Every year, Deutsche Messe AG presents the Hermes Award, the most important international industry prize, to a company whose product or solution demonstrates a particularly high degree of technological innovation. Only technology solutions that have already been tried and tested in industry are considered. The nomination was entrusted to an independent jury chaired by Prof. Reimund Neugebauer, President of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft. The award will be presented at the Hannover Messe Digital Edition on April 12 in Hanover.

"With the Hannover Messe Digital Edition in April 2021, we will organize a digital industrial trade fair that offers a unique variety of innovations and solutions," says Dr. Jochen Köckler, CEO of Deutsche Messe AG. "We are delighted that we can once again offer our exhibitors such a comprehensive platform in these difficult pandemic times for everyone and thus provide the stage for the worthy and glamorous presentation of the Hermes Award."

Jury chairman Prof. Reimund Neugebauer explains the selection of this year's nominees: "The current conditions and uncertainties due to the ongoing corona pandemic have not reached the Hermes Award 2021. Numerous qualified applications met the important key aspects of our criteria "degree of technical innovation", "benefits for industry, the environment and society" and "cost-effectiveness and readiness for implementation". The projects of the three nominees all stand for dynamic development in mechanical engineering and the innovative capacity of Germany as a high-tech location."

The nominees in detail

Bosch Rexroth, Lohr am Main: The nominated project SVA R2 (Subsea-Valve_Actuator) is the world's first electric actuator for controlling process valves under water. The SVA R2 offers an energy-efficient and safe alternative to the pneumatic actuators previously used in offshore oil and gas production. The central unit and the kilometers of pipelines for the fluid are no longer required, and environmental risks are greatly minimized. The unit nevertheless has the same dimensions, can be integrated directly at the place of use, increases energy efficiency and only requires a power supply and a data line.

Phoenix Contact, Blomberg: The company was nominated for its NearFi technology. It enables the contactless transmission of power and data and can replace previous plug connections. Thanks to protocol-independent and latency-free Ethernet communication, it offers flexible application options for all Ethernet protocols up to 100 Mbit/s. Real-time transmission takes place in both directions. The technology enables high reliability with low wear.

Pilz, Ostfildern: The nominated product myPNOZ is a new type of modular safety relay that is manufactured in batch size 1. Users can assemble their product using an online tool, whereby no programming knowledge is required because the logic of the safety functions is defined via the module selection and their plug-in sequence. The myPNOZ product is a ready-to-install and completely individualized system that represents an efficient and safe solution for mechanical and plant engineering and other industries.

Hannover Messe Digital Edition

The Hannover Messe Digital Edition sees itself as a knowledge and networking platform for industry, energy and logistics. It is based on the three pillars of Expo, Conference and Networking. Under the guiding theme of "Industrial Transformation", thought leaders present their technologies and ideas for the factories, energy systems and supply chains of the future. The top themes include digital platforms, Industry 4.0, IT security, CO2-neutral production, AI, lightweight construction and Logistics 4.0. Conferences and forums round off the program. The Hannover Messe Digital Edition will take place from April 12 to 16, 2021. The partner country 2021 is Indonesia.