in any sector as appropriate to its specific requirements.

With its IONE software, SOLIHDE GmbH is a member of the collaborative network it's OWL (Intelligent Technical Systems Ostwestfalen-Lippe). This leading cluster is exhibiting at HANNOVER MESSE 2016 as one of the largest Industry 4.0 projects currently underway.

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Higher, deeper, broader - new dimensions in 3D printing!

Bahr Modultechnik GmbH and its development partner Systec are in Hannover to celebrate the launch of their FDM 3D printing solutions for large working spaces, which can print components in previously unheard-of sizes.

It used to be limited to niche applications and ambitious individuals, but 3D printing has now become an industrial reality, too. Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) in particular is becoming an established process in prototype development. Now, Bahr Modultechnik GmbH is taking the next step forward at HANNOVER MESSE 2016. Thanks to a 3D printing application made up of standard modules from Bahr Modultechnik, businesses will be able to use the FDM process to print parts significantly larger than the components conventional 3D printers have been able to produce to date. Although Bahr GmbH, a specialist in modular technology and positioning systems, had the necessary hardware for such an innovative project, it lacked the relevant 3D printing expertise, which is why it teamed up with a skilled partner - the automation specialists at Systec.

Together, the two companies developed a solution that can manufacture 3D printed parts measuring up to 650 x 680 x 720 millimeters - far exceeding the capabilities of previous processes. It all starts with a sealed, heatable cabin developed by Bahr Modultechnik that has an integrated two-axis system and a baseplate with a 720 millimeter working stroke. The added ingredients from the motion experts at Systec GmbH include stepper motor drives, Xemo stepper motor controls, temperature modules, the operating software and the extruder. "The challenge was then coordinating the mechanical components with the drive and control technology so that we can print large, warp-free, high-quality parts using the FDM process," explains Jochen Keuschnig, a product developer at Systec. Visitors to HANNOVER MESSE can now see exactly how the partners overcame that challenge.

Essential ingredient for the energy mix
Knorr-Bremse Powertech GmbH is at HANNOVER MESSE 2016 with cutting-edge converters that help energy generators and suppliers of storage solutions to convert energy systems.

Visitors to HANNOVER MESSE 2016 can find out about the specific advantages of Knorr-Bremse Powertech’s new converters for energy generation, energy storage and grid compensation at the Berlin Brandenburg - Energy pavilion. In the wake of the energy revolution, renewables have become a crucial source of power in the energy mix. However, the increase in localized power generators is changing the very structure of the power grid. Through its new converters, Knorr-Bremse Powertech is looking to help establish a holistic concept for the future of energy supplies.

As a link between energy sources, consumers and storage applications, these devices optimize individual energy sources such as wind farms and - with the aid of storage systems - support the grid through the use of peak load management and power reserves. Thanks to state-of-the-art power electronics and a modular design, the Powertech converters can be easily adapted to specific requirements. Active harmonic compensation helps to stabilize and support the grid, while losses in transmission and distribution networks and industrial plants are also reduced and energy costs cut due to the contractually agreed performance factor.

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A keen-eyed all-rounder
Balluff GmbH, the specialist in sensor technology and connectivity, is at HANNOVER MESSE 2016 to boost traceability in production with its new BIS M-4008 all-in-one RFID reader and exhibit a genuine all-rounder in the form of an innovative SmartCamera.

At HANNOVER MESSE 2016, the sensor and connectivity experts from Balluff GmbH are showcasing a significantly expanded product range, with two particular new additions taking center stage. The BIS M-4008 is an all-in-one RFID reader with an integrated evaluation unit that can communicate directly with the control level via a Profinet interface. It can be used anywhere in production processes where data storage devices on workpieces and workpiece carriers need to be read in a contactless process in line with the ISO 15693 RFID standard. What’s more, the reader features an integrated webserver with IP67 protection for rapid, straightforward diagnostics.

According to Balluff, the second highlight at its stand is a real all-rounder. With an integrated user interface that makes it simple and convenient to operate, the SmartCamera is the ideal solution when various demanding industrial automation tasks need to be resolved quickly and flexibly using targeted tools. Standardized M12 plug connectors link the device to the production environment, but the camera is also equipped with a comprehensive range of communication interfaces. A version with an IO-Link master port also supports connection to IO-Link devices, sensors and actuators. All the interface software is integrated into the camera, as is the image processing software, which runs independently and is based on the HALCON function library. The device can be accessed from anywhere through a conventional web browser. Results data can be prepared as appropriate to the relevant system environment and complete test reports with images can be archived for each inspection on an FTP server in the network.

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Some like it hot!
Karl Späh GmbH & Co. KG is at HANNOVER MESSE with an exclusive - its innovative, environmentally friendly Neotec Öko 1000 insulation material, which can cope with temperatures up to 1,000 degrees Celsius.

There are sectors in industry where things get really hot. Furnace and boiler engineering, foundries, steel and glass production, seals for fire doors - there are any number of applications where flat gaskets and seals can easily be exposed to temperatures around 1,000 degrees Celsius. After factoring in environmental regulations, the list of suitable non-metallic sealing materials can get pretty close to zero. That is precisely where Karl Späh GmbH and its environmentally sound Neotec Öko 1000 insulation material come in. The company is showcasing its solution exclusively at the IHK pavilion in Hall 4 at HANNOVER MESSE 2016.

The new material from Späh boasts an impressive ecological combination of materials comprising biosoluble mineral fibers and temperature-resistant fillers. The resultant material properties, which include a high application temperature and low thermal conductivity, make Neotec Öko 1000 an outstanding alternative to any products still based on ceramic fibers. What's more, the compound material is highly flexible and, when damp, can be easily shaped to the contour of the area where it is to be used. It can also be used for surface seals in low-pressure applications. The new material is white and is available direct from stock in 1x1 meter, 1.0 to 10.0 millimeter-thick unprinted panels.

Alea iacta est?! - Siemens reshapes industry

Under the banner "Ingenuity for life - Driving the Digital Enterprise", Siemens is presenting four Highlight Cubes at HANNOVER MESSE 2016, where tangible solutions and use cases will show companies from the manufacturing and process industries how they can benefit from the convergence of the real and virtual worlds.

Conscious of its own exceptional expertise in electrification, digitalization and automation, Siemens AG is committed to providing support for other companies - for example, by helping them harness the potential of digitalization to secure a competitive edge. Under the banner "Ingenuity for life - Driving the Digital Enterprise", Siemens is using tangible solutions and use cases at HANNOVER MESSE 2016 to show how companies from the manufacturing and process industries can benefit from the convergence of the real and virtual worlds. As part of Digital Enterprise, Siemens is also focusing on future energy supplies, an area where cost-effectiveness, climate protection and reliability are top of the agenda.

The 3,500 square meters of exhibition space is divided into themed areas by four Highlight Cubes, symbolizing the convergence of the real and virtual worlds. These four areas represent the key themes of "Sustainable energy for digital companies", "Digitalization creates new opportunities for the fiber industry", "Moving toward individualized mass production" and "Automotive manufacturers: on the fast track with digitalization". But that's not all - Siemens will also be showcasing a wide-ranging portfolio of new products, solutions and services.

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A sea of opportunities
Proteus MMX enterprise asset management software from U.S. company Eagle Technology takes its name from the "Old Man of the Sea", a sea god in Greek mythology. At HANNOVER MESSE 2016, the company is looking to show how Proteus MMX is opening up the potential of the Industrial Internet of Things for the factory of the future.

It is estimated that up to 50 billion devices and objects will be networked in the Internet of Things by 2020. Yet at the moment, over 99 percent of our physical world still isn't networked, representing vast potential that manufacturing companies can harness using smart solutions such as Proteus MMX. Proteus MMX enterprise asset management from Eagle Technology Inc. links up to the Industrial Internet of Things. At HANNOVER MESSE 2016, this American company will be showing what opportunities the Industrial Internet of Things offers the manufacturing industry and how it is changing the ways that production processes are performed.

Proteus MMX is designed to optimize the use of resources and enhance asset monitoring. And even more importantly, the software helps make intelligent decisions based on comprehensive information. The Industrial Internet of Things is key to transforming the manufacturing industry. As an integrated IoT solution and backbone of the digital factory, Proteus MMX is intended to help make production fit for the future by intelligently interconnecting devices and objects and using OPC technology, for example, to continuously monitor the status of machinery.

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Connecting the world
With the widest-ranging portfolio of industrial Ethernet connectors, German company Murrelektronik GmbH is positioning itself as a market leader in this sector at HANNOVER MESSE 2016.

The basic principle of the fourth industrial revolution is to network everything with everything. In industry, networking is carried out almost exclusively using network cables. The new connectors for industrial Ethernet applications that Murrelektronik GmbH is showcasing at HANNOVER MESSE 2016 are thus in the right place at the right time. The company currently offers the most comprehensive range of industrial Ethernet connectors on the market. Murrelektronik has the perfect cable for everything, whether for IP20 switch cabinet cabling, a tough industrial IP67 environment or bridging the gap between a switch cabinet or office and the production floor.

All cables are adapted exactly to meet relevant industrial needs. They can be manufactured in almost any lengths and in a variety of combinations (straight, angled, 45-degree, left, right, up and down…) - and for an order quantity from as little as one. The 360-degree cable shielding ensures reliable transfer of sensitive data, and the connector housings are compact and space-saving. The clip for the RJ45 has been optimized extensively, making it particularly easy to use. Industrial Ethernet cables from Murrelektronik are available in the following specifications: Cat. 5, Cat. 5e, Cat. 6 and Cat. 6A.

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Watch the birdie…
Under the banner "Bionics - Engineering powered by nature", Airbus Operations GmbH and its co-exhibitor BIOKON will be at HANNOVER MESSE 2016 to show how bionics could impact on future aircraft construction.

Airbus has long been one of the world’s two leading aircraft manufacturers. It currently supplies the most state-of-the-art, wide-ranging passenger aircraft available on the market, with capacity from 100 to well over 500 seats. But Airbus also champions innovative technologies - for example, its aircraft are the world’s quietest and most fuel-efficient. Nonetheless, the company is not resting on its laurels and is committed to developing its role as a technology pioneer and further increasing production efficiency. It is keen to learn from nature and, as a global innovator, is initiating an internal bionics network and various bionic projects. At HANNOVER MESSE 2016, Airbus and co-exhibitor BIOKON are joining forces to show how bionics could shape future aircraft construction.

If research ultimately provides the hoped-for confirmation, future aircraft will use a bionic structure that copies a bird’s bone structure. A bird's bones are both lightweight and stable, as their porous interior transfers forces only where they are needed - the rest is empty space. Transferring bionic structures to an aircraft fuselage doesn’t just give it the stability needed for flying and reduce fuel consumption (thanks to weight savings), it also creates additional space that in the future could enable innovations such as larger doors for easier boarding and panoramic windows.

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Formula for success
The theme of Japanese company ROHM Semiconductor's first trade fair presentation in Hannover is "Endless possibilities", which sees it showcasing its market-leading SiC power modules for factory automation and new IoT solutions for Industry 4.0.

Although the focus here is usually on product innovations and innovative developments, in this case it's the company itself, ROHM Semiconductor, that is celebrating its premiere at this year’s HANNOVER MESSE. This global company - founded in Kyoto, Japan, in 1958 - is exhibiting for the first time in Hannover. While ROHM originally focused exclusively on producing resistors (its name deriving from 'R' for resistor and 'ohm', the electrical unit of measurement), over time its product range has gradually been expanded with items such as semiconductors, ICs, LEDs, diodes, LC displays and thermal print heads. In its HANNOVER MESSE debut, ROHM is exhibiting under the banner "Endless possibilities". The company will be showcasing key modules designed to help technological innovation in Industry 4.0 and the Internet of Things.

As an industry leader, ROHM offers solutions throughout the world in SiC (silicon carbide) in particular - a technology that is ideal for even the most demanding environments. The ROHM stand will also feature the replica of the Venturi Formula E car piloted, among others, by Nick Heidfeld, which is competing in the FIA Formula E series for single-seater race cars with a fully electric power train. The technical partnership with the racing team, which is being officially unveiled in Hannover, includes the future fitting-out of the Venturi VM200-FE-01 with SiC technology manufactured by ROHM. The performance of the power train in the Venturi car will be boosted significantly by the improved thermal efficiency and optimized switching speeds of the SiC components.

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Digital crystal ball for machine maintenance
Anyone who doesn't entirely trust a crystal ball when it comes to future maintenance outlay for their production facilities should definitely head to HANNOVER MESSE 2016. Here, they can take a look at the IoT technology stack Thinglyfied from SSV Software Systems, which is being showcased for the first time with an added predictive maintenance feature.

To receive reliable automation forecasts, the developers from SSV Software Systems GmbH based in Hannover, Germany, have designed an added predictive maintenance feature for their IoT technology stack Thinglyfied that can record comprehensive machine and environmental data on site in real time. By analyzing the latest condition data, individual modules can forecast potential machine failures and production stoppages. A Things Connector module can be used to read the necessary data from a PLC via Modbus, ISO-on-TCP or PROFINET, for example, and this data can be combined with other measurement data from external sensors.

At HANNOVER MESSE 2016, SSV Software Systems will be explaining how the data obtained in this process is forwarded to the predictive service of a public cloud online. Thinglyfied is completely flexible in terms of cloud and provider, as practically all standard platforms will be supported with relevant services. Condition monitoring data can also be generated and viewed for the entire system on site via the Device 2 Cloud and Device 2 App modules of the IoT technology stack. An OPC UA server and Bluetooth-based micro gateway plus smartphone app are available for this purpose.

A typical scenario where Thinglyfied predictive maintenance could be used is in updating and digitalizing a reactive service business process in mechanical and plant engineering scenarios. For example, maintenance deadlines that are necessary as a result of machine/system usage can be coordinated automatically by analyzing the data in the service cloud and added to the schedules of the relevant employees. This enables the necessary spare parts to be procured in advance and in good time for maintenance on site.