Getting ready for the new industrial revolution

A flexible, efficient plant is the goal for 2015 Hannover Messe attendees.

By Bob Vavra March 18, 2015

It is called the Fourth Industrial Revolution. It is called Industry 4.0. It is called the Internet of Things, or IoT. By any of its names, however, the connection of human, mechanical and automation systems into an interconnected information system to drive efficiency has arrived, at least in theory.

In practice, noted Dr. Jochen Kochler, member of the board of Deutsche Messe AG, which will host the 2015 Hannover Messe on April 13-17 in Hannover, Germany. “Are you ready for the fourth industrial revolution? The answer is always ‘no’,” said Kochler at the 2015 Hannover Messe preview event in Berlin. “A survey shows that 50% of manufacturers have never of Industry 4.0, while 25% have heard of it, but don’t know what it means.

Hannover Messe officials held the preview in the shell of a former Berlin that has been converted to a meeting hall in part to drive home the point that manufacturing must continue to change in order to meet the needs of a changing world.

“There is a need for action. We need to be fit for the future,” Kochler said. “In the next five years, there is an 18% increase in efficiency possible from the kinds of flexible manufacturing possible from Industry 4.0. Industry 4.0 will radically change production in the coming years.”

India will be the Partner Nation for the 2015 Hannover Messe, and new Indian prime minister Narendra Modi will attend the 2015 Hannover Messe as part of that country’s delegation. The 2015 Hannover Messe will feature more than 6,400 exhibitors and expects more than 200,000 attendees from more than 100 countries.

Under the 2015 theme of “Integrated Industries” there are four key exhibition areas:

  • Smart factories 
  • Smart grids
  • Human/robot collaboration
  • Additive manufacturing. 

Hannover Messe also will feature exhibits on a wide range of global technology solutions. The main show areas include:

  • Industrial automation and IT: This topic alone with fill seven halls on the Hannover fairgrounds, including a hall devoted to robotics
  • Power transmission, control, and motion, drives and automation (MDA). This topic also will take up seven halls.
  • Energy and environmental
  • Production engineering
  • Research and development

“We’ve read frequently that when it comes to Industry 4.0, we need more R&D,” Kochler said. “Hanover will be the epicenter of the industry.”

Hannover Messe will be held on April 13-17 at Hannover Exhibition Grounds, Hannover, Germany.

– Bob Vavra, content manager, CFE Media, bvavra@cfemedia.com.


Author Bio: Bob is the Content Manager for Plant Engineering.