Stuttgart success story to be continued

“Planning for the exhibition is in full swing.” How we have missed saying this! But for AMB 2022, it is once again true! Over the last few months, organisers have largely finalised the exhibitor stand locations, with just a few coordination meetings ongoing with companies who were not included in the initial floor planning stage. To date, 1061 exhibitors have registered, of which there are 901 principal exhibitors and 160 co-exhibitors. From experience, this figure will rise further, particularly as a result of registrations from co-exhibitors who will be bringing their own staff and showcasing their products from the stands of host partner firms. “We are hugely grateful and even a little proud that the overwhelming majority of companies are continuing to commit to AMB. The support of our partners and exhibitors has played a key part in ensuring that Messe Stuttgart has survived the coronavirus-related enforced closures of the last two years relatively unscathed,” states Roland Bleinroth, President of Messe Stuttgart.

AMB 2022 remains the international industry meeting point

Based on the current number of exhibitors, the ratio of national to international exhibitors reflects the highly international nature of the exhibition. Currently standing at 31% of the exhibitors and 29% of the exhibition space, the international figure is in keeping with that of AMB 2018 (2018: 29% of the exhibitors and 25% of the exhibition space). The top-three international  exhibitor countries are Italy (7%), Switzerland (6%) and Spain (2%). These figures demonstrate that it is worth making the trip to Stuttgart to see the latest developments in the metal-working industry, nurture existing business relationships and seek out new partners.
 

Exhibition space is fully occupied

The net area available for allocation to exhibitors is currently 73,000 m². Given that the total gross area available is around 120,000 m², visitors to AMB 2022 will therefore be met with packed halls and a fully occupied site. “Momentum is high and everything is set for the  success story of AMB to continue. We are confident that the last remaining exhibition spaces will be allocated in the next few weeks,” says Director of Mechanical Engineering and Production Gunnar Mey who, along with his team, is responsible for AMB.

The positive response has meant that the topic-led floor plan is largely being retained and only minor optimisations are planned. For example, the spindle manufacturers are moving from the gallery in the L-Bank Forum (hall 1) to the Oskar Lapp Hall (hall 6) and the topics of gear cutting and surface technology will this time be located together in hall 5.

Analogue meets digital: AMB 2022 enhanced with digital expansions

By contrast, major changes await exhibitors and visitors with respect to digital offerings. These have been seamlessly integrated into the exhibition programme. Leading the way here is the innovative online exhibitor overview, in which exhibiting companies can now provide videos, animation sequences, product brochures and the like for download in addition to static information, and they can also incorporate interactive content or their social media presence. What’s more, companies can add multiple contacts for different target groups to ensure that the right people are brought together at the stand.

It will also be much easier for visitors to plan the route to the stands they are interested in visiting. They can plan their own specific topic-based tours using a new function in the online exhibitor overview, enabling them to perfectly arrange their visit to the exhibition in advance. These self-guided tours are managed by means of numerous filter options, which will take visitors to exhibits and applications at stands showcasing the various highlight topics.

The exhibition is also pursuing a digital course when it comes to presentations too. For example, presentations covering different topics each day will be held in the Trend Lounge in the ICS foyer, and their content will be recorded and made available on demand once the exhibition has finished. Spotlight topics include additive manufacturing, metal as a material, industrial security, digital networking, climate change and sustainability as well as start-up pitches. During the mav web sessions, which have been launched as a digital addition in the run-up to the exhibition, exhibitor companies have been given the opportunity to showcase the topics they will be presenting. Two of these web sessions are still to come and will be held at the end of June and the beginning of September respectively. They will cover smart cells for flexible machine automation and innovative machining solutions.
 

Content highlights

Featuring both established and new offerings, at AMB 2022, there will be a whole host of special shows, highlight topics and a varied accompanying programme to enjoy:

• With “We are back in the game”, the mav special show – Art meets technology – from the Konradin publishing house has drawn on this year’s AMB motto. Participating exhibitors are challenged to create their favourite games. The works of art will be presented throughout the AMB exhibition at the blue art cube at Entrance East and assessed by a jury.
   
• The MM Award from industry magazine Maschinenmarkt will be honouring product innovations from the field of metal-working and supporting technologies across various categories at AMB 2022.
   
• The SmartFactory special show at Entrance East will be presenting a fully automated and digitalised process chain involving seven companies. A personalised giveaway will be produced directly at the stand. All process steps from the start of the order to the final workpiece are networked and mapped in a physical and a virtual line.
   
• umati (universal machine technology interface) is a joint initiative between the German Machine Tool Builders’ Association (VDW) and the Mechanical Engineering Industry Association (VDMA) to promote the dissemination and use of open interface standards based on OPC UA. The umati special show of the same name, to be held in the Paul Horn Hall (hall 10), will demonstrate how machines and systems can communicate with each other or be integrated into customer-specific or user-specific IT ecosystems.
   
• Live production will also be seen at the special show for young people, which is organised by the Mechanical Engineering Youth Foundation and aims to inspire young people to consider a career in mechanical engineering and plant construction and to showcase new technologies used during training. From the stand in the Atrium, an entire process chain from the drawing to the manufacture of a Formula 1 model car will be reproduced. Apprentices from the partner companies involved will be on hand to answer any questions.
   
• The Atrium is also the location for a further highlight for young industry talent: WorldSkills Germany will be battling it out in various disciplines as part of the AMB country contests as well as in a German championship. In addition to the turning, milling and industry mechanic competitions that have been held in the past, contests in the fields of additive manufacturing and CAD are also planned.
   
• At AMB 2022, Entrance East will for the first time become a start-up area and a BMWK (German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action) group stand for young, innovative companies. Plans include holding an investor day on the Saturday and the exhibition will be awarding the AMB Start-Up 2022 prize.
   
• The VDMA Technology Forum in the L-Bank Forum (hall 1) is an established format from the VDMA Precision Tools Association in which specific technical implementations relating to Industry 4.0 and current research projects are showcased in 15-minute presentations.
   
• In the Stuttgart Region Lounge, Entrance East, keynote presentations will be held on topics ranging from the digital transformation to the use of artificial intelligence in the industry.
   

As usual, travelling to and from the exhibition site couldn’t be more straightforward: the exhibition ticket includes a public transport pass covering transport to and from the trade fair. Thanks to the recently extended U6 tram connection, there is now an additional transport option from the centre of Stuttgart as well as from the Filder Plain area, with services every 10 minutes. The journey time from Stuttgart central station is 32 minutes. The tram takes just one minute to travel between the two stops “Flughafen/Messe” and “Messe West”, making it a perfect option for all arrivals from the airport who wish to start their day at the exhibition at Entrance West. What’s more, the AMB charter flight shuttles will be flying this year from Linz/Austria and Jönköping/Sweden to bring international visitors to the exhibition in addition to scheduled services.

World Media Group (WMG) News Service