![[SPS 2022] “Investing in Automation Can Help Deal with Challenges Like the Energy Crisis, Reshoring and the Environment”](/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/sylke-schulz-metzner.jpg)
SPS, the German fair for smart production solutions, is coming back this year in Nuremberg, after being cancelled last year. Sylke Schulz-Metzner, Vice President SPS, gave us some insights about what to expect from the event that is taking place from November 8 to 10. For more information, please visit SPS website.
Last year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, SPS was canceled. How did you evaluate the consequences of this cancellation?
Sylke Schulz-Metzner: “We had to cancel the SPS because of the situation with the pandemic. This, of course, meant that the automation community that had been looking forward to a deep exchange were unable to meet. As such physical meetings have been rare over the past couple of years, it has resulted in a great need for trade fairs and this is why we are delighted that the SPS is going ahead this year.”
What is/are the main focus this year?
Sylke Schulz-Metzner: “Once again, we will be focusing on the prevalent topics from all areas of automation including drive and control technology, sensor technology, power supply, and mechanical infrastructure, as well as software and IT in manufacturing.”
What are the most striking technologies that will be shown during SPS?
Sylke Schulz-Metzner: “Since the last trade show, there have been numerous innovations that you can experience live for the first time at this year’s SPS – whether in application at the exhibitors’ booths or in the form of presentations and lectures at the two trade show forums. Here, the integration of robotics into automation concepts is taking on a high priority, for example in the areas of fleet management of mobile robots, automatic (un)loading processes, network infrastructure and the digital supply chain.”
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What are the biggest trends in automation for the next few years?
Sylke Schulz-Metzner: “Generally speaking, the trends and focal points are to be found in the word “digitization”. This includes topics such as data storage in the cloud and/or edge, use of artificial intelligence, virtualization of control technology – i.e. control on site at the machine or even from the cloud. Visitors to Nuremberg this year can find out more about this and many other developments.”
Who are the biggest players in the industry and at the fair?
Sylke Schulz-Metzner: “To name but a few, we would say Bosch, Siemens, Beckhoff, Phoenix Contact and Bonfiglioli. However, the fair will once again be packed with leading solutions, products and will, above all, feature a great many ideas and new concepts that will be developed over the trade fair days.”
Do you expect to welcome new visitors during the fair, for example, visitors that were not interested in industrial automation so far but who have changed their mindset with COVID and the numerous crises that are ahead of us?
Sylke Schulz-Metzner: “Most definitely! With issues such as the energy crisis, reshoring and the environment, many people in the field have realized that the key to dealing with a lot of these challenges is investing in automation. With the rise of cutting-edge solutions, which will also be on show at the SPS this year, visitors from various areas will be able to address their questions to leading experts and receive qualified input.”
