The development of the vaccination figures is creating a positive mood among those responsible for SPS, Mesago Messe Frankfurt, as well as the trade fair participants. And so SPS 2021 is being planned as a face-to-face event with additional digital offerings from November 23 to 25. Sylke Schulz-Metzner, Vice President SPS at Mesago: "The personal exchange, intensive consulting and technical discussions as well as the trade fair experience par excellence are the core elements of SPS. Exhibitors and visitors have expressed this in many conversations and so we are working hard to make this possible again this year."

Focus on safety

Around 700 exhibitors have currently booked; from start-ups to global key players, the entire spectrum of smart and digital automation will be represented to present intelligent and practical solutions and innovations on site.

The safety and health of all participants is the top priority. The protection and hygiene concept already drawn up for last year in accordance with the legal requirements and beyond will be continuously adapted to the development of the pandemic conditions, explains Mesago on its website. Wider hall aisles, additional communication areas and waiting areas will also help to reduce the number of people in the more frequented areas of the trade fair.

Digital supplement planned

The trade fair team is planning a hybrid SPS 2021 to expand the offering and enable visitors who cannot be on site to participate. "2020 has hit the trade fair industry hard, but has also given digitalization a major boost, so that in 2021 we want to focus on the on-site event but offer an optimal digital supplement," says Schulz-Metzner. Based on last year's experience and the knowledge gained from it, as well as expert discussions with exhibitors and digital specialists, a concept is currently being finalized that will best meet the needs and requirements of participants and create an interface to the physical trade fair.

The organizer regularly publishes updates about the trade fair on the event website sps-messe.de. Interested parties can also obtain comprehensive information about visiting the event there.