The 31st edition of SPS, the trade fair for smart and digital automation, is expected to attract 1,100 exhibitors from across the globe. The event will take place from 8 to 10 November 2022 in Nuremberg and will showcase the latest products, solutions and pioneering future technologies in the field of industrial automation.
Like many exhibitions over the last couple of years, SPS – the trade fair for smart and digital automation – took a break during COVID. But with the exhibition organisers feeling that digital events can’t replace in-person trade fairs, where visitors can touch, see and feel products on show, this year’s event is back at Messe Nuremberg. Traditionally held at the end of November, this year SPS will be taking place from 8-10 November.
Alongside seeing a wide range of products and services from national and international suppliers of automation and digitalisation solutions, visitors will also have the chance to get a comprehensive overview of the market via the complementary digital event platform ‘SPS on air’.
According to current figures, there are expected to be approximately 1,100 exhibitors, including 340 international exhibitors. Many familiar companies will be exhibiting, including: Schmersal, ABB, Aerotech, Analog Devices, Balluff, Baumer, Beckhoff Automation, Bonfiglioli, Burkert, CC-Link Partner Association Europe, Delta Line, EPLAN, Getriebebau NORD, Hammond Manufacturing Company, Harting Deutschland, ifm electronic, Lafert Servo Motors, Lenze SE, maxon motor, Oriental Motor (Europa), Pilz, etc.
Those exhibiting from the UK include: Alltorq, IDEM Safety Switches, Invertek Drives, Motortronics, Stephenson Gobin, and Trio Motion Technology.
Hot topics
At SPS 2022, there will be extensive program of lectures on current topics from the automation industry. Even in the week before the event starts, SPS ticket holders have an opportunity to participate in a digital ‘pre-heat event’ with numerous technical presentations and product previews on the ‘SPS on air’ platform. During the exhibition itself, the supplementary program will run at the VDMA/ZVEI Forum in Hall 3 on the exhibition grounds and from the SPS Live Studio in Nuremberg. The main topics of the panel discussions, product presentations or keynotes this year are:
• Digital transformation/Industry 4.0
• Industrial communications
• Safety & security
• New logistic methods and robotic integration
• Data-driven and intelligent concepts for control and visualization
• Smart sensors
• Drives
• Use cases for AI
• Sustainability in automation
Participants can use the digital platform to initiate contacts and arrange appointments both on-site and digitally, network with each other, and find contacts for their specific automation queries. The ‘SPS on air’, including its interaction options, will remain online after the end of the event until November 11, 2022. This means that those who visit the trade fair in person still have the opportunity to view presentations afterwards or to establish contacts with purely digital participants worldwide.
Automation meets IT
In Hall 6, the ‘Automation meets IT’ joint stand presented by 16 or so exhibitors will offer visitors comprehensive insights into specific issues and give them an opportunity to receive individual advice from suppliers.
The joint stand will focus on the following topics:
• Asset management
• Cloud-based services
• Data-centric services
• Predictive maintenance
• OPC Unified Architecture (OPC UA)
