AUTOMATICA 2012

Robots and automation technology display solutions and innovations across industries  

700 manufacturers and 31,000 visitors took part at the 5th Bi-annual Trade Fair for Automation and Mechatronics (AUTMOMATICA) at the New Munich Trade Fair Center May 22 – 25.

Mr. Robert Madelin, Director-General of the European Commission's  Directorate-General for Information Society and Media attended the opening ceremony at AUTOMATICA followed by a guided tour, which included the euRobotics and EUnited Robotics joint booth demonstrating some of the European funded robotics research projects.

This is the first and only international trade fair that covers the entire value-added chain in robotics and automation.  This year’s AUTOMATICA exhibited not only innovation but also economic growth in the robotics and automation industries, which suffered a major blow due to the economic crash in 2009. The Statistical Department of the International Federation of Robotics (IFR) announced a strong increase in robot sales of 18 percent in 2011 and predicted a continued average annual increase of six percent until 2014.

There was an especially great deal of interest in the topic of sustainability within the scope of the motto “Green Automation” at the last fair. As a result, AUTOMATICA 2012 again took up this topic, but put it in the larger context of the German Mechanical and Plant Engineering Federation (VDMA) sustainability initiative “BlueCompetence.” Members exhibited the technologies and processes of mechanical and plant engineering which, for example, consume a minimum amount of energy while delivering maximum productivity, preserve our resources, reduce emissions to a minimum or improve people’s living conditions in a sustainable way.

AUTOMATICA’s special exhibition demonstrating automated battery production was the result of a collaboration between 20 companies who are paving the way for more affordable electronic and hybrid vehicles as a result of efficient battery production.

In addition to battery manufacturing, a special exhibit this year was dedicated to automated lightweight construction with composite materials. Other offers included the robotics award ceremonies, the CEO Round Table about robotics trends, machine vision seminars as well as the promotion of young talent via career orientation in the areas of robotics, automation, and mechatronics.