Making short work of complex processes
DDM Systems from the USA, the partner country at HANNOVER MESSE 2016, is exhibiting an additive manufacturing process for ceramics that saves seven of the conventional twelve processing steps, earning it a HERMES AWARD 2016 nomination.

DDM Systems Inc. was formed by a team from the renowned Georgia Institute of Technology with the aim of substituting traditional manufacturing processes for metals and ceramics. And it has certainly succeeded in doing so, as the company is now the leading innovator and process optimizer for unique additive manufacturing technologies with high-quality industrial applications. Now, the first prestigious industrial accolade beckons with the company’s nomination for the HERMES AWARD at HANNOVER MESSE 2016.

The panel of judges for the HERMES AWARD recognized the GIT spin-off for its additive manufacturing process for ceramics and nominated its groundbreaking LAMP System CPT6060, which is on show at HANNOVER MESSE 2016. The LAMP System CPT6060 streamlines the process of high-quality casting from twelve to five processing steps. The judges were particularly impressed by the more than two million parallel UV light rays used for the photopolymerisation and the extremely high accuracy to ten micrometers this produces in large-dimension ceramic molds of up to 600 x 600 x 450 cubic millimeters. The LAMP System CPT6060 is used in the 3D printing process to achieve extremely precise integral-cored shell molds directly from digital data sets, which enables rapid prototyping and series production in one system. What’s more, the nominated high-tech process shaves up to 60 percent off conventional manufacturing costs.

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Seamless sensory intelligence
At HANNOVER MESSE 2016, SICK AG from Waldkirch in Germany is demonstrating what can already be achieved with intelligent and reliable sensor data - and how this data can be put to practical use in a range of applications.

While Germany's manufacturing industry is in particularly good shape right now, the crucial transition to the information technology era is only just in the starting blocks, leaving it lagging behind other sectors. If manufacturers wish to retain their competitiveness on the international playing field, they simply cannot afford to miss the boat. The key to well-founded decisions, improved resource efficiency and end-to-end transparency right along the value creation chain lies in the unrestricted exchange of manufacturing, product and logistical data. In turn, this data exchange utterly depends on the data provided at the start of the process chain - by intelligent sensor technology.

SICK AG from southwest Germany spearheads technology and the market with its sensors and industrial applications solutions and creates the perfect basis for safe and efficient process control, preventing occupational accidents and avoiding environmental damage. At HANNOVER MESSE 2016, the company is demonstrating how robust, intelligent sensor data can be seamlessly integrated into various applications over a broad range of environmental conditions. After all, the challenges of the future - such as safe collaboration between humans and robots, high levels of variation right down to "batch size 1" and coping with rapid fluctuation in demand - will make intelligent, robust, reliable sensor technology an absolute must.

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Just say and wave!
Visitors to HANNOVER MESSE 2016 are being given the chance to try their own hand at the speech- and gesture-controlled driverless vehicles from IPH.

Autonomous, self-driving vehicles are the latest buzz, but also subject to a certain degree of skepticism. The trend is already taking hold in Industry 4.0-driven factories, where it sparks far less controversy. Workers in state-of-the-art production and storage facilities no longer climb behind the wheel of forklifts themselves, but instead assign transportation tasks to intelligent driverless vehicles. The Institut für Integrierte Produktion Hannover (IPH) is showing at HANNOVER MESSE 2016 how it helps humans and forklifts communicate. In cooperation with Jungheinrich AG and other partners, IPH researchers have developed a driverless forklift truck that understands human language and gestures. Visitors can even try it out for themselves at the Lower Saxony Pavilion in Hall 2.

These futuristic autonomous transportation vehicles will soon be finding their own way around factories and warehouses. With the aid of 3D cameras, the vehicle can sense its environment and navigate like a human being, memorizing distinctive points along the way. If something changes - for example, if a rack is pushed aside or a pallet blocks its usual route - the vehicle can adjust to this fact in the true sense of Industry 4.0. In contrast to previous automated guided vehicles, it is able to move around independently without requiring predefined paths, for example magnet sensors or markings on the floor. The ensuing reduction in costs now places this new technology within the grasp of small and medium-sized enterprises.

Don't get your cables in a twist!
Straight out of Busan, South Korea's second-largest city, leading cable protection system and energy chain developer CP System (CPS) is exhibiting at HANNOVER MESSE 2016 with ROBO-KIT - the company's own unique contribution to Industry 4.0.

When it comes to technology, South Korea is arguably the new Japan. With star performers Hyundai and Kia in the automotive industry and innovation powerhouses Samsung and LG in consumer electronics, the country is also a major player in heavy industry - and all these successes look set to continue. Based in Busan, South Korea's second-largest city and a key hub of industry, CP System (CPS) is exhibiting at HANNOVER MESSE 2016 with ROBO-KIT - the highly dynamic company's own unique contribution to Industry 4.0.

ROBO-KIT is based on a cable protection system developed by CPS for use in robotics applications to prevent the problems that often arise with twisted, damaged or broken control cables. Since the ROBO-KIT system actively guides the movement of cables, it minimizes both friction and interference, thereby ensuring a longer service life and also allowing the robots to move freely.

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Making links
Dassault Systèmes is at HANNOVER MESSE 2016 to present an example of Industry 4.0 networking that shows how agricultural machinery manufacturer CLAAS successfully links up a range of different locations and disciplines.

"When it comes to digitization and networking, there is still a great deal of untapped potential out there for German SMEs." These are the words of Andreas Barth, EuroCentral Managing Director at Dassault Systèmes, underlining the importance of making full use of the opportunities that Industry 4.0 offers: "A more networked value creation chain is much better equipped to adapt flexibly to market changes and customer requirements than a rigid system is. This is precisely why we are so excited to be showcasing the success enjoyed by one well-established company in this regard." The company in question is CLAAS, an agricultural machinery manufacturer that has successfully linked up a range of different locations and disciplines by using the Dassault Systèmes 3DEXPERIENCE platform as the central hub for all its development and production processes.

This case study presented by Dassault Systèmes at HANNOVER MESSE 2016 shows in detail how SMEs can implement Industry 4.0 ideas in practice. For instance, visitors can see for themselves how staff at CLAAS use a standardized data management system accessible from any location to retrieve all the product data and related information they require. This ensures that staff always have access to the latest version of product data and makes duplicate files a thing of the past. Visitors can explore this and many other aspects of smart networking at the Dassault Systèmes stand, which also features demo stations for systems engineering, construction and simulation, and production and service.

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Gripping innovations!
The ETO GROUP is exhibiting in Hannover this year with highlights including bistable actuators for boosting efficiency, actuator/sensor systems for increased security, new cartridge valves and the première of an innovative wireless gripper based on MAGNETOSHAPE technology.

Operating at seven locations on three different continents, the ETO GROUP develops and produces both customized components/modules and series products for OEMs and system manufacturers, always ensuring maximum quality and setting global standards with its innovations. The ETO GROUP product portfolio is centered on magnetic valves, electromagnetic actuators and sensors for hydraulic, pneumatic and mechatronic applications. At HANNOVER MESSE 2016, the ETO GROUP is represented by ETO MAGNETIC and EKS Elektromagnetik, with highlights including bistable actuators for boosting efficiency, actuator/sensor systems for increased security and new cartridge valves, as well as the trade show première of a new wireless gripper.

The wireless MAGNETOSHAPE gripper concept is one of the first application-focused developments of MAGNETOSHAPE technology, which is based on magnetic shape-memory alloys (MSMAs). MSMAs are ferromagnetic materials that generate force and motion under the influence of moderate-strength magnetic fields. The wireless gripper concept on show separates the stationary gripper drive unit from the actual gripper, completely eliminating the need for error-prone pneumatic and electrical connections in moving systems. What’s more, the exceptionally lightweight wireless gripper can clamp parts many times its own weight with grip and release intervals well below 10 milliseconds. As a result, the flexible MAGNETOSHAPE gripper concept is perfectly designed for handling small parts at high speeds. Application-specific further developments can also be customized to suit individual requirements at any time.

Dazzling eco design
RIVA GmbH Lighting is showcasing a bright idea in Hannover that stems from the EU's cycLED project, led by Fraunhofer IZM, to optimize resource flows along the lifecycle phases of LED products - the new Lucid nova eos hall luminaire.

Environmentalists are quite bedazzled and purseholders see a bright future for the new Lucid nova eos hall luminaire for high temperature applications from Riva Lighting. The Lucid nova eos reflects the latest insights in eco-design and beats its conventional rivals hands down. The hall luminaire is being premiered at HANNOVER MESSE 2016, and there are plenty of world firsts to celebrate - such as its highly efficient lens optics and the very efficient, lifetime-optimized regulation of its luminous flux.

The lamp was developed in collaboration with the Fraunhofer Institut für Zuverlässigkeit und Mikrointegration IZM as part of the EU-funded cycLED project and is manufactured entirely in Germany. The optimal interplay of components and the advanced development of light control make the Lucid nova eos a market leader in its segment. Another special feature is the integrated open interface that makes adding additional control modules quite simple. The Lucid nova eos can be mounted at a wide range of heights between 6 and 30 meters, making it ideally suited for use in industrial, storage, production and sports halls - or even outdoors if desired.

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The functional feel of fabric
Besides showcasing photosensory textiles and a multi-functional car seat at the BMWi Pavilion during HANNOVER MESSE 2016, the Forschungskuratorium Textil is also unveiling textile expansion sensors for monitoring the structural state of rotor blades.

The Forschungskuratorium Textil (FKT) promotes and coordinates industry-driven cooperative research projects funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi) involving 16 research institutes from the textile and clothing industry. It also strives to develop the overall performance of textile research. In total, 20 textile industrial associations representing more than 1,300 companies are involved, including such auxiliary segments as textile machinery engineering, chemical fibers and textile-related services. Besides exhibiting photosensory textiles and a multi-functional car seat at the BMWi Pavilion during HANNOVER MESSE 2016, the FKT is also unveiling textile expansion sensors for monitoring the structural state of rotor blades.

Wind turbine rotor blades can be subject to massive stresses causing perceptible changes to electrical resistance that can be measured by suitable devices. The Institute of Textile Machinery and High Performance Material Technology (ITM) at TU Dresden has developed carbon fibers that can function as textile expansion sensors for this very purpose. A special integrative procedure adds these textile sensors during the manufacture of the rotor blades' textile reinforcement to enable in-situ structural monitoring that can measure and pinpoint expansions, and therefore stresses, with fine precision. The researchers from Dresden say this technology will in future enable early identification and monitoring of serious structural changes or damage.

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The four-wheeled sales channel
bill-X GmbH is unveiling its very special vision for mobility at HANNOVER MESSE 2016. You can buy anything you like in its connected car - from products and services to tickets and combined packages.

bill-X GmbH from Osnabrück in Germany has already made a name for itself with the ultra-modular design of its OpenInformer standardized software platform that rapidly implements individual customer requirements and integrates solutions into existing system architectures with amazing flexibility. At HANNOVER MESSE 2016, the team of developers from bill-x is now unveiling its Mobility Solutions based on its core concepts. The object of desire is the connected car, whose passengers can buy anything they like - or where suppliers can sell anything they like, depending which way you look at it.

Whatever that "anything" is, bill-x undertakes to integrate it directly into the car's cockpit, invoice the product or service and even link it with other offers. A prime example of this bundling is the company's "Parken und Laden" (park & power) project, in which parking and electricity are supplied by two different providers but the consumer needs pay only once for the package - cashless and conveniently by invoice at the end of each month. From raw data collection and billing through to reminders and even any ensuing debt collection processes, bill-x says it can perform all the necessary functions with its software - or, if preferred, just those for which the supplier has no in-house system.

Starting with Harting!
For the fourth time in its history, the Harting technology group from Germany is once again among the five nominees for this year’s HERMES AWARD - to be presented by the Federal Minister of Education and Research as part of the HANNOVER MESSE 2016 opening ceremony.

Following nominations in 2005, 2006 and 2009, the global Harting technology group from Espelkamp in East Westphalia, Germany, is now in the running for the HERMES AWARD for the fourth time. In fact, the company won the prize in 2006 with a solution for contactless object identification using radio waves. This year, the independent panel of judges led by Wolfgang Wahlster, Director of the German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence (DFKI), has nominated Harting for the MICA (Modular Industry Computing Architecture) system, which can be used to process and evaluate data in the immediate vicinity of machinery and equipment and link up with existing corporate IT systems.

2016 marks the 13th edition of this international technology prize. The winner receives a PR package valued at 100,000 euros, making the HERMES AWARD one of the most prestigious technology competitions of all. All companies in Germany and abroad unveiling technological innovations for the first time at HANNOVER MESSE between 25 and 29 April are eligible to apply. This year’s five nominated companies will be introduced as part of the HANNOVER MESSE opening ceremony on Sunday, 24 April. The winner will then be presented with the award by Germany's Federal Minister Prof.Dr. Johanna Wanka, with Chancellor Angela Merkel and United States President Barack Obama also attending. No wonder that this is what Harting Group spokesperson Detlef Sieverdingbeck is looking forward to most of all: "The media attention is even more important than the prize itself!"

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Find your expert!
An expert directory for service providers in the fields of simulation, measuring technology and virtual prototyping celebrates its début at the CAE Forum pavilion at HANNOVER MESSE 2016.

2016 marks the fourth year for the CAE Forum pavilion, one of the key highlights of the Digital Factory leading trade fair at HANNOVER MESSE. The pavilion serves as the central hub for numerical simulation, 3D visualization, 3D printing and 3D scanning, and thus provides the ideal communication and networking platform for simulation experts. The extensive program of sessions on offer sees high-profile industry names holding presentations on CFD, optimization, strategies and application, multi-body simulation, on- and offshore wind power plants, IT services, heat management, quality assurance in virtual product development, simulation as an effective tool for integrated product policies (IPP), structural durability and many other areas of interest.

As such, the forum provides the ideal opportunity for exchange across different companies, industries and innovators. Meanwhile, the industry know-how that the CAE Forum has built up has now also been collected in a central database that is set to be unveiled at HANNOVER MESSE 2016. Who simulates what? Who designs what? Who offers programming or visualization? Who provides 3D printing? The expert directory is designed to enable companies to provide answers to all these questions on the basis of their own specialisms, and to help them in turn to find any expertise they require. As such, there's no doubt about it - the CAE Forum expert directory is set to be a highly effective industry tool.

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Positive side effects
Berlin-based Arens Motoren is in Hannover to celebrate the première of its new HDP 120-DD high pressure pump - an innovative and now independent by-product developed through the company's primary business of engine design.

Arens Motoren, a spin-off of Berlin-based Arens GmbH Metallbau & Bauschlosserei, has a history of specializing in two-stroke engines that stretches right back to the 1960s and has played a role in a number of racing successes in both road and water sports. Since 2011, the company has been focusing on developing an innovative combustion engine designed to combine the many benefits of a two-stroke engine with the emissions credentials of a four-stroke model. Not only do the resulting synergy effects deliver engines with huge potential in terms of weight, efficiency, emissions and installation space - the development work has also given rise to a number of innovative and now independent by-products. One example is the HDP 120-DD high pressure pump that has been developed for the RVI engine and is set to be unveiled at HANNOVER MESSE 2016.

Originally designed for the RVI boxer engine with smartphone app that is also on show at the fair this year, the HDP 120-DD is a highly efficient and compact high pressure pump that is particularly suitable for pressurization when feeding low-viscosity fluids. The basic model of the pump is designed for a continuous operating pressure of 120 bar. The structural segregation of the high-pressure circuit and the lubricated shaft drive also makes it possible to use the pump for non-lubricating fluids such as water without any compromise on loading periods, even at high rotational speeds. What's more, the HDP 120-DD can also be used with an optional plug-in mechanism so that multiple pumps can be coupled to multiply the flow rate.

Key technology in the energy revolution
The innovation that ITM Power from Sheffield, UK, is showcasing at HANNOVER MESSE 2016 has earned it a HERMES AWARD nomination. "Power-to-Gas" is a compact, demand-focused, flexible process for producing hydrogen and oxygen by means of electrolysis.

UK-based ITM Power is a renowned specialist in integrated hydrogen-energy solutions that use rapid response electrolysis and high pressure to fulfill grid distribution and energy storage requirements for the production of clean fuel for transportation, renewable heat and chemicals. The company’s award-nominated state-of-the-art technology forms part of the first ever system to link local power, natural gas and district heat supplies.

One way in which it achieves this is to convert surplus renewable energy into methane and hydrogen, which can then be injected into the gas grid, from where it can later be used to generate electricity again - thus leveling out peaks and troughs. Many experts believe this "Power-to-Gas" process will be one of the key technologies for ensuring future power supplies. Thanks to its compact design, ITM's demand-focused, flexible system for producing hydrogen and oxygen by means of electrolysis can be installed close to consumers. The hydrogen it produces from renewably sourced electricity can be used as fuel for LPG-powered vehicles.

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Straight down the line
The RK MonoLine roller guides that RK Rose + Krieger GmbH is exhibiting at HANNOVER MESSE 2016 are a new series addition to its linear units portfolio for the medium-load segment.

RK Rose + Krieger is an end-to-end supplier of linear technology, profile assembly, and connecting and module technology that offers a seemingly unrivaled range of products. The team from East Westphalia in Germany has now added the RK MonoLine range of roller guides to its linear units portfolio for the medium-load segment. These will initially be available in the popular sizes 40 and 80 and with either a timing belt drive (Z) or without a drive as anti-vibration torque support (R). HANNOVER MESSE 2016 provides the very first chance to see this new linear unit.

The new linear axes - which should soon also be available in additional sizes as well - run impressively evenly and are highly precise under medium dynamic loads. For example, the size 80 timing-belt-driven model can withstand loads of up to 4,100 N and reaches travel speeds of up to 10 m/s, with permissible accelerations of up to 20 ms². For highly dynamic applications, RK Rose + Krieger recommends its RK DuoLine series. These linear units with internal ball rail guides are available in sizes 160/120/80/60/40, either with or without a drive, as timing-belt-driven or spindle-driven versions.

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Patenting by numbers
At HANNOVER MESSE 2016, the EZN - Erfinderzentrum Norddeutschland is showcasing its services linked to the new "WIPANO" support program for "knowledge and technology transfer via patents and standards".

The new "WIPANO - knowledge and technology transfer via patents and standards" support program run by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi) is the successor to the SIGNO program that expired at the end of 2015. It pursues the same aim of offering financial support for registering and making use of property rights (patents and utility-model patents). The WIPANO program offers subsidies to companies so as to aid knowledge and technology transfer via patents and standards, and the "Companies" section also helps SMEs to protect their R&D results through industrial property rights.

SMEs who have not registered a patent or utility-model patent during the previous five years are eligible to apply and can call at the stand run by the EZN - Erfinderzentrum Norddeutschland during HANNOVER MESSE 2016 to find out how businesses can benefit from patenting and for a practical "step-by-step guide to patenting" for their own application. The visit could really pay off considering funding can cover up to 50 percent of the eligible costs and total as much as some EUR 16,000. The EZN offers four dedicated service packages to assist with the patenting process, of which only number 4 requires a patent agent. And if that’s not incentive enough, the EZN also offers companies its expert assistance throughout the entire industrial property rights process for 24 months.

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InspektoKopter investigates wind turbines
"InspektoKopter" is making its first public appearance at the "Forschung für die Zukunft" pavilion run by the German states of Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia. It's a purpose-made UAV for examining the external appearance of wind turbines.

"InDiWa" is the German acronym for inspection, diagnostics and maintenance. The network is currently working on a number of projects to develop innovative products and processes for the non-destructive automated inspection and operational monitoring of wind turbine components made from fiber-reinforced plastic. A prime example is the AZuR, a robot that uses high-resolution camera technology and intuitive controls to perform a semi-automated 360-degree visual inspection of rotor blades. The "InspektoKopter" prototype is on show to the public for the very first time at the "Forschung für die Zukunft" pavilion (Hall 2) run by the German states of Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia during HANNOVER MESSE 2016.

The head of the "InspektoKopter" project, Prof. Frieder Stolzenburg from the Department of Automation and Computer Sciences at Harz University of Applied Sciences, has already received inquiries from abroad in advance of its debut. He says: "We have been approached by various foreign organizations, including from Japan, where there is keen interest in renewable energies and developing suitable technologies." The "InspektoKopter" UAV has been custom-designed to perform visual external inspections of wind turbines as a partial replacement for manual examinations, which are not only time-consuming and expensive but also hazardous. "InspektoKopter" uses inspection software to create a precise illustrative 3D representation of the turbine for expert analysis. Prof. Stolzenburg explains: "Our anti-collision system is another innovative element that works by recognizing the outline of rotor blades. This 'visual docking' system ensures the safety of the turbines and our state-of-the-art inspection technology." The "InDiWa" network's "InspektoKopter" was created in collaboration with the following partners: the Department of Automation and Computer Sciences at Harz University of Applied Sciences, GEO-METRIK-Ingenieurgesellschaft mbH from Magdeburg, Bitmanagement Software GmbH, the Fraunhofer Institute for Factory Operation and Automation IFF, and the Center for Product and Process Innovation at Experimentelle Fabrik Magdeburg ZPVP GmbH.

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Cooling efficiency aids climate protection
The aim of the innovative Blue e+ generation of cooling units on show in Hannover by Rittal, a world-leading systems supplier for enclosure climate control, is to reduce the energy required by cooling units enough to significantly aid climate protection and counteract the climbing cost of energy.

Rittal GmbH & Co. KG from Herborn, Germany, is one of the world's leading suppliers of enclosures, power distribution and climate control technology and IT infrastructures including software and service. The company's system solutions are used in all fields of industry, mechanical and plant engineering and the ICT sector. Rittal’s completely new Blue e+ generation of cooling units represents a quantum leap in cost-effectiveness. Besides their significantly superior energy efficiency compared to existing cooling solutions, the Blue e+ devices premiering at HANNOVER MESSE 2016 are impressively flexible, safe and easy to operate.

Estimates suggest that, in Europe alone, around two million cooling units for enclosures pump out approximately four millions metric tons of CO2 each year. "Rittal uses a brand-new, patented innovative hybrid process in its new Blue e+ generation of cooling units in order to significantly boost energy efficiency," says Steffen Wagner, Director Product Management Climate Control at Rittal. This process combines a heat pipe for passive cooling with a compressor that only kicks in when the extra boost is needed. A key factor in achieving this immensely superior efficiency is the way the hybrid operation has been optimized for energy efficiency in partial-load operation. Wagner says: "Initial tests show that the high efficiency of the new cooling units cuts energy consumption by up to 75 percent."

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Industry 4.0 in action!
Technology initiative SmartFactoryKL and the DFKI are joining forces with 18 renowned industrial partners to offer several demonstrations a day during HANNOVER MESSE 2016 of the third generation of the world's first multi-manufacturer Industry 4.0 system.

SmartFactoryKL, the independent research and demonstration forum created by the German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence (DFKI), is demonstrating an Industry 4.0 system at HANNOVER MESSE 2016 that shows how advanced the market-ready technologies already are for implementing Industry 4.0 - and also reveals the advantages. Trade fair visitors can explore a number of relevant topics - such as plug & produce, predictive maintenance, zero-downtime maintenance, scalable automation and worker support in the production environment - in a range of realistic scenarios. They can catch the live show and marvel at the hardware modifications each day at 10 a.m., 12 noon and 2 p.m. at the trade fair stand.

The demonstrator on display achieves flexible and efficient production thanks to its fully modular design and interoperability. Digital product memories control the product-specific order processing and ensure efficient production right down to a single item. The innovative IT systems are flexibly networked for high process transparency. As the "maestros" of Industry 4.0, humans are prepared for the transition and assisted by suitable technologies - such as customized assistance systems for complex assembly, training, operating or maintenance tasks - that constantly recommend appropriate operations for the task in hand. To sum up, this production system truly is Industry 4.0 in action!

Hang your energy savings potential on the wall!
ABB AG is at HANNOVER MESSE 2016 with a new generation of frequency inverters that help simplify processes and control procedures by boosting efficiency and precision.

ABB AG has added two new wall-mounted models to its portfolio of standard frequency converters - and both the ACS580 and ACS580MV will be celebrating their trade show première at HANNOVER MESSE 2016. This makes ABB the first company to offer a product family that covers both the low and medium voltage range, with power levels extending from just a few kilowatts right through to several megawatts. At HANNOVER MESSE this year, the Swiss energy and automation experts are here to show how these new converters can be used to monitor and optimize energy usage for all relevant processes - with built-in energy calculators that display the energy consumed and saved in kilowatt hours, the CO2 saved in kilograms and cost savings in any chosen currency.

The new ACS580 frequency converters can be used in a huge range of industrial applications. With all the essential functions integrated as standard, setup and commissioning are no hassle at all. What’s more, with no additional hardware necessary in the majority of cases, selecting the necessary drive is far easier. As a result, the ACS580 is delivered ready for immediate installation and can start monitoring pumps, fan units, conveyor systems, mixers and other variable or constant torque applications straight away. Meanwhile, test-certified motor-drive packages for the ABB product family ensure fully reliable efficiency for a wide range of motor types. For instance, the ACS580 can be combined with ABB synchronous reluctance motors to maximize energy efficiency.

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Remote maintenance 4.0
Asseco Solutions AG presents "Smart Connected Solutions" (SCS) at HANNOVER MESSE 2016 - a service 4.0 solution that helps companies map all their service and maintenance processes on both the manufacturer's and customer's side in a predictive and fully integrated way.

It goes without saying that the benefits of Industry 4.0 aren't restricted to the production hall. For instance, extensive networking of different areas of business is also set to boost process automation and productivity in the services sector. Smart approaches such as predictive maintenance will mean that machinery can be serviced at the customer's site before the problem causes system failure and downtime. As a leading ERP provider for SMEs, Asseco Solutions is at HANNOVER MESSE 2016 with the ideal product solution. Smart Connected Solutions (SCS) helps companies map all their service and maintenance processes on both the manufacturer’s and customer's side - from sensors installed on equipment right through to deployment planning and actual on-site maintenance and documentation - in a predictive and fully integrated way .

SCS can be linked via standard interfaces to a wide range of ERP solutions where it can also initiate supporting processes such as invoicing. "In the discussions we held with customers, one point was crystal-clear," explains Christian Leopoldseder, Vice President of Operations at Asseco Solutions. "Manufacturers themselves are the real experts on their products, even once they have left the plant and are in use at customer sites. In the vast majority of cases, they know straight away precisely which data indicates that maintenance will soon be required. It may be a case of unusually high temperatures, prolonged reverberation or a characteristic combination of different factors that serve as a warning. SCS gives manufacturers the opportunity to actually use this awareness in practice and thus helps them optimize the services provided to end customers. This in turn minimizes production downtime and boosts customer satisfaction."

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130 locations in over 90 countries!
The network of German Chambers of Commerce Abroad is at HANNOVER MESSE 2016 to showcase its extensive expertise in international business relationships.

The German Chambers of Commerce Abroad (Auslandshandelskammern - AHKs) serve as the official representation of German industry and business at 130 locations in more than 90 countries around the globe. The worldwide AHK network is coordinated by the Association of German Chambers of Commerce and Industry (Deutscher Industrie- und Handelskammertag - DIHK), a key Deutsche Messe partner that will be bringing "Global Business & Markets" - Europe's largest foreign trade event - to life in Hall 3.

Visitors to the DIHK stand at HANNOVER MESSE 2016 will have the chance to hear directly from market experts about the issues that are vital to business success at 47 different locations - from Algeria right through to Vietnam. A total of 20 AHK experts from Europe will be present, along with 12 from the Asia-Pacific region, 5 from the MENA region, 2 from Africa, 5 from North America including this year's Partner Country USA, and 3 from Central and South America. They will be on hand to discuss their first-hand experiences and extensive know-how, providing crucial information for anyone interested in building international business relationships. The AHKs are also able to provide valuable market information, customized advice on entering new markets and support with developing appropriate strategies. What's more, they can offer companies interested in multiple foreign markets the option of using their services on a cross-market, coordinated basis.

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