After a four-year hiatus, 2023 has brought back EMO Hannover, the international trade fair organized by the German Machine Tool Manufacturers Association (VDW).
Over the course of 6 days, in its 4 halls, the main trends in production technologies have been discussed, and that is precisely what we want to talk about in this article: our review of the main trends in the manufacturing industry obtained from EMO 2023.
A showcase for innovations after a four-year hiatus
The return of EMO Hannover has once again brought together a large number of international players ready to share key innovations in their fields of expertise within production: from new automation solutions to sustainability, digitalization and efficiency, etc.
The figures for this edition speak for themselves: 1,850 exhibitors from 45 countries, 92,000 visitors of more than 130 nationalities (a third of them from Asia). And all of them looking to discover the main lines of innovation and trends in the manufacturing sector.
Most important trends from EMO 2023
We are going to summarize the main trends and outputs to be considered after EMO and which, in our opinion, will mark the industrial evolution and the future of manufacturing processes.
Automation as the axis of development and improvement in companies
Automation continues to appear as the most relevant vehicle for the operational improvement of companies, although this can be understood in different ways: from a more classical perspective of robotization, more linked to software such as digitization (including aspects of data capture and analysis), or even reinforcing the hybridization of both (robotization + digitization) towards more autonomous processes.
In one way or another, communication between different devices and machinery is key in this process. Not for nothing did the expo feature the Future of Connectivity Area, focused on addressing this topic in processes including: new automation applications, smart production, solutions for industry 4.0, IIoT (Industrial Internet of Things), predictive maintenance and many others.
This high connectivity will allow companies to evolve and grow easily, regardless of the age of their systems.
Automation (and therefore digitization) must provide flexibility, not rigidity or limitations. In this sense, it is important to remember the role that software must play within this context, being the catalyst that facilitates the development of automation by facilitating the adoption of open and customizable solutions for each company.
Sustainability as a driver of manufacturing evolution and investment activator
A highlight of this fair is the focus on sustainability, the protection of ecosystems and the reduction of production consumption in contexts of energy and/or raw material scarcity.
It should not be forgotten that one of the many faces of innovation also consists of promoting and strengthening circular economies. In linear economy models, resources are devoted to producing goods that end up as industrial waste, thus generating a double problem: due to the emissions produced and the loss of resources.
Sustainability emerges as a key driver of industrial evolution, prioritizing carbon footprint reduction and the promotion of circular economies.
The goal of automation is to ensure more reliable processes to increase productivity, but this is something that will also help reduce the carbon footprint.
In fact, in our blog we have talked before about how automation can be an important factor in reducing energy costs for companies.
The importance of people over automation
As we have already discussed several times in our blog, automation will not replace people, but will come to join and add, facilitating a "hand in hand" work between people and machines.
In other words: people are and will remain the most valuable and flexible asset of any organization. Let's not forget that.
From there, we can talk about how automation and the use of robots or cobots can enhance the work of people, something that will happen thanks to new techniques such as image processing, new measuring or feeding systems, software that allows programming without programming knowledge, etc.
More innovation and new production solutions
Such as, for example, additive manufacturing, which is strongly driven by the aerospace industry or the manufacture of medical components. In a survey conducted among the companies that are part of the VDMA Additive Federation Working Group, almost 75% of them project an upward trend for the next 2 years thanks to 3D printing technologies, new materials, new Rapid Product Development (RPD) techniques, etc.
Automation stands as the central axis of business development, ranging from classic robotization to digitalization, promoting communication between devices and machinery for more autonomous and efficient processes.
We help you with the automation of your industrial processes.
EMO Hannover has once again established itself as the world's leading trade fair for production technology, which undoubtedly confirms that these trends we have discussed will be on the agenda of the main players in the sector worldwide.
Many companies and their managers are already looking forward to the next edition of EMO, which will take place between September 22 and 27, 2025.
Until that time comes, SMARTPM can help you with the intelligent automation of your industrial processes. For example, through our MIC automation platform for the machining industry, which can help you achieve a global vision and management of your production processes in real time.
If you are interested in learning more about MIC or the other process engineering services we offer, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Photo credits: Rainer Jensen / VDW
