Automatica can announce a record number of exhibitors this year: Around 825 companies (2014: 731) will be presenting their solutions for optimizing production processes in six exhibition halls covering 66,000 m². The focus will be on technologies and exhibits from the fields of robotics, industrial image processing, integrated assembly solutions and professional service robotics. The latter will have its own special area in Hall B4 with the 'Service Robotics Demonstration Park and Show'. Visitors to the trade fair can experience service robots live in the demo area. In addition, moderated shows will take place every hour on the hour to present selected service robotics exhibits.

IT2Industry' trade fair

For the first time this year, Automatica is incorporating the 'IT2Industry' trade fair concept in Hall B4 - which already made an appearance at electronica 2014 and productronica 2015. This is a trade fair with the 'Open Conference' conference program, which covers topics relating to intelligent, digitally networked working environments. The organizers see the exhibition as a mediator between the IT sector and industry: "This is where Industry 4.0 solutions meet users from sectors such as the automotive, electrical and metalworking industries. IT2Industry' illustrates what Industry 4.0 is all about: "the convergence of IT and industry," explains 'IT2Industry' project manager Manfred Salat. A total of over 40 companies will be exhibiting at the trade fair.

At the accompanying Open Conference, visitors will be able to find out through presentations which solutions and practical examples companies have already developed in connection with the Industrial Internet of Things and Industry 4.0. Sascha Herzog, Managing Director of Nside Attack Logic, will demonstrate the potential challenges facing security structures with a live hack at the opening of the Open Conference on the first day of the trade fair at 11:15 a.m. in Hall B4. Herzog will simulate an attack on a process robot in the semiconductor industry from the Internet: A robot from Fraunhofer IWU in Augsburg is to be manipulated from the Munich exhibition grounds.

The article "'Smart' robots on the advance" provides a technological insight into selected Automatica highlights.