METAV 2010 will be a yardstick for the industry’s eco-nomic recovery – number of exhibitors rises again
The machine tool industry has seen the slump in its order bookings bottom out. This is particularly true for the large vendor nations who will be meeting at the METAV in Düsseldorf from 23 to 27 February 2010, this year’s first comprehensive international trade fair for the entire metalworking sector. 680 top-ranking exhibitors from 26 different countries will on a net exhibition area of around 32,000 m² be showcasing their innovations in terms of both products and services for industrial manufacture.
- Dr.Detlev Elsinghorst. Source: VDW
The machine tool industry has seen the slump in its order bookings bottom out. This is particularly true for the large vendor nations who will be meeting at the METAV in Düsseldorf from 23 to 27 February 2010, this year's first comprehensive international trade fair for the entire metalworking sector. 680 top-ranking exhibitors from 26 different countries will on a net exhibition area of around 32,000 m² be showcasing their innovations in terms of both products and services for industrial manufacture.
"The METAV will show how far the customers for machine tools are beginning to emerge from their state of petrified shock", says a confident Dr. Detlev Elsinghorst, President of METAV. He regards it as a very encouraging sign that during recent weeks and months the number of exhibitors and the amount of net square metres booked at the METAV have increased substantially. "The firms have responded to the news that most of the early indicators are pointing upwards, and are keen not to miss out on a cyclical recovery now emerging at a very low level", explains Elsinghorst. In particular, manufacturers who are benefiting from empty warehouses being topped up again report a definite recovery among customers. In project business, too, there are signs of movement.
Mastering challenges with intelligent production technology
METAV 2010 will also become a yardstick for the strategies the sector will be deploying to emerge from the crisis. Following last year's cataclysmic events, the entire capital goods industry is facing another difficult year with major challenges. Consumers are asking about new products, for example, such as attractive cars which nonetheless feature economical, eco-friendly engines and drive concepts. Industrial equipment suppliers, for their part, aim to tap into additional customer markets, so as to gain increased independence. The industry as a whole has to match its structures and concepts to the lower level of demand. This is why cost-cutting and process optimisation will continue to be high on the agenda.
For all this, intelligent production technology is needed. At METAV 2010, production experts can get all the information they need about the latest developments in this field. The principal focuses at the fair are machine tools for metal-cutting and forming, production systems, high-precision tools, automated material flow, computer technology, industrial electronics and accessories.
In addition, the VDW (Association of German Machine Tool Builders), as the organiser of the METAV, has joined forces with the appropriate partners to arrange numerous attractive special events. They offer production specialists from the entire industry in-depth knowledge on the subjects of grinding, the manufacture of medical products, energy-efficiency for machine tools, automobile drives of the future, product life-cycle management (PLM) and recruitment strategies (detailed information about the supporting programme under www.metav.com).
"We're standing at a crossroads", predicts Detlev Elsinghorst. The machine tool industry in Germany is a strong sector, playing in the premier league against international competitors. Once the logjam is broken and companies begin to invest again, then the Germans will be up there with the front-runners. "We shall be seeing evidence of this at METAV 2010", says a confident Elsinghorst.
(Press Release of VDMA)
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