Hannover, Germany. HANNOVER MESSE 2016 is the global hotspot for Industry 4.0 solutions. "Next April, the world’s key drivers of industrial digitalization will all be in Hannover – among them German specialists from the fields of mechanical and electrical engineering and the electronics industry, as well as leading U.S. software providers and Asian firms also focused on making industrial digitalization a tangible reality," remarked Dr. Jochen Köckler as the Deutsche Messe Managing Board member responsible for HANNOVER MESSE. "This all adds up to promising new partnerships and business models on the road to the next industrial revolution."

HANNOVER MESSE will also be a powerful vehicle for next-generation economic policies of global scale. "The U.S. as this year’s Partner Country, German industry and their European partners are all intent on leveraging the fair to promote the TTIP free trade agreement," added Köckler.

True to the fair’s 2016 lead theme of "Integrated Industry – Discover Solutions" , visitors will be treated to promising ways of making their factories and energy systems smart by means of digital technology. Köckler: "A world first this year will be over 100 examples of real-world implementations of Industry 4.0. That’s an unparalleled achievement." At HANNOVER MESSE, visitors with backgrounds in manufacturing will learn how they can systematically turn their production plants into smart factories, while visitors from the energy industry can find everything they need to take their energy systems to the digital dimension.

Tomorrow’s energy systems will be comprised of many small, decentralized parts that need to be merged and managed by smart, digital technology. "Under the motto ‘Integrated Energy’ , the upcoming HANNOVER MESSE will feature a comprehensive array of solutions for integrating the entire energy production and supply chain, covering everything from generation, transmission, distribution and storage right through to electric vehicle solutions," explained Köckler. "We will also be presenting a working model of the energy system of the future. Visitors to this brand-new interactive display can see how tomorrow’s energy systems can be made safe, secure and efficient thanks to various technologies working in concert."

For several years, now, HANNOVER MESSE has played a major role in paving the way to Industry 4.0. Rarely in history has a technology had such a profound impact in such a short space of time. The new industrial era will gain further momentum at HANNOVER MESSE, not only in terms of the technologies on display, but also the radical new business models stemming from them.

Predictive maintenance is a good case in point. Predictive maintenance relies on smart sensors that can determine the condition of in-service machines and schedule maintenance as and when required. Using the data gathered by these sensors, machine manufacturers can offer maintenance services to factory operators at just the right time, thereby building up their after-sales maintenance business. "The new ‘Predictive Maintenance 4.0’ display at HANNOVER MESSE 2016 will show both concrete applications for Industry 4.0 technology and new business opportunities which are arising from it."

This year’s Partner Country, the United States of America, will be injecting HANNOVER MESSE with even more power and appeal. Leading companies from the world’s biggest economy will come to the fair to present their latest solutions for advanced manufacturing. Among them will be General Electric, Eaton, Molex, Microsoft, AT&T and IBM. In addition, the U.S.-based Industrial Internet Consortium (IIC) will be mounting its first-ever display at HANNOVER MESSE. The IIC is an international, open membership organization that aims to accelerate the establishment of the industrial Internet of Things. "And the fact that President Obama will be jointly opening the show with Chancellor Merkel makes a strong statement on the pivotal importance of HANNOVER MESSE as a global stage," remarked Köckler. Apart from promoting the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, Obama will be encouraging direct foreign investment in the USA and helping to enhance his nation’s reputation as a key source of Industry 4.0 solutions.

"HANNOVER MESSE 2016 will serve as a crucible for Industry 4.0 expertise from around the world. The show is soon to deliver major gains for everyone who takes ‘Integrated Industry – Discover Solutions’ as an invitation to find out how digital integration can help them gain and maintain a competitive edge," summarized Köckler.