Ausgabe zur METAV 2018

Ausg.Nr._02/2018 5 METAV 2018 T he 20th International Ex- hibition for Metalworking Technologies, which will take place from 20 to 24 Febru- ary in Düsseldorf, shows the entire value added chain in an overall organic view. The clas- sical topics of metalworking are found at the core of the METAV, such as machine tools, produc- tion systems, high-precision tools, automated material flows, computer technology, industrial electronics, and accessories. Classical metalworking and in- novation are of course not a contradiction at the METAV. The latest technologies in traditional production technology can be seen at the fair, as can current so- lutions for Industry 4.0. With the core area, the METAV addresses numerous user industries includ- ing the automotive industry and its component suppliers, machine manufacturing, medical technolo- gy and aircraft construction, elec- trical engineering and electronics as well as the ironworking, sheet metal cutting and metalworking industries. This heart of the fair is intrinsi- cally connected with the so-called Areas, which were successfully introduced with the new METAV concept in 2016. The fair thus represents the reality of modern industrial manufacturing com- pressed into its grounds. Two ar- eas are dedicated to special top- ics of production technology, and two others are focused on special industrial sectors. Areas demonstrate synergies in production technologies The Quality Area shows how in- separably measurement technol- ogy is connected to industrial manufacturing. In the era of digital transformation, these cat- egories are gaining steadily in perceived importance. Not least the measuring and testing tech- nologies involved will become a supporting pillar for smart and big data concepts. The Additive Manufacturing Area , in contrast, illustrates that the corresponding manufac- turing processes have firmly established their place in the factories. They are an outstand- ing complement to classical met- alworking that joins in with the entire bandwidth of the process chain – even though mechanical post-processing is required in any case. This is made clear not least by the numerous exhibitors that rely on hybrid machines, i.e. production technology that com- bines additive with machining manufacturing. In the Moulding Area , it’s all about tool, mould and model building. Moulding is consid- ered to be one of the most de- manding fields of application in metalworking. The standards of precision and quality involved are extremely high, which en- courages innovation in this area. Besides conventional processes, new process technologies are always finding their way in, such as laser-based manufacturing for fine texturing of design surfaces. Therefore, the requirements that apply and how they can be solved with innovative production tech- nology are central topics of the Moulding Area. As the second user-based Area, the Medical Area focusses on medical technology. With its stringent requirements and mas- sive innovation potential, it is a driver of technological progress in production technology. There is a good reason why medical technology ranks highly in the worldwide registration of patents. On the other hand, it is a segment with outstanding, long-term mar- ket perspectives. Demographic development of the world popu- lation is fuelling the demand, above all including the increas- ing average age in industrialised countries and the rising standard of living in numerous emerging countries. Strong showplace for innovations in the northwest The METAV 2018 positions itself as a showplace for production solutions in Düsseldorf in the heart of North Rhine-Westphalia, one of the most concentrated, industrial economic regions in Europe. Mechanical engineering is traditionally very strong here. The industry employs more than 200,000 people in North Rhine- Westphalia making it the biggest industrial employer in the coun- try. Almost a fifth of German rev- enue in mechanical engineering is earned in North Rhine-West- phalia. However, the METAV is not only an attractive and convenient meeting-place for manufactur- ers and users of the region, but also for the neighbouring Benelux countries and comparably nearby Scandinavian countries.  Text & Image: Messe Düsseldorf GmbH Messeplatz Stockumer Kirchstraße 61 D-40474 Düsseldorf METAV 2018: The Trade Fair for Production Technology 20.–24.02.2018