With 5800 exhibitors and 210,000 visitors, Hannover Messe 2018 showcased many innovative products and highlighted several advancements in the field of manufacturing technologies. A report… 

 

Fourth industrial revolution (Industry 4.0) or smart manufacturing, augmented reality (AR), Internet of Things (IoT), additive manufacturing, predictive maintenance, etc are making companies more efficient and innovative, boosting their competitive advantage. These and many more innovative technologies were at display in the recently concluded Hannover Messe 2018, which was held alongside CeMAT (a meeting-place for the global materials handling and logistics technology sector). 

 

Under the motto of ‘Integrated industry: Connect & collaborate’, a total of 210,000 visitors seized the opportunity to explore the innovations on display. A total of 5,800 exhibitors were present at Hannover Messe & CeMAT. Topics like machine learning, artificial intelligence, industrial IT platforms, the expansion of power grids for eMobility, the use of robots and autonomous systems in production and intralogistics, and the role of workers in the integrated factory were the subject of intense debate at the stands of exhibitors at the event. As the official Partner Country, Mexico profiled itself as an innovative business partner and industrial location.

 

The start

 

When asked to shake hands with a robot German Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel and Mexican President Peria Nieto both went for the more casual fist bump - a symbol for the relaxed, natural interaction of humans with digitisation, robots and machine learning.

 

"Technology is not about competing with us humans; it's about assisting us. That is the core message conveyed by this trade fair, which has again underscored Hannover's reputation as a global hotspot for the digital transformation of industry,” said Dr Jochen Kockler, Chairman of the Managing Board at Deutsche Messe, at the close of Hannover Messe and CeMAT. 

 

He added, “The focus here has clearly been on the human element: We are the ones making the decisions and setting the course. The interaction of humans with machines and IT adds up to a huge competitive gain across manufacturing, logistics and the energy industry.”

 

According to Thilo Brodtmann, Executive Director of the German Engineering Federation (VDMA), businesses have successfully negotiated the first steps on the path towards digitised, connected production and are now firing up for the second stage of the journey. He added, “New platform-based business models, the use of digital twins and initial experiences with machine learning – all of this is set to play an increasingly important role in the mechanical engineering sector. Hannover Messe is a place where people present and discuss the shape of things to come, and we are once again highly satisfied with the outcome of the show. The VDMA believed that automation, software and intralogistics would continue to define the character of Hannover Messe.” 

 

Human-machine collaboration

 

Hannover Messe once again confirmed it is the definitive home base for the global transition to Industry 4.0. “Extended value creation networks, new forms of human-machine collaboration, and the increasing integration of artificial intelligence into production operations: These remain the key features of digitisation and connectivity, and were once again first unveiled here in Hannover. All of this requires even more connectivity, which is why the German Electrical and Electronic Manufacturers’ Association (ZVEI) has been calling for an industry-capable 5G network right from the start,” said Dr Klaus Mittelbach, Executive Director, ZVEI. 

 

He added, “This trade show has conveyed two other key messages. First, that we can only advance down the road to technological progress and social prosperity by teaming up and working together - not by protectionism or isolation. And second, that bringing young students into direct contact with technology - as we have done at this event – is a great way to kindle their interest. And we have to do even more to attract their attention, for they represent tomorrow's urgently needed workforce.”

 

Aiding digitalisation

 

Given the accelerated move to digital technologies, smart manufacturing technologies offer a competitive advantage to every company and every geographical zone that adopts them.

 

With its innovative IIoT services, Schneider Electric - the leader in digital transformation of energy management and automation - offered high level of efficiency that can lead to creation of new business models for the digital economy. The company launched EcoStruxure Machine Advisor that offers new level of efficiencies and growth by turning data into key insights for machine builders. EcoStruxure for industry is Schneider Electric’s open, interoperable, IoT-enabled system architecture and platform that offers an unmatched set of solutions covering all aspects of digital asset management.

 

As the leader in powering and digitising industry, Schneider Electric is uniquely positioned to drive the digital transformation of today’s growing industrial automation markets and assist industrial customers in their transformations. Major changes are fundamentally accelerating this movement in the industrial space. “First, industrial software is moving from a set of fragmented offerings based on specialised functions to integrated software deployed across an enterprise to drive broader efficiencies and performance improvement,” explained Peter Herweck, Executive Vice President, Industry Business at Schneider Electric. This allows greater continuity, from design to build (Capex) to operation and maintenance (Opex), which creates new levels of efficiency throughout the asset and operations lifecycles. “Second, digital connectivity and a wealth of data is enabling new business models, such as software as a service, platform as a service, or even maintenance as a service which gives industrial companies an easy way to get started on their digitization journey,” continues Peter Herweck. 

 

Digitisation-driven advanced connectivity brings a major competitive advantage to industrial companies by allowing them to develop new relationships with their customers. At Hannover Messe 2018, the Group demonstrated its expertise in a wide range of areas.

 

Keep a firm grip 

 

Grippers of the future should be intelligent, compact, easy to use and mechanically powered. "Even though pneumatic components will continue to play an important role, the trend is clearly moving towards mechatronics," said Henrik A Schunk, Managing Partner of SCHUNK GmbH & CO KG.

 

Focusing on smart gripping, Industry 4.0, human-robot collaboration and digitisation, SCHUNK exhibited the latest generation of certified grippers for collaborative use. The global leader in gripping systems and clamping technology unveiled the new SCHUNK Co-act EGP-C gripper - the first inherently safe industrial gripper, which has been certified to ISO/TS 15066 and approved by the German Social Accident Insurance Association (DGUV) for collaborative use.

 

Long distances coupled with a long lifespan 

 

Under the banner ‘plastics for longer life’, igus GmbH from Cologne recycles 21st-century high-performance plastics and puts them to good use mainly in its energy chain systems and polymer bearings. The company has chosen Hannover Messe 2018 to unveil its new P4.1 roller chain for cranes and conveyor systems with optional smart condition monitoring.

 

Igus has channeled its core skills in bearing engineering and energy supply chains into further increasing the availability of crane equipment and conveyor systems. The impressive result is the long-distance P4.1 roller chain with its newly developed tribo-optimised rollers for lubricant-free bearings in the individual chain links, which extend the lifespan of this energy supply chain. What's more, the P4.1 e-chain can be fitted with an integrated new ‘isense’ condition monitoring sensor for easy connection to the igus predictive maintenance system.

 

Integrated solutions for smart manufacturing

 

Delta, a leading global player in power and thermal management solutions, highlighted its unique ecosystem of smart and energy-efficient solutions to realise smart manufacturing as well as safe and comfortable green cities. Delta offered a live demo of smart manufacturing with its new high-flexibility multi-tasking smart production line, a 4-meter IIoT-based manufacturing platform integrating three robot workstations, software systems and a smart conveyor. In addition, Delta displayed an abundant range of solutions for sustainable cities, including the IoT-based building management platform (BMP), which integrates its building automation technologies, IP surveillance equipment and smart LED lighting to deliver substantial energy savings and lower carbon emissions in commercial and industrial facilities.

 

Speaking on the occasion, Jackie Chang, President & General Manager of Delta Electronics in the Europe, Middle East & Africa (EMEA) region, said, “We are deeply proud to demonstrate at Hannover Messe 2018 that the utility, functionality and versatility of our integrated energy-saving solutions are advancing rapidly. Whether our EMEA customers are seeking to implement IIoT connectivity, energy monitoring and smart automation in their manufacturing platforms, or increase the energy efficiency, safety, comfort and market value of their buildings, or integrate EV charging infrastructure with renewable energy in their city, Delta is certainly the most suitable partner given our superior technology and accumulated experience in integrating total solutions.”

 

Delta offered an extensive range of solutions for a plethora of applications at Hannover Messe 2018. For smart manufacturing, Delta presented its full range of industrial automation solutions, which this year are led by the new high-flexibility multi-tasking smart production line, a highly sophisticated platform capable of producing different product types simultaneously through the support of Delta's own Delta manufacturing execution system (DIAMES), IIoT routers, machine vision systems, 6-axis articulated and SCARA robot workstations as well as a smart conveyor. 

 

Updating cable systems 

 

Drag chains are used in mechanical engineering applications to guide and protect the flexible cables, pneumatic lines and hydraulic hoses that supply power and data to moving machine parts. Without this kind of guidance, which ensures cables do not overstep their permissible bending radii, the rough and tumble of long-term use would quickly destroy these vital lifelines of machinery. However, despite this solid protection, there is still a limit to the amount of cables and lines that can and should be installed to control increasingly complex machine components. Stuttgart-based Lapp Group, one of the leading suppliers of integrated solutions and branded products for cabling and connection technology, showcased several innovative connection solutions for drag chains from the ÖLFLEX series at Hannover Messe 2018.

 

Automated logistics 

 

The close integration of production and logistics was a key topic in the CeMAT halls – unsurprisingly, since the digital factory simply cannot work without intelligent logistics systems. Product highlights included industrial trucks, autonomous shuttles, order-picking robots and complete systems.

 

For example, the German car parts maker ZF presented its Innovation Forklift - the materials handling vehicle of the future that connects intelligent mechatronic systems with data management systems. The highly automated, electrified and fully networked forklift truck at the Hannover Messe is claimed to be the first such forklift with an inbuilt AI.

 

With the ZF Innovation Forklift, the company claims that it is the first ever materials handling vehicle that can see, think and act. It is a fully networked electric forklift truck with highly automated driving functions equipped with camera and radar systems that enables it to see its surrounding environment. The data that these systems generate are analysed by the ZF ProAI central computer, which is based on an artificial intelligence software that has already been proven in other innovative prototype vehicles modelled on passenger cars and tractors. Intelligent actuating elements - such as the ZF electric rear axle steering for forklift trucks - and the electric ZF single-wheel drive carry out the control unit's given commands. 

 

“This forklift will be very helpful in sectors such as construction, e-commerce, warehouses, etc where there is rise in usage of automated systems. The technology can also be used to build innovation tractor. Hence, the technology has a wide range of application,” said Dirk Bald, Director Industrial Technology, Product Line, Material Handling Systems and Electric Drives, ZF.ZF is holding talks with OEMs who can use its technology to build automated forklift.

 

Chilling 4.0

 

Industry 4.0 scenarios such as augmented operators and predictive maintenance all depend on the collection, provision and distribution of data. This calls for IoT-compatible devices equipped with the essential communication networking abilities. With its new IoT interface, the German system specialist Rittal GmbH & Co KG has laid the foundation for the optimal integration of cooling units and chillers into Industry 4.0 applications. Rittal has specially designed this interface to enable both continuous communication between sensors and the cloud and connections to superordinate monitoring and energy management systems.

 

State-of-the-art devices such as the new cooling units and chillers in the Rittal Blue e+ range make it possible to measure and record a multitude of values and other information. The IoT-compatibility of the new Rittal interface greatly improves the added value to be gained from these high volumes of data. The IoT interface can be mounted either on a top hat rail or directly onto the cooling unit or chiller. The protocols supported are OPC-UA, Profinet, SNMP, Modbus and CANopen, which cover almost every conceivable connection to superordinate monitoring or energy management systems. Another important aspect is energy data management, as a constant supply of data increases energy efficiency, resulting in further cost reductions.

 

When speed is the key 

 

The advent of Industry 4.0 has turned enclosure construction into a fine art of meticulous project management - juggling orders at the drop of a hat, meeting tight deadlines and accommodating last-minute alterations. To handle the massively increased complexity of orders and still deliver accurately and on time, suppliers not only have to adjust to the changed requirements but also be in a position to quickly and profitably deliver even single units. This challenge inspired Weidmüller, one of the top suppliers in the field of industrial connectivity, to create its Fast Delivery Service for pre-configured terminal strips.

 

Visitors to Hannover Messe 2018 explored the benefits of the new service offered by Weidmüller. It frees customers from the high fixed costs of reserved production capacities, constant provision of storage space and purchasing individual components. The new Fast Delivery Service in the Weidmüller Configurator (WMC) commits to delivering one-off, ready-to-install terminal strips within five working days.  

 

Convergence of IT and mechanical engineering

 

Central trends highlighted at Hannover this year included the ongoing convergence between IT and mechanical engineering, industrial IT platforms and other new business models, and the imminent impact of artificial intelligence on the factory environment. The exhibitors in the automation halls profiled drive technology and fluid power as a key driver of digitized and integrated manufacturing.

 

Further highlights consisted of assistance systems like exoskeletons, AR goggles, and above all robots. Agile fabrication and intralogistics rely on autonomous transport systems, drones and intelligent personal assistants (IPAs). The trend towards human/machine collaboration continues unabated.

 

Meanwhile, displays in the energy-related halls centered on energy efficiency in direct correlation with climate protection. The focus was on decentralised, smart energy systems and infrastructure solutions for the environmentally friendly mobility of the future.

 

Impressive innovative performance was also demonstrated by subcontractors and development partners, who revealed approaches to connecting operations with customers for seamless efficiency. Multi-material and lightweight concept design are opening the way to a complete rethinking of structural components, resulting not just in cost-cutting and greater efficiency, but also improved performance.

 

The power of data-driven enterprise

 

According to McKinsey Global Institute, by consistently exploiting their data, manufacturing companies can reduce product development costs by up to 50 per cent, operating costs by up to 25 per cent, and increase their gross margins by a third – but have achieved only 20 to 30 per cent of that potential. A basic problem is the heterogeneity of systems and data in manufacturing. Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) booth at Hannover Messe 2018 showed how industrial companies can unlock the economic potential of their data and create smart factories that are agile, autonomous and predictive.

 

“HPE brings together solutions from a large industrial and IT ecosystem to help eliminate data silos and harness the value of data across the value chain. This enables customers to transform data into actionable insights at the right time in the right place: in the factory or plant, in the corporate data center, and in the cloud,” said Matthias Roese, HPE Chief Technology Officer for Manufacturing, Automotive and IoT.

 

Together with partners, HPE demonstrated solutions and technologies that help customers capture and refine raw data to fuel the entire value chain – from product design to sales, from production to service. HPE’s booth featured solutions and technologies that were aligned to the various stages of the product life cycle. HPE presented these solutions together with its partners such as ABB, ACP, Bechtle, CANCOM, DXC Technology, OSIsoft, PlusServer, PTC, Schneider Electric, Techsoft und The unbelievable Machine Company.

 

See you next year

 

Out of a total of 210 000 visitors at the fair, more than 70,000 of them came from abroad, for an international share of 30 percent. China headed the foreign visitor statistics with a total of 6,500, followed by the Netherlands (5,300), Poland (2,700) and the US (1,700). A total of 1,400 visitors attended from Mexico, which was this year's featured Partner Country.

 

The next Hannover Messe will be staged from 1 to 5 April 2019, with Sweden as the official Partner Country. The next CeMAT will run parallel to Hannover Messe from 20 to 24 April 2020.