Grindtec 2018

•••2••• Messewelten Grinding technology fair bigger than ever On growth course: GrindTec to return in nine exhibition halls - two more than in 2016 44 per cent (+2 per cent) of the companies have their headquar- ters abroad. With 30 nations tak- ing part, GrindTec attains a new best level here, too. Whilst the proportion of Asian companies amongst the foreign participants was 24 per cent two years ago, this figure has mean- while risen to 30 per cent. The growing interest of grinding technology suppliers from China, Korea, Japan, Taiwan or India is the actual growth engine of the worldwide leading platform for grinding technology. Switzerland is home to a whole number of leading grinding tech- nology suppliers and in 2018 it is also the no. 1 amongst the inter- national participants. With 59 ex- hibitors it (still) lies just ahead of Italy (54 exhibitors), but the area occupied is nearly twice as large. China follows in third place with 52 exhibitors (+ 15). The USA is fourth with 14 participators, fol- lowed by France and Japan, each with ten exhibitors. Industry 4.0, automation, net- working, digitalisation and Smart Factory – these topics are cur- rently talked about everywhere, and they are of course also repre- sented at the GrindTec 2018. Many exhibitors, in particular manufac- turers of grinding machines, con- trol systems and software, are presenting innovative solutions in the area of digital networking. The peripheral systems are also becoming increasingly intelligent and in this way make an impor- tant contribution to the process reliability of the production sys- tems for grinding, polishing and lapping. Megatrend electromobility The megatrend of electromobility is also bringing sustainable chang- es in component manufacture. The new automobile driving tech- nology will require large quan- tities short-term in order to be able to supply the market. After this, due to measures for further development and improvement, there will be a fast adaptation of the productions systems. Manufacturers of production re- sources must react here with flex- ible machine concepts. The cor- responding solutions for swiftly changing conditions are already being presented by exhibitors at the GrindTec 2018. The manufac- turers of five axle tool grinding machines continue to shape the profile of the trade fair. However, the largest growth at the Grind- Tec 2018 is in the field of conven- tional grinding machines for cylin- drical, internal cylindrical and flat grinding work as well as in special- ized grinding machines. Machines which can be used for small and medium sized batches are in trend. This development thus sat- isfies the increasing individualism of products on the one hand and the E-mobility trend on the other. Short auxiliary process or set-up times will be just as decisive for these systems as the intuitive op- erability of user interfaces. Through the GrindTec’s consider- able growth yet again, the project management has been forced to reposition a number of themes. The universities and research in- stitutes can now thus be found as GrindTec Campus in the recep- tion area of hall 1, the FDPW has moved to the conference centre and the “Tool grinder of the year” competition is taking place in hall 4 for the first time. The two additional halls 8 and 9 in the outdoor area of the Augsburg Exhibition Centre are also new. Apart from numerous important grinding technology companies, the starting point for the special theme “Grinding Technology 4.0” is also here in hall 8. Special theme Grinding Technology 4.0 The digitalisation and consistent networking of processes offers valuable optimisation potentials, particularly in grinding technol- ogy. Grinding companies in par- ticular frequently have great requirements for information on Industry 4.0 and the special theme of Grinding Technology 4.0 – Excellence in Digital Grind- ing was designed for them. The participating exhibitors are pre- sented in the competence lead- er Grinding technology 4.0, the trade fair organiser announces. Some 630 GrindTec exhibitors will showcase latest high-tech solutions. Photo: AFAG Messen und Ausstellungen GmbH On 45,000 square metres, GrindTec exhibitors will present many fascinating innovations and world premieres. Photo: AFAG Messen und Ausstellungen GmbH Continued from page 1