Trade visitors from all over the world streamed through the entrances of NürnbergMesse promptly at 9:00 a.m. on the first day of the exhibition to find out about the latest automation developments and trends from the approx. 1,000 exhibitors on the 112,000 sqm exhibition area. Attendees embraced the opportunity to engage in lively discussions, to talk about technological advances, to cultivate relationships as well as to establish new contacts. Across the three days, the relaunched event attracted a total of almost 44,000 visitors. “The delight at the return of the event was clearly felt by all. Conversations were open and cordial and the atmosphere in the exhibition halls was very special. It was apparent just how much the SPS community had missed meeting up with one another and immersing themselves in the world of automation. We are delighted to have been able to re-engage with the industry with the return of the SPS. This exhibition provides a springboard for many automation projects of the future,” explains Martin Roschkowski, President of Mesago Messe Frankfurt GmbH.
Exciting supporting events
This year’s program included presentations on topics with high relevance for the automation industry, such as sustainability in automation, safety and security, new logistic methods, and robotic integration. Alongside expert panel discussions and specialist presentations, visitors on-site also had the opportunity to join Bavarian Minister President Dr. Markus Söder at the digital talk on the Wednesday morning. Among the topics discussed were the future of digitalization and the importance of trade fairs for Germany as a business location. The talk was also broadcast live on the ‘SPS on air’ platform, giving people unable to attend the event in person an opportunity to watch online. The recording is still available on demand to registered participants.
As in previous years, the shared booth ‘Automation meets IT’ also made a return, and once again proved popular with attendees. 23 companies took advantage of the greater visibility offered by this opportunity to showcase their digital solutions for automation to a broad audience of industry professionals and to benefit from the dialog with experts. Intensive discussions were held on-site on topics such as high-security data communication, maintenance software, AI applications, and high-tech control solutions.
Complementary online event ‘SPS on air’
In the run-up to the live exhibition, the digital pre-heat event gave a first taste of this year’s exhibitor offerings and whetted the appetite for more. The concept of the SPS 2022 gave trade visitors the opportunity to obtain extensive information about exhibiting companies and their products in advance over the ‘SPS on air’ platform, to arrange on-site appointments, and to enter into online discussions before the in-person event. For the duration of the trade fair, the Technology Stage powered by VMDA/ZVEI in Hall 3 was streamed live. The platform will remain accessible until 15 November 2022.
Exhibitor statements on the SPS 2022
Steffen Winkler, CSO of the Business Unit Automation at Bosch Rexroth AG and Chair of the SPS Exhibitor Advisory Board states:
“I can say it in one word - it feels fantastic to be back here at the SPS. The trade fair visitors as well as our team and the exhibitors I’ve spoken to so far are incredibly enthusiastic. You can really feel the energy in the halls and it's just a great feeling to be back here live and physically with other people of the industry.”
Marcus Bliesze, Vice President Marketing Factory Automation, Siemens AG comments: “It is a terrific feeling being back at the SPS. Participants have come from all over the world, some of whom we have not seen for the last 3 years. Many intensive conversations about new concepts, ideas and technologies are taking place, and connecting these aspects in personal exchange is what we are focusing on.”
Christian Wendler, Chairman of the Management Board at Lenze SE confirms: “There’s no question, as THE leading trade fair for automation, the SPS has a regular place in my schedule. Nowhere else do I have the opportunity to meet the large global automation family in one place and take away such important stimuli. The SPS can definitely count on Lenze and me personally in the years to come.”
Fausto Carboni, Chief Executive Officer at the Bonfiglioli Group enthuses: “It feels great to be back at the SPS! We missed this great opportunity here during the last couple of years and it’s definitely the most important Show for our industrial automation community. The SPS drives automation forward as we look spend time together focusing on our business. Every automation system is a puzzle put together by different parts and we find these parts here and can add our own to the picture. This is the essence of the SPS.”
Outlook
A detailed exhibition analysis including further results from SPS 2022 will be available in early 2023. Next year’s exhibition for smart and digital automation will be held on 14-16 November 2023 in Nuremberg.