topthema

In 2021, CARAVAN SALON Düsseldorf is repositioning itself with a hybrid offer and digital additions for trade visitors and end consumers. Messe Düsseldorf has developed a special "matchmaking tool" for this, which was already successfully used at virtual.medica and virtual.drupa in November and April.

From 31 May 2021, 940 exhibitors from 37 countries are taking the opportunity to present their products and solutions for the process industry to interested parties worldwide. At the virtual ACHEMA Pulse, they showcase everything from gas detectors to packaging lines, from materials to IT solutions that the chemical, pharmaceutical or food industries need - including numerous innovations and new products. Until June 30, 2021, participants can find out more and talk directly to the experts.

Due to the pandemic, The smarter E Europe and its four concurrent energy exhibitions Intersolar Europe, ees Europe, Power2Drive Europe and EM-Power Europe will no longer take place from July 21–23, 2021. Instead, The smarter E Europe Restart 2021 will be staged at Messe München from October 6–8. The smarter E Industry Days, including the award ceremony for The smarter E AWARD, Intersolar AWARD and ees AWARD 2021, will be held online from July 21–23, 2021 when the in-person event should have taken place.

Eco-friendly flying is on the horizon. All over the world, researchers are developing new technologies to achieve this goal. One focus of developments is the idea of using hydrogen-powered engines for aircraft in the future. The aircraft companies, though, face the challenge of storing this energy source. Hydrogen turns liquid when cooled to minus 253 degrees Celsius, and only then can it be used as a so-called cryogenic fuel. Both tanks and pipe systems in the aircraft have to be absolutely tight at such low temperatures. An innovative new welding process has been developed to help: magnetic pulse welding. Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Material and Beam Technology IWS in Dresden have now demonstrated that this joining technology can produce extremely resilient, metallic mixed joints for cryogenic applications. They successfully achieved these outstanding joint properties in cooperation with the Technical University of Munich.

While chlorine and ultraviolet light are the standard means of disinfecting water, ozone is equally effective in killing germs. To date, ozone has only been used as an oxidation agent for treating water in large plants. Now, however, a project consortium from Schleswig-Holstein is developing a miniaturized ozone generator for use in smaller applications such as water dispensers or small domestic appliances. The Fraunhofer Institute for Silicon Technology ISIT has provided the sensor chip and electrode substrates for the electrolysis cell.