Once again after two years, the biannual Productronica in the Bavarian capital Munich opens its doors from November 15 to 18 to the electronics-manufacturing community. “Since its launch in 1975, the leading event has found its proven standing in the worldwide trade show calendar, and we can say that the electronics manufacturing world loves to come to Munich”, fair director Klaus Dittrich states. Especially the internationality is growing, from visitors and exhibitors alike. This year about 40% of the exhibitors originate from outside of Germany. One of the key topics will be the lead-free process.
However, all that shines is not thoroughly golden through the preparation efforts of this successful trade show, as the organizer’s executive reveals. This year, an entire hall less will be needed (B1/B2 only in use partly at the atrium side), since exhibitors from Germany were especially very hesitant to participate. Therefore, the event will be placed on a total of 121,000sqm (2003: 110,00sqm), in eleven halls. Still it’s a very impressive development. And so the other figures are: from 2003 to 2005, the number of exhibitors has grown from 1535 to 1680, and about 47,000 visitors are expected (2003: 42,000). One word more to the subject of foreign visitors. Most of them came in the past from Italy, followed by Switzerland, Austria, Finland, France, Spain, Slovenia, UK, Czech Republic and Sweden. In total, they were from 88 countries in 2003, with a clear inclination to the European area.
From this perspective, the Munich show organizers will probably not fall in a deep abyss; it’s more a matter that the task of filling very huge halls in a time where show budgets are also carefully handled, even in the case of this gigantic biannual industry event. The organizer’s team seems very proud about the fact that many of the global industry’s market leaders will be back again. Therefore, even when some of the small and middle-sized players have left this time (whatever the reasons may be), there seems no gap or even erosion – just the opposite seems to be true.
“Productronica offers its visitors extensive insight into the current and future trends for electronics manufacture, since the trade show depicts this industry’s entire value chain: from PCB and component to micro and nanotechnology; automated assembly to measurement and test and inspection methodologies; production logistics; and electronics manufacturing services or subcontracting”, underlines Klaus Dittrich the footing of the event. The show has been held every two years since 1975, and since a couple of years takes place at the New Munich Trade Fair Center, which is said to be Europe’s most modern fair grounds. At least, it’s very huge and virtually everything needed for electronics manufacture is on display.
“Productronica has of course picked up the trends and requirements of this dynamic industry”, emphasizes Thomas Rehbein, deputy director of the organizer’s new technologies department. This year, the focus will be on production logistics and material flow, on manufacturing subcontracting (EMS Village), and nanotechnology (Hall B5 MicroNanoWorld). In the forum areas in Halls B3 and A6, lectures and podium discussions will be held on topics covering all aspects related to electronics production. The focal points include production logistics, current market and technology news on board assembly in accordance with Europe’s RoHS directive.
On the first day of the trade show, high-caliber representatives from the industry will be meeting for a panel discussion in which they will be addressing the challenges facing the industry in the light of globalization. Just seven months before the EU’s RoHS directive will become legal standard, at this year’s Productronica the so-called lead-free process will be a topical upsurge that flows through all exhibition halls. The topic will be given special attention in the Lead-Free Interactive Forum (A6). Here, a production environment will demonstrate lead-free in a real milieu. A daily Expert Forum with international experts will take place where attendees can take part in Q&A sessions. In addition, there is a fully lead-free production line with paste print, placement, reflow and vapor-phase soldering, optical and X-ray inspection, as well as electrical test.
“This is a B-to-B- event”, as Dittrich says, “about 90% of the attendees belong in a way to the decision makers”. Here, reportedly 22% are from the top management (final decision), and about 52% hold positions of leadership in production, production planning, product development, R&D, engineering design, quality management, marketing and sales. In total, about 83% of the visitors are from the manufacturing industry: from industrial electronics 18%, automotive electronics 11%, electrical engineering 9%; and mechanical and equipment engineering with 8% – from PCB manufacture and from semiconductor and flat-panel industry about 6% each.
“This event is a highly efficient instrument within the electronics manufacturing industry”, resumes Klaus Dittrich. The exhibition, focus topics, live demos and forum areas serve as a very useful platform for sharing knowledge and for networking. It is claimed that nowhere else is it possible to meet so many players from the industry, gain information about worldwide trends, and build relationships within such a short amount of time and in such close proximity.
In a short overview, Viscom’s CEO Volker Pape, the newly elected chairman of the Productronics Association within the German Engineering Federation (VDMA), gave a brief look at the situation in business. Because many orders for volume PCB production is going to the East now, in Europe the number of PCB fabricators is steadily declining. So from 561 in 2000 to about 400 now, and this will not stop. Alone in Germany the PCB net sales shrunk by 36% in the first half of 2005. On a worldwide scale, Europe, USA and Japan have continuous PCB demand on a constantly high level, but remarkable growth can be seen in South East Asia, especially China.
A survey among the member companies revealed that “in the guts we still feel good development for the majority of our member firms this year, and also in the following one – despite some critical situations”. However, a core trend can be clearly witnessed. As board assembly continues to move to Central East/East Europe and even more to South East Asia, equipment suppliers also must follow, not only with service and support facilities, but also with local equipment fabs, R&D and design. And because competition concerning the price alone isn’t possible, the suppliers from the Western Hemisphere have to provide additional value to their customers.
Gerhard B. Wolski
EPP EUROPE 400
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