Exploring Industry 4.0 in Hanover

Published

Wheelabrator exhibited at Hannover Messe International (HMI), the world’s most important industrial fair, at the end of April. This year’s theme around Industry 4.0 proved a visitor magnet, reflecting the momentum the idea has gathered over the last 12 months.

The show attracted 225,000 visitors from 70 nations, all keen to explore how we can prepare for a digital industrial future.

Heike Kramer, Marketing Communication Manager at Wheelabrator in Germany, said: “While the concept has been around for a couple of years, there’s a real buzz now around Industry 4.0, as technologies mature rapidly and industrial processes are more and more connected. This buzz was palpable at HMI, with some spectacular exhibits showing the very near future of industrial digitization.”

At its own stand, Wheelabrator showcased advanced airblast and wheelblast solutions, with some components and workpieces on display, supported by animations and 3D holocubes to show large machines in detail. Information on Wheelabrator’s latest satellite turntable blast machine range with its patented, Industry-4.0-inspired process control package was also available.

“Our stand this year didn’t feature the dramatic displays seen elsewhere, focusing instead on the humbler aspects of making industry work from 1.0 right through to 4.0 and beyond. We and our customers benefitted from the fact that this year’s HMI was a ‘must-attend’. Many of our visitors combined the future-gazing with the hands-on, checking out the show-stoppers (cobots were my favourite) and then popping by our stand with a more concrete query. In short, HMI 2017 was the perfect mix of information and inspiration.”

To read the official end-of-show report, please visit the HMI website.