Wood as a smart solution
The timber engineering department at Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development is at HANNOVER MESSE 2016 to unveil the Wood E-Bike developed jointly with Berlin-based company System 180. This bike has key components made of wood and features an integrated electric drive.

Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development (HNEE) truly lives up to its name. All of its seventeen courses are highly distinctive and dedicated to sustainable business practices, with strong links to the rural environment. Some time ago, the timber engineering department, as the provider of one of these seventeen courses, joined forces with Berlin-based company System 180 and set out to launch the first series-ready Wood E-Bike onto the market. At HANNOVER MESSE 2016, visitors can now assess how this ambitious project has turned out and join the developers in celebrating the first major outing for the Wood E-Bike.

The extremely attractive Wood E-Bike, with supporting electric motor, is about as far from a conventional mode of transportation as you can get. And yet the innovative design makes it possible for the first time to use wood in an environmentally friendly way and meet specific industrial production requirements in cost, material and production efficiency at the same time. Unlike a manufacturing process that produces very small quantities with high-end prices, this type of production opens up completely new sales opportunities. The bike is at the forefront of technology. The state-of-the-art battery-controlled motor unit, which is fully integrated into a laminated ash wood frame, is almost too good to be hidden away. The fork of the Wood E-Bike, which is also made of wood, plays a big part in making this exhibit such a head turner.

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An innovation in water
QMP, one of the leading water filter manufacturers from the United States, will be presenting the AlkaBev water system, the first non-electric ionizer for producing antioxidant water, at the USA Industrial Supply Pavilion at HANNOVER MESSE 2016.

Water isn’t just the basis of all life - it's also the most essential thing we ingest. In regions where water quality is rarely a big problem, conventional water filters and purifiers are undoubtedly niche products that are mainly relevant to specific groups of users. Yet only a small proportion of the world’s population has access to clean water - and in our regions, there has long been an aspiration to make something good even better. This aspiration is shared by QMP Inc., one of the leading water filter manufacturers in the United States, the partner country of HANNOVER MESSE 2016. At the USA Industrial Supply Pavilion in Hall 6, the California-based company is exhibiting the AlkaBev water system - the first non-electric ionizer for producing antioxidant water.

Antioxidant water is produced by removing acidic elements through ionization, which offers numerous benefits. While ionized water has long been a widespread alternative to conventional drinking water in Asia, it is only in recent years that it has started to become more important in Central Europe. With AlkaBev, QMP is launching a system onto the market that, unlike previous methods, ionizes mains water without using electrical components. The only electrical feature of AlkaBev, which is based on a unique filter system, is the display, which tells users when it's time to change the filter.

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All together now!
ERP, merchandise management, production planning and maintenance management, all usefully combined in a single business software package. At HANNOVER MESSE 2016, Delta Barth Systemhaus GmbH is presenting Deleco 6.35, a new version of its solution for networking all business processes.

The new Release 6.35 from Deleco, which will be available from June 2016, offers numerous functions designed to help manufacturing companies integrate maintenance and servicing efficiently into business processes. At HANNOVER MESSE 2016, the developers from Delta Barth will be showing how manufacturing companies that carry out their own maintenance can use the new version of Deleco to make it much easier to capture data. The new user interface has been designed so that the production order and object master data can be displayed alongside each other. Users decide at the click of a mouse which elements of the material list are to be displayed in the maintenance object. To ensure all components are traceable, useful additional information is also instantly accessible - from the spare and wear parts used in the object and the history of the facility, including the serial numbers of all components, to details of the production order itself.

As Deleco networks all business processes, it makes the individual stages less complex. Maintenance and servicing operations can be incorporated into the production plan using the software and users can check the stock levels of spare parts or ensure they are in stock by ordering them directly from the maintenance order. Invoicing is also accelerated, as the cost items in a maintenance order - such as materials, services and working time - can be added directly to an invoice. This prevents information from being lost and ensures transparent processes at all levels.

Four stands are better than one!
The headline for Beckhoff Automation GmbH & Co. KG at HANNOVER MESSE 2016 is "Discover Solutions" and the company is putting Industry 4.0 center stage at four different sites around the exhibition center.

As the world's leading trade fair for industrial technology, HANNOVER MESSE 2016 is the perfect arena for bringing "integrated industry" to life. That is why Beckhoff Automation GmbH & Co. KG is exhibiting there under the headline "Discover Solutions" and putting Industry 4.0 center stage at four sites around the exhibition center, three of which are guest presentations. Firstly, Beckhoff is at the "it's OWL" technology network in Hall 16 to showcase the latest progress from the leading "Scientific Automation" and "eXtreme Fast Automation" cluster projects, which are being sponsored by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). Secondly, the company is involved in a showcase in Hall 7, where SAP, Beckhoff and other technology partners are using live applications to demonstrate close intermeshing between production processes and business management workflows. And, thirdly, Beckhoff is exhibiting as a gold Microsoft partner in Hall 7. Naturally, the company also has its own stand, located in this year’s new, bigger 1,000 m2 Industry 4.0 forum in Hall 9.

Taking the limelight at the stand are base technologies and ready-to-use products - TwinCAT Analytics stores process data in a cycle-synchronous manner so that it can be used for comprehensive analyses. TwinCAT IoT, meanwhile, supports standard protocols for cloud communication and creates an easy-to-configure link between the Internet of Things and the Internet of Services. Also on show are innovations such as EtherCAT P, TwinCAT HMI and the new high-end measuring technology terminal.

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Germany's leading business midwife
At HANNOVER MESSE 2016, the Helmholtz Association is showcasing a total of twelve startups it has helped launch along with their innovative approaches. On April 25, the young founders of ArtiMinds Robotics will be taking to the floor with their "ArtiMinds Robot Programming Suite".

With more than 38,000 employees and an annual budget in excess of 4 billion euros, Helmholtz-Gemeinschaft Deutscher Forschungszentren e. V. (the Helmholz Association) is Germany's biggest scientific organization. Its mission is to pursue the long-term research goals of state and society, and maintain and improve the livelihoods of the population. In order to do this, it carries out strategically planned top-level research in six areas to identify and explore the major challenges facing society, science and the economy. The Association brings together 18 scientific-technical and biological-medical research centers. At HANNOVER MESSE 2016, the Helmholtz Association is showcasing a total of twelve startups it has helped launch along with their innovative approaches. For example, the young founders of ArtiMinds Robotics will be showing visitors what they can do on Thursday, 25 April.

With its ArtiMinds Robot Programming Suite (RPS), ArtiMinds Robotics is programming and distributing a development software package that gives even relatively inexperienced users an intuitive, partially automated and very fast tool for writing program code that enables industrial robots to execute complex tasks. The primary focus is on tasks with process variables, which require the use of sensor-adaptive robot movements to ensure robust execution. The Robot Programming Suite currently supports force-sensitive and force-controlled robot motions. The team is already working on extending the system to support industrial image processing to enable the intuitive programming of complex visual-adaptive motions.

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The smart solution for handling processes
Müller Industrie-Elektronik GmbH is at HANNOVER MESSE 2016 to exhibit the new UPPC universal programmable process controller, the latest addition to the company's comprehensive metrology portfolio that helps users implement holistic solutions for control and process-engineering tasks.

According to Müller Industrie-Elektronik, the new UPPC universal programmable process controller is a fast and compact solution for controlling, regulating and visualizing processes. It is intended as an easy-to-use solution for designing sequence controls and regulation systems with a short development time, making it an interesting alternative to programmable logic controllers. The new process controller's numerous applications across all sectors of industry will be on show at HANNOVER MESSE 2016. For example, the UPPC is ideal for configuring machinery and plants, automating processes, controlling complex process sequences and as a multi-zone regulator for a whole host of industrial applications.

To customize the UPPC for a specific control, regulation or monitoring application, all the process technician or engineer has to do is establish which measurement components are needed and which processes have to be implemented. Based on many years of solutions experience and expertise with measurement, instrumentation and control technology, Müller Industrie-Elektronik develops a holistic solution for the specific task at hand - from selecting the ideal measuring technology, to controlling and regulating the processes and extending all the way to the analysis system. The goal is to deliver a complete, optimally coordinated process. What's more, Müller Industrie-Elektronik offers an additional service for intelligent networking of the individual measurement components, complete with programming of the UPPC process controller. The solution is always molded to the customer-specific requirements, so that, for example, a user-friendly intermediate control system can be custom-developed for specific processes.

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The cable that tells you when it needs to be replaced
Cologne-based igus GmbH is at HANNOVER MESSE 2016 to exhibit its first smart cable that warns users when it is going to fail and thus boosts plant availability.

As industrial automation continues to grow, the level of networking inside production sites is skyrocketing, and so too is the number and speed of machine motions. Cologne-based igus GmbH has taken on this challenge with the world's biggest Ethernet cable program for the E-Chain, which includes a probably unique 36-month warranty that ensures even demanding applications in smart factories can be safely networked. The next step for the company is to bring intelligent robotic cables to HANNOVER MESSE 2016 that let users know when they are about to fail.

The Ethernet cables igus has developed for the energy chain - which come in 27 copper and fiber-optic grades and 422 ready-to-use Ethernet cables - already offer the best long-term transmission properties in motion. This outstanding performance is soon to be made smart, too, when permanent self-monitoring is launched. "The intelligent robotic cables can predict the future," explains Rainer Rössel, who is responsible for chainflex cables at igus. The moment that set parameters are breached, the cable issues a warning in good time that a failure is likely and advises that the cables must be replaced within four weeks. "As a result, we are making a major contribution to preventive maintenance and thus improved plant availability," says Rössel.

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The fish-friendly power plant!
Fürth-based Aquakin GmbH has two very promising projects on show at HANNOVER MESSE 2016 that generate electricity from hydropower and should ensure people can produce their own electricity, even in the most remote parts of the world.

Most people who have done great things started off small. And that certainly applies to Aquakin GmbH. It was in 2008 that the idea of generating power from flowing water first occurred to the company's founders. Admittedly, that's not a new idea, but what really matters is how you go about doing that and what you are left with at the end. In Aquakin's case, the solution was the "Blue Freedom" microturbine, the smallest and lightest hydropower plant in the world that anyone close to flowing water can use to charge their mobile devices. This initial success gave the team a thirst for more and they continued working hard to achieve bigger things. Aquakin is one of the most sustainable suppliers of micro hydroelectric plants and is at HANNOVER MESSE 2016 to showcase two projects that further strengthen its credentials. In addition to the "Tornado" vortex hydroelectric power plant, the company has also designed a linear hydroelectric power plant that it describes as the mill wheel reinvented.

Unlike the "Tornado", the Aquakin linear hydroelectric power plant is designed for use on particularly slow-flowing and flat watercourses. It can harness the kinetic energy of virtually any river course to generate up to 160,000 kilowatt hours of electricity per year, making it an interesting proposition for small communities. The power plant needs very little maintenance, which saves costs, and can also be transported. What's more, with another nod towards sustainability, the new linear hydroelectric plant can also act as a fish pass, thereby protecting both the environment and the local fauna.

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Keeping track of machinery on the move
In addition to a comprehensive simulation system for the automotive industry, in-tech GmbH is also exhibiting its intelligent apps for transparency in production plants at its stand in Hannover.

Industry 4.0 meets automotive - that's the motto that Garching-based engineering company in-tech is exhibiting under at HANNOVER MESSE 2016, where it is showcasing its roadmap for digitalization and presenting innovative software and hardware solutions for industrial and automotive customers. The Bavarian company aims to show, among other things, how apps for mobile devices can make business processes more efficient. On Thursday, April 28, at 10.30 a.m., Industry 4.0 expert Dr. Klaus Wiltschi is giving a speech entitled "Optimizing production with apps" on exactly this topic as part of the Industry 4.0 forum - and in-tech GmbH is inviting visitors to come along and see what it's all about.

At the forefront of the company's exhibits are software solutions comprising intelligent apps for tablets, smartphones and smart watches and practical systems for distributing information. Through these exhibits, in-tech aims to showcase a better way to integrate users into the overall process and thus drive forward the monitoring and optimization of large production plants. The apps assist users by showing them views that are adapted to the relevant situation, guiding them to the right place at the right time and thus boosting productivity. "Production plants are large, confusing and loud. The app depicts an abstraction of the actual plant and summarizes all the information that the machinery is currently transmitting. Machine operators can be constantly on the move but still keep track of all the machines they are responsible for," says Dr. Klaus Wiltschi, head of Machinery at in-tech industry GmbH.

Turn right at the next molar, please!
mininavident AG, a spin-off of the University Hospital of Basel and the University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland (FHNW), is in Hannover to showcase DENACAM, its award-winning, miniaturized camera system for tooth implant navigation.

Dental implants - replacement teeth that are anchored into the jawbone - have developed faster than virtually any other aspect of dentistry over recent years. mininavident AG, a spin-off of the University Hospital of Basel and the University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland (FHNW), has now developed a miniaturized camera system to help guide implants to the correct site and is to showcase the technology at the Swiss pavilion at HANNOVER MESSE 2016. The innovative DENACAM system is no stranger to accolades, having won the Swiss Technology Award 2015 in the "Start-up" category last December, and mininavident AG is itself also listed as a TOP100 Swiss startup and a recipient of the CTI label.

To date, 95 percent of the around 13.5 million dental implants that are put in every year around the world are performed free hand. However, if the position or angle of an implant is not ideal, or if it hits a nerve channel, clinical complications are more than likely. That is why mininavident AG has developed DENACAM, an ultra-miniaturized camera system that is mounted directly on the drill and guides the dentist to the ideal implant site in real time using simple 3D images.

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Become a power plant operator!
ENTRADE Energiesysteme GmbH is at HANNOVER MESSE 2016 to exhibit E3, the first series-manufactured, patented and fully automatic biomass generator that acts as an on- and off-grid power plant.

As the global population swells, so too does energy consumption, and many different solutions are being pursued, one of which centers on converting solid biomass and organic waste into electricity, heat and cooling. The advantage of a process like this is that it can be used anywhere in the world, without needing a power grid or fossil fuels. Given that more than 1.6 billion people currently have no access to electricity, this kind of system could have a hugely beneficial impact. That is why ENTRADE Energiesysteme GmbH is proud to bring E3 to HANNOVER MESSE 2016, an innovative biomass power plant that its developers claim could revolutionize the global power industry.

The E3 generator produces baseload electricity from biomass and waste products on-site at the point of delivery and does so around the clock - regardless of how long the sun shines or how fast the wind blows. The associated costs for electricity and heating are also below standard market prices - indeed the E3 is the only cost-effective alternative for power generation between 25 kW and 2 MW. Unlike generators that run on fossil fuels, the E3 produces energy on an entirely sustainable and CO2-neutral basis. The overall efficiency of the world's smallest biomass generator is 85 percent and the patented design has only a small number of moving parts, which ensures power can be generated safely and reliably with minimum operating and maintenance outlay.

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Who invented that?!
Swiss-based Compliant Transducer (CT) Systems GmbH is at HANNOVER MESSE 2016 to showcase its innovative polymer actuators that are set to replace electromagnetic, piezoelectric and other electromechanical systems.

Compliant Transducer (CT) Systems GmbH is a spin-off from the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (EMPA) that is committed to developing, manufacturing and commercializing flexible highly efficient electromechanical transducers. As a specialist in electroactive polymer integration technology, the young company is focusing on demand-based applications in a huge range of industrial sectors. It is also pursuing close collaboration with industrial companies as it strives to produce a customized product that will deliver exceptional added value for both parties. And where better to make the right kind of contacts than at HANNOVER MESSE 2016!

The product at the heart of it all is a compliant electromechanical transducer made up of stacked dielectric polymer layers. As soon as an electrical power source is connected, the transducer generates a silent contraction motion. Thanks to a combination of a robust design, low energy consumption, high energy density and an absence of complex mechanical parts, these polymer actuators significantly outperform conventional systems such as electromagnetic, piezoelectric and other electromechanical technologies. The compact, low-cost actuators are already being used as actuator-sensor transducers in highly integrated mechatronic systems in automobile manufacture, robotics and the automation industry.

High-tech replicANTs of nature!
FESTO AG is showcasing a wide range of existing and visionary concepts for implementing Industry 4.0 at HANNOVER MESSE 2016 and - as we've come to expect - its latest bionic project, this year dubbed the BionicANTs.

Whether you call it Industry 4.0 or integrated industries, FESTO AG from Esslingen, near Stuttgart, has fully embraced this year’s headline topic at HANNOVER MESSE. The company is showcasing a huge range of high-tech crowd pullers - ready-to-buy products that already offer the new OPC-UA communication interface, end-to-end handling solutions with networked communications as opposed to switch cabinets, Qualification 4.0 training solutions from FESTO Didactic, and a whole lot more besides. A special highlight is undoubtedly the new industry island that FESTO is using to demonstrate adaptable mechanics to suit control and software architectures for the flexible factories at the heart of Industry 4.0. This panoply of exhibits is rounded off with inspired ideas such as its studies in "Supra Motion" and the latest projects from the Bionic Learning Network.

FESTO has been focusing intensely on bionics since the start of the 1990s. The Bionic Learning Network that it founded in 2006 has created a forum for active and open collaboration with renowned universities, institutes and development companies. And, just as in previous years, there's also a particularly impressive project for visitors to marvel at in 2016 - the BionicANTs. The "ANT" stands for "Autonomous Networking Technologies" and also their biological role model. After all, FESTO's high-tech device not only mirrors ants' delicate anatomy but also replicates the creatures' collaborative behavior by means of complex control algorithms.

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Anti-water but pro-environment!
ATP adhesive systems AG from Switzerland is exhibiting the latest generation of its water-based adhesives at HANNOVER MESSE 2016, which are as environmentally friendly as they are waterproof.

ATP adhesive systems AG from Switzerland is in Hannover to banish a common misperception that is still doing the rounds in the adhesives market. It seems many people simply still cannot believe that environmentally-friendly adhesive films based on aqueous dispersions can be just as water-resistant as solvent-based adhesive systems. A quick glance at the automotive industry reveals this mindset to be "stuck in the past" considering that the water-based coatings increasingly used in these applications neither discolor in the rain, nor wash off!

ATP AG has worked together to great success with renowned raw materials suppliers for many years and continuously conducted research with its partners into new solutions. As a result, it has succeeded in developing self-adhesive systems such as its latest "New Adhesive", which even after several days shows no discoloration or signs of separation - benefits that ATP has been able to apply to graphic products such as protective laminates for outdoor applications. In response to the acute demand for industrial products, such as in the construction industry, the Swiss team is also demonstrating a range of attractive sector-specific solutions in Hannover that boast unbeatable water resistance.

The driving force
The WG20 that WEG Germany GmbH is showcasing at HANNOVER MESSE 2016 is the first WEG-brand geared motor range, developed in close collaboration with the main factory in Brazil.

Since it was founded in 1961 in the Brazilian city of Jaraguá do Sul, the WEG Group has grown way beyond Latin America to become one of the largest manufacturers of electric motors in the world. And its manufacturing program has long since progressed beyond motors and generators to include the related control units for speed regulation, automation, power generation and distribution - and even industrial paints and varnishes. WEG is at HANNOVER MESSE 2016 to unveil the WG20 that has been developed by the subsidiary and gear specialist Watt Drive in Austria in close collaboration with the main factory in Brazil - making it the first WEG-brand geared motor range.

The new WG20 geared motors include helical, parallel shaft and helical bevel gear units with robust die-cast aluminum housings for torques between 50 and 600 Nm and are available in energy efficiency classes up to IE3. Thanks to their carefully standardized mounting dimensions, the WG20 geared motors can be used in almost any system worldwide, including as replacements in existing set-ups. Their interchangeability is further enhanced by the motors' internal voltage switches that cover almost all voltages around the world. The gear motors' two-stage design featuring a large ratio range makes them highly efficient, while the low power losses maintain cooler housing surfaces. What’s more, the Group's traditional high quality of processing and gearing also results in quiet and efficient power transmission, minimum operating noise and an increased service life.

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Gripping the ungraspable
Soft Robotics Inc. from the partner country of HANNOVER MESSE 2016 and co-exhibitor with Massachusetts Office (MOITI) in the USA Pavilion is showing just how gently the latest generation of robots can grip.

Robots and tomatoes would seem to make a very odd couple. If anything, the thought of this delicate fruit in a robot’s grasp is more likely to make you think of ketchup! But Soft Robotics Inc. from the USA, partner country of HANNOVER MESSE 2016, is demonstrating a much gentler approach. The spin-off from the George Whitesides Research Group at Harvard University is at the world’s leading trade fair for industrial technology to introduce its groundbreaking soft actuator technology to potential users across a wide range of sectors.

Fragile fruit, delicate laboratory instruments or soft polo shirts are just a few examples of the countless objects of varying size, shape and properties that this new class of robotic end-of-arm tooling from Soft Robotics can grip and handle. The use of soft actuator technology is set to open up a host of new applications in a wide range of fields, such as in the shipping departments of online retailers, where - in stark contrast to their less flexible robotic counterparts, which are limited to pushing around pallets - these gentle grippers can process a customer's entire order and pack the whole parcel. What's more, the Soft Robotics engineers say their Adaptive Grasper System will be plug-and-play and thus compatible with standard industrial robots and commonly used vision systems, offering easy integration into existing systems.

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A "prime" example!
WEICON from Münster is showcasing a wide range of new and improved specialty industrial products in Hannover, including the new E 500 primer for pre-treating non-absorbent surfaces.

WEICON GmbH & Co. KG was originally founded as P.W. Weidling & Sohn in Münster in 1947. Over the last nigh-on 60 years, this manufacturer of specialist industrial products has not only changed its name but also continuously developed its range. In 1967, the family-run company extended its portfolio beyond specialty adhesives and sealants, high-performance assembly pastes, technical sprays and greases for all areas of industry to also include the development, sale and distribution of stripping tools. WEICON has long been a keen participant on the German and international trade fair circuits. So the company certainly wouldn’t want to miss exhibiting its innovative products and latest inventions at HANNOVER MESSE 2016 - which also offers the chance to gain valuable customer feedback for the constant improvement and adaptation of its products and services.

A "prime" example of how this strategy bears fruit is WEICON's new E 500 primer, which has just been added to the range of pre-treatments for surfaces. Primers often need to be applied before using certain adhesives, particularly to non-absorbent surfaces, in order to achieve robust results. Specially developed for use with WEICON’s various silicones, the E 500 primer improves even further on the already respectable adhesive results its elastic adhesives and sealants achieve on special surfaces. The E 500 primer is particularly intended for pre-treating metal surfaces such as aluminum, steel, VA steel, brass, copper, zinc and tinplate, but can also be used on other non-absorbent surfaces such as plastic, enamel, ceramic and glass.

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Night storage electricity 2.0
The EWE-Forschungszentrum NEXT ENERGY is preparing to launch its innovative new home energy storage system. On show at HANNOVER MESSE 2016, the "ResiFlow" concept offers a more efficient, durable and safe means of energy storage than previous technologies.

The growing importance of wind- and solar-generated energy makes one thing quite clear - a large proportion of our electricity will be generated from fluctuating and decentralized sources in future. Home owners in possession of a photovoltaic system will already be familiar with the inherent stumbling block - that this cost-free solar energy from the roof is almost inevitably most needed when it's not to be had. To meet their domestic energy needs, users therefore need a suitable form of energy storage to release their solar-generated electricity at a later point. While various storage technologies are already available on the market, it is only now that scientists from the EWE-Forschungszentrum NEXT ENERGY have managed to develop the very safe vanadium redox flow battery for cost-efficient use in domestic energy storage systems. On the brink of its market launch, the team from Oldenburg is exhibiting its ResiFlow concept in the Lower Saxony Pavilion in Hall 2 at HANNOVER MESSE 2016.

The key to this small-scale use of vanadium redox flow technology is the innovative new sealing concept developed by the scientists from Lower Saxony. "This crucial technical innovation enables us not only to considerably simplify the manufacturing of the central converter unit, but also to reduce the unit’s dimensions and weight," says project manager Jan grosse Austing. He expects the technology to generate healthy demand on the market, particularly among private householders with photovoltaic systems who wish to increase the amount of self-generated electricity they use - but also for use in larger-scale energy storage systems for residential districts with photovoltaic systems or by agricultural businesses. This broad range of application is served by the system’s modular design, which enables customized applications to meet every conceivable customer requirement.

Super cool networking!
Fan specialist ebm-papst is among the companies focusing on Industry 4.0 at HANNOVER MESSE 2016 and is showcasing an intelligently interconnected energy-efficient precision cooling system that can be used for all kinds of applications.

It goes without saying that fans form an integral part of a fully networked world. Access to environmental data can naturally make them last longer and, above all, boost their efficiency. As a leading specialist for this type of equipment, ebm-papst is presenting an intelligently interconnected energy-efficient precision cooling system at HANNOVER MESSE 2016. This system can be used in particularly temperature-sensitive applications such as medical technology and the food industry. It is also ideal for cooling machine tools, control cabinets and chemical processes.

The German company has long been represented in the USA - partner country of HANNOVER MESSE 2016 - where it currently has two locations. When developing the interconnected control system, its close links with other businesses gave it access to the know-how of an American refrigerator manufacturer. This also increased the overall efficiency, energy efficiency and reliability of the entire system. Calculations revealed that switching to the new cooling system in the food retail sector alone has the potential to save over 30 TWh/a worldwide, which roughly corresponds to the output of three large power plants. The data obtained and transmitted automatically by the system is used among other things to monitor, regulate and control the connected devices as well as to perform remote maintenance on them and pinpoint their geographical location. This allows even remotely installed devices such as beverage refrigerators to be monitored centrally and checked continuously in terms of power and possible energy loss.

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Give us a license!
At HANNOVER MESSE 2016, Wibu-Systems - a leading supplier of security solutions for software protection/licensing, access protection and document protection - is exhibiting transferable licenses that work offline. It is the first ever manufacturer to do so.

In addition to these transferable licenses, Wibu-Systems will also be unveiling licenses that users can borrow. Both types of license enable flexible and secure borrowing and transfer of licenses for protected software. In addition to benefiting users, this will also help manufacturers by enabling them to define the parameters for borrowing and moving their protected software. Users, meanwhile, can borrow and transfer licenses for the protected software offline as required.

Thanks to these new license types, Wibu-Systems is the first manufacturer to make borrowing licenses both secure and convenient. As CEO and founder Oliver Winzenried explains, "The new license types, which can be both transferred and borrowed, have brought us to an important milestone. Convenience and security now go hand in hand. As we are the first ever company to develop and commercialize such a revolutionary concept, we expect significant demand from the market. Just imagine a construction site, which obviously has no Internet connection to the server of the building company. The benefits are evident: The company can reserve one license for protected software from its license pool for a specific employee, transfer it offline, and still comply with the manufacturer's specifications."

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Design as an innovation driver
Under the "Innovationsraum Ruhr" banner, Wirtschaftsförderung metropoleruhr GmbH is presenting nine product design and software/games companies with innovative, marketable products that are looking to team up with industrial companies.

Industrial companies are key drivers of services, logistics, resource efficiency and trade in the Ruhr metropolis. Interdisciplinary cooperation with product and interface designers is key in creating innovative solutions and ideas for the new and further development of products that help businesses increase their market share and boost their economic success. With its "Innovationsraum Ruhr" initiative, Wirtschaftsförderung metropoleruhr GmbH has provided a platform that offers product design and software/games companies from this region the opportunity to demonstrate their capabilities and raise their profile at this year's HANNOVER MESSE with an innovative, marketable product.

The nine companies represented include Projekter Industrial Design from Duisburg. Its e-ram drive is probably the world’s smallest and by far the lightest pedelec drive right now. This drive consists of a motor unit that can be attached to a standard bottom bracket - and thus to virtually any bike - and a smart rechargeable battery unit housed in a back protector so as not to impair the mountain bike’s agility. This device can also be integrated in a rucksack if required.