Hannover Messe 2008 is looking in great shape, according to show organizers Deutsche Messe. The world's largest technology event has strengthened its showing in the two key areas of automation and energy technology with a new trade fair for power plant technology and the special display Mobile Robots & Autonomous Systems. In total, nearly 5,100 companies from more than 60 countries will be presenting the important trends and themes from all sectors of industry from 21 to 25 April.The central themes of Hannover Messe 2008 are energy efficiency and climate protection: "Hannover Messe will add fresh impetus to the ongoing debate about energy, climate change and security of supply,” says Sepp Heckmann, Chairman, Deutsche Messe. "It is a key driver of new technologies and leads the way when it comes to innovations for industry." This year's Hannover Messe comprises a total of ten leading international trade fairs. Apart from automation and energy, other core areas of interest include industrial subcontracting and new technologies with strong future potential. The official Partner Country for Hannover Messe 2008 is Japan. World of AutomationThree flagship trade fairs make up the Industrial Automation show section: Interkama+ (automation for the process industry); Factory Automation (production automation); and Industrial Building Automation. Key themes for 2008 include wireless automation, IT solutions for industry, asset management and industrial robots. A new addition to this year's range of automation offerings is the special presentation "Mobile Robots and Autonomous Systems".Mobile robots have applications in many different areas, and are increasingly playing a role in industrial production. Driverless transport systems are evolving into intelligent subsystems, which not only direct the flow of materials before and after production, but in future will increasingly be integrated into the production process itself. According to forecasts by the International Federation of Robotics, worldwide demand for service robots in the manufacturing and service industries, public administration and private households is set to rise to around 9.1 million units by the year 2010. The new presentation "Mobile Robots & Autonomous Systems" shares Hall 25 with the RoboCup German Open, which is now being hosted by Hannover Messe for the second time. High energy mixA dominant theme at the show in 2008 will be energy and measures to combat climate change. In recent years Hannover Messe has evolved into a major hub for international energy technologies, including coverage of the entire energy mix of the future, with regenerative and conventional forms of energy being accorded equal status. So there will be presentations of renewables such as biomass, solar, wind and geothermal energy, alongside hydrogen/fuel cells and topics such as contracting, efficient mobility solutions and combined heat and power generation (CHP). Exhibiting companies will be showing more efficient technologies for the transmission, distribution, conversion and storage of energy. Major energy suppliers E.ON, EnBW and Evonik will also have stands at the show. Coverage of energy-related themes in Hannover has hitherto consisted of the two trade fairs Energy and Pipeline Technology. With the debut of Power Plant Technology this year, a third international flagship trade fair now joins that line-up. The focus here is on the design, construction, operation and maintenance of power stations. The Energy Efficiency Tunnel in Hall 6, the fruit of a joint initiative by Hannover Messe, VDMA and ZVEI. Using practical examples, this exhibit shows how saving energy in industry not only helps the environment, but also confers competitive advantages. Visitors to the interactive Tunnel will be able to see how up to 90 per cent of the lifecycle costs of individual components such as electric motors can be avoided, and how savings of up to 70 per cent can be achieved with modern technology in ancillary equipment and installations such as pumps, fans, compressed air and refrigeration plant.
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