The tendency at Electronica 2004 in Munich was obvious: this event is the meeting place for the international electronics industry, serving as a valuable business platform for the entire community. The results of a survey performed by the market-researcher Infratest said that 85% of the exhibitors and attendees assess the market’s future trend as “excellent to good”.
If there is really so much reason for optimism, as was exhibited by the attendees’ mood, isn’t quite so obvious. This year, the semiconductor market will be flat, and the equipment companies will again have to face a serious decline. Nevertheless, for electronics commerce, times were even worse in the past. Managing director Klaus Dittrich underlined: “As the world’s leading electronics trade show we see the presence of the internationally leading companies, as well. People from 48 countries have found the path to Munich. This is what makes us a bit proud, because for events as such these, the organizers are also facing a kind of recession”. And this event, of course, presents the industry’s entire spectrum in this business. “We exploited a lot of different options in order to provide an even more attractive platform for attendees and exhibitors alike, and we have eventually succeeded”. And as an international player said, “At Electronica, we present ourselves as a company with a very broad range of solutions and products. For us, the trade show is an outstanding communications platform for meeting with our customers and partners”.
In total, 3,017 main exhibitors and 551 additionally represented companies took part in Electronica 2004. From these main exhibitors, 1,736 companies were from abroad, and 1281 from Germany. So, the international businesses made up more than 57%. Let’s have a look at these companies and which top-ten countries the have come from, giving a true feeling for internationality. Taiwan was present with 297, plus additional 76 to end up with 373 in total; the USA with 171 plus 157 to sum up at 328; the UK with 182 plus 43 to add for 225; China PRP with 183 plus 14 to 197; Hong Kong with 125 in total; Switzerland with 124; Italy with 124; France with 88; Japan with 82, and India with 60 companies in total. From these figures we really can see that the Munich show organizers have made good on their statements about intercontinental presence.
On the attendee side, 75,000 electronics professionals from all over the world visited the Munich Trade Fair Center in November 2004, to mingle with that lively business platform, gaining direct information on the trends and innovations in electronics commerce. International mix among attendees strengthens significantly, rising to 42% from 32% back in 2002. The share of attendees that were from all different sector electronic was 99%, ensuring the high quality of contacts made at the show. Among the attendees from the trade, about 86% wield decision-making authority in their employing company, and 55% have an executive position – as the show organization said. The number of attendees from the United States has grown significantly. And the number of visitors from the industrial-electronics sector rose sharply, their share increasing from 39% in 2002 to 49% in 2004. Automotive electronics accounted for 11 % of the attendees.
From European voices, comments could be heard such as, “The level of visitors and quality of sales leads has been excellent. The variety of visitors spans many countries making this a truly international show”. Or, “The rise in international participation was very noticeable, especially from Eastern Europe, Asia and Russia”. And, “Our decision to take part in Electronica proved to be absolutely right”. Seems that the premier expo for electronics commerce has fulfilled what its architects have promised. The exhibitors and attendees were highly satisfied with the way that Electronica went: 95 % of the attendees and 84 % of the exhibitors evaluate the trade show as “excellent to good”.
Applications Reveal Innovative Capabilities
The Electronica’s sharpened focus on applications was reportedly very well received. One main area was the automotive electronics area. This user forum recorded significantly more attendees than was the case two years ago, since this business is still a growth market, especially for semiconductors. But as we can see in daily practice, it can also be a huge starting place of many fatal car defects. Tiny things block the complete automobile. The congress on Error-free Automotive Electronics discussed software and hardware solutions for reliable electronics in vehicles.
For specialists in the area of micro-electromechanical systems, The World of MEMS proved to be tremendously attractive as an exhibition and presentation arena. As very positive signals were weighed, numerous questions about advanced applications arose. They probably indicate that companies are looking for possibilities for integrating these technologies. Also the Embedded in Munich area dedicated to embedded technologies prevailed in optimism. Here, Electronica remains a strategically important place. An “embedded” congress rounded off the offering of exhibits and presentations. Another focal point on applications was the Wireless Communications user forum at the neighboring International Congress Center in parallel with the trade show. This was the first time that this congress was held, and it was claimed to have been very well received. Because of the lively response that all user forums and congresses received, the organizer is confident that the Electronica concept has been developing in the right direction. The application-focused approach, which is also a strong European merit, created a platform that enables companies to demonstrate their ability to establish innovative solutions.
And finally, a small note to remember: the Electronica 2006 trade show will be taking place from November 14 to 17 in 2006 in the Ba-varian capital. By then, the semiconductor market as well as equipment supply should have recovered.
Gerhard B. Wolski
EPP EUROPE 403
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