Preparations for SPS 2021 are continuing - despite last-minute cancellations by well-known exhibitors, the trade fair will take place in Nuremberg. Around 700 companies will take part in the trade fair in Nuremberg. As at embedded world 2020, there is an opportunity for smaller companies to draw visitors' attention to their innovations - now that many of the "big players" will not be physically attending.

However, the fact that companies are not represented as exhibitors does not mean that they have completely turned their backs on SPS. Many are available to visitors digitally. Pilz, for example, will not be represented in Nuremberg, but is looking forward to getting in touch with interested parties as part of the digital SPS on air.

Safe trade fair possible

Festo has confirmed its participation in the live event in Nuremberg. The company's positive experience at Productronica in Munich, which ends on November 19, contributed to the decision: "After the positive experience at Productronica, Festo has decided to participate in SPS 2021. Productronica has shown that a trade fair under pandemic conditions with an appropriate hygiene concept and appropriate behavior of the participants can be carried out well for all participants. Festo trusts in the SPS hygiene concept and is certain that it is safe to participate in the trade fair even during the pandemic."

Ifm is also committed to taking part: "Ifm has successfully participated in SPS for many years. The leading automation trade fair creates a space for networking and professional exchange and is one of the annual highlights for our company. We are already building up our presence and are looking forward to taking part this year. Even under the current challenging conditions, meeting our customers in person and discussing the latest trends and developments with industry colleagues is a matter close to our hearts. Over the last 18 months, we have learned one thing: our specialist community is very important, because together we drive new technologies forward, regularly exchange ideas and develop solutions together - this is what progress in automation thrives on," says Michael Marhofer, CEO of ifm.

NürnbergMesse is confident that it can guarantee a safe trade fair: "The hygiene concept at the Nuremberg exhibition venue, with its wide range of measures, will ensure a successful event with maximum safety even at the fifth in-person trade fair since the successful restart in September," explains Dr. Roland Fleck, CEO NürnbergMesse Group. "Social distancing, masks, hygiene rules and constant fresh air in the exhibition halls thanks to high-performance ventilation systems ensure the best possible conditions at the exhibition. This has already been confirmed by our successful autumn trade fairs, where participants have responsibly applied and used our hygiene concept for personal networking."

Extensive lecture program

As a hybrid event, this year's SPS offers a lecture program both in Nuremberg and digitally. For the first time, a joint VDMA and ZVEI forum will be held in Hall 3, Stand 455. As part of the digital extension SPS on air, there will be two presentation stages: both the Technology Stage and the Innovation Stage will feature specialist presentations, discussion panels and product presentations. Both stages will be broadcast live from Nuremberg or on demand.

On the first day of the trade fair, Frank Stührenberg, CEO of Phoenix Contact, will speak in his presentation "Empowering the All Electric Society" at 1:35 p.m. about the opportunities created by the electrification, networking and automation of industry and business for the sustainable use of energy to achieve sustainability goals.

On Wednesday, the program begins at 10 a.m. with a panel discussion on the highly topical subject of "Supply bottlenecks in semiconductors for industry". Bernd Enser from Semikron, Ulrich Leidecker from Phoenix Contact, Christian Wendler from Lenze and Dr. Gunther Kegel from Pepperl+Fuchs and in his capacity as President of the ZVEI will be taking part.

The lecture programme of the SPS on air Innovation Stage will close on Thursday at 15:35 with the special presentation "On the way to decarbonization with drive and automation technology". The panel will present successful technological innovations in the industry that contribute to achieving the ambitious political and social targets. How these measures can be implemented in a plant on site rounds off this contribution.

All presentations from the digital supplement and selected contributions from the trade fair forum are available

available on demand on the SPS on air platform until December 3.