#Exhibitions & Events
HANNOVER MESSE 2012: Focus on sustainability. The world of intelligent textile materials as special attraction in Hall 2.
+ "greentelligence" keynote theme highly prominent across all display categories
+ New flagship show: IndustrialGreenTec
+ China is the official HANNOVER MESSE 2012 Partner Country
HANNOVER MESSE 2012, which runs from 23 to 27 April, will help them rise to this challenge by providing them with a technology platform that gives them an unparalleled overview of all the latest industrial innovations designed to facilitate sustainable business development. Groundbreaking solutions will be on show in all major display categories, from automation, energy technologies, industrial supply and subcontracting services through to R&D."Next year's keynote theme of `greentelligence' will feature prominently across all HANNOVER MESSE 2012 display categories. Manufacturers have come to realize that an intelligent mix of efficient processes, eco-friendly materials and sustainable products is critical to survival in today's highly competitive, dynamic international markets," said Dr. Wolfram von Fritsch, Chairman of Deutsche Messe's Board of Management.
HANNOVER MESSE 2012 will also see the premiere of IndustrialGreenTec. This latest addition to HANNOVER MESSE's line-up of flagship shows will present the full range of environmental technologies along multiple industrial value chains. Key themes at IndustrialGreenTec will include recycling and environmentally friendly waste disposal; water, soil and noise protection technologies; methods for lowering air pollution; approaches to the efficient use of renewable energy and renewable materials; and environmental services, from consulting through to certification.
Following its debut at HANNOVER MESSE 2011, which was well received by visitors and exhibitors alike, the Metropolitan Solutions exhibition area will be back in 2012 with an expanded format. Globalization, climate change and the increasing rate of urbanization are posing huge challenges for cities and major urban centers around the world. The challenges can only be addressed by expanding and modernizing infrastructure. According to the experts, the most critical areas include energy, water/waste water and mobility systems as well as climate protection. State-of-the-art solutions in all of these areas will be presented by the companies participating in this year's Metropolitan Solutions showcase.
Comprising eight flagship shows, HANNOVER MESSE 2012 is a world-unique industrial technology fair that is truly international and provides unparalleled coverage of all key industries. It is a magnet for trade visitors from all around the world. In addition, each year over 100 high-ranking international political and business delegations come to Hannover to keep abreast of the latest trends and solutions. "HANNOVER MESSE provides a window on the future of the world's industries. No other event presents as many groundbreaking innovations and integrated solutions," explained von Fritsch.
The People's Republic of China will be the official Partner Country of HANNOVER MESSE 2012..The partnership was formalized in an agreement signed by Dr. Philipp Rösler, Germany's Federal Minister of Economics and Technology, and Miao Wei, China's Minister of Industry and Information Technology, during the China-Germany inter-government consultations that were held in Berlin in June this year. Wolfram von Fritsch: "We are delighted to have China at our side as Partner Country at HANNOVER MESSE 2012. We are confident that this partnership will be a boon to Sino-German trade relations and will be a major drawcard for exhibitors and trade visitors from around the globe. The partnership gives both exhibitors and visitors a unique opportunity to build their import and export business and to strengthen their commercial and R&D ties with China."
![China will be the official Partner Country [i:Image: (c) 2012 Messe Hannover]](https://www.texdata.com//content/hm11_al_0091557.jpg "China will be the official Partner Country [i:Image: (c) 2012 Messe Hannover]")
As part of its Partner Country showcase, the Chinese government is planning to run displays on its major energy efficiency projects, focusing on electric generation, intelligent energy networks and systems, and environmentally-friendly mobility solutions.
Themed displays are one of the special attractions offered by Hall 2. The Fraunhofer Adaptronics Alliance will be highlighting the wide range of applications for solutions in adaptronics, an innovative interdisciplinary technology for the optimization of structural systems. The "Bionics" themed display is a showcase for bionic applications, key technologies and product solutions in areas such as functional surfaces, optical technologies, communications technology, robotics and microsystems technology. "Bionics" as a concept refers to innovative technical inventions inspired by models found in the natural world.
Textile Solutions
" Textile Solutions", another themed display, looks at the world of intelligent textile materials. The areas of application for engineered textiles and smart textiles are extremely diverse, and these products are found in virtually every branch of modern industry. One example is the phase-change materials developed by NASA, which rely on the laws of thermodynamics and millions of micro-encapsulated paraffins. These melt when exposed to heat, and draw heat from the ambient air - so they have a cooling effect. When exposed to cold, they function in the exactly opposite way: the liquid sets hard and releases heat. The temperature can be precisely adjusted via the melting point.
According to the Federal Ministry of Education and Research, engineered textiles now account for more than 50 per cent of Germany's entire textile production. In some sectors, annual growth rates are already running at over ten per cent. Nearly every branch of modern industry uses techno-materials in one form or another. Major users include the car industry, aerospace, medical and environmental technology and architecture.
Numerous industries now exploit the useful properties of high-tech textiles: flexibility, low weight per unit area, breathability, weather resistance and very high mechanical strength. But the possible industrial applications are far from exhausted. Germany already occupies a leading position in Europe as a supplier of engineered textiles, and according to the Ministry (BMBF) there are plans to build on that position of strength by the use of nanotechnology and sensor technology. This is why the Federal government is helping to fund the development of engineered textiles under the WING program ("Werkstoffinnovationen für Industrie und Gesellschaft" - "Innovative materials for industry and society").
The themed display "Textile Solutions" at Research & Technology shows the fascinating possibilities that modern textiles offer. The participating exhibitors will be explaining with the aid of practical examples what today's high-tech fibres can do - and it has nothing at all to do with the garish shirts and synthetic ties of yesteryear.
" WoN World of Nano", another themed display, serves as a central platform for the latest technological developments, processes and visions from the world of nanotechnology. Nanotechnology has multiple applications in areas as diverse as hyperthermia, cancer therapy, the treatment of drinking water and wind farms. With high-profile exhibits from the BMBF and leading nanotech firms, the themed presentation "WoN World of Nano" in Hall 2 covers a substantial part of the nanotechnology industry. The companion display "Schauplatz Nano" in Hall 5 completes the coverage. Following a successful move in this direction in 2011, the existing displays will be effectively merged and jointly publicized for 2012 under the portmanteau heading "Nano in Germany". This will serve the interests of exhibitors and visitors alike by maximizing the presence of nanotech suppliers in their market. The VDI Technology Center is partnering the initiative.
Finally, the long-running special display "tech transfer - Gateway2Innovation" is intended to serve as a networking platform for technology transfer. Scientific innovators and business decision-makers come together to trade in new ideas, developing joint plans with a view to turning visions into market-ready products. Accompanying the proceedings throughout the show is a daily forum program, which offers new suggestions and inspiration for managing the exchange of ideas and turning technology into successful products.
