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| Scandinavian Technical Fair Bigger And Better An increasing number of visitors, encouraging reports from exhibitors and increasing interest in efficient production sums up this year's Scandinavian Technical Fair, which had many interesting new features on offer. The focus was on profitable, automated production, as well as on logistics and product development. When the fair closed last week, a total of 22,548 visitors had passed through the exhibition halls, just over 650 more than last year. The fair's persistent focus on efficient production technology and robot-based automation made a clear impression. The joint government-industry investment in new production technology via the development programme MERA was concluded at the fair with a two-day conference. Leif Östling made the opening speech in front of a record audience, and emphasised the significance of continued investment in Swedish production, as well as the importance of stimulating young people's interest in technology and industry. Guiding opening speech Östling's words proved to be a well-chosen introduction to the Scandinavian Technical Fair. Out on the exhibition floor there was a great deal of interest in what was on show, and the current financial crisis did not succeed in putting a damper on the atmosphere. "We're really pleased about all the positive reactions that we've had from the exhibitors, " says Björn Lindforss. "The impression we're getting is that this year's fair has been the strongest for several years. Visitor numbers are increasing, and the business climate out on the exhibition floor has been extremely positive according to the reports we've received. From the signals we've picked up on during the past week, there's clearly a will there to continue developing efficient production methods and other activities within the industry in future. It's interesting considering that we've had a major proportion of Swedish manufacturing industry on site here, including the automotive industry." Success for robot conference The automation and robotics theme was, predictably, a real audience magnet. Robots always attract a great deal of interest, and there is a clear trend emerging with robot manufacturers becoming increasingly solution-focused. Several exhibitors displayed completely automated production units, in which the robot is an integral part of the solution. "Efficient automation has a clear link to smart solutions with robots and increasingly intelligent automation components, " explains Gunnar Iggendal, Project Manager for the robotics section at the Technical Fair. "Swedish manufacturing companies still have vast untapped potential for improving profitability by relying more on automation. This was made very clear during this year's exhibition, as well as at the major Nordic Conference on Robotics we put on for the first time. For those that were unable to visit us, there will be another opportunity next year." Growing interest in efficient production The nearby Joining, Assembly and Metal Cutting sections also attracted a lot of visitors. The section also housed one of the Scandinavian Technical Fair's major activity areas – welding, including a try-out area and the Nordic Welding Competition. "Interest in production is increasing, and this is where our innovation work with the Scandinavian Technical Fair has been most successful, " continues Mr Lindforss. "We have now developed into a specialist, industrial trade fair, covering everything that has anything to do with the manufacturing industry. This means that visitors to the fair will find a broad range of technology, products, solutions, new ideas, and a good deal more for the modern and efficient production business." Youth programme expanding The Logistics section offered new features within Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology, including popular mini seminars within the field of logistics location, and a much-appreciated international match against Finland in fork-lift truck driving, which was won by Sweden. The Product Development section attracted a lot of interest, not least from the young upper secondary school visitors. There was an open competition aimed at inspiring creative thinking, and taking the mystery out of technology as a subject. "Our youth programme, with guides showing small groups from our visiting school classes around the exhibitions, has been a success, and we will continue to develop this for next year, " explains Björn Lindforss. "It's important for future recruitment of skilled labour in industry." Work on 2009 fair has already begun New sections that are expected to expand for next year include Control with quality assurance, as well as Energy and Environmentally-efficient Industry. Energy efficiency will become increasingly important over the next few years, and the organisations Transmissionsgruppen and EnergiEffektiviseringFöretagen say that it is possible to save ten billion kronor's worth of energy within industrial production. "We've had a fantastic fair, and work on Scandinavian Technical Fair 2009 is already underway, " says Björn Lindforss. There'll be even more on show then, since Scanautomatic will be running alongside the Technical Fair here in Stockholm, " concludes Björn Lindforss. write your comments about the article :: © 2009 Exhibition News :: home page |