electronica 2012 Final Report: international trade fair leaves industry feeling confident

Norbert Bargmann, Deputy CEO of Messe München, was more than satisfied with the fair’s results: “The results of this year’s fair confirm the electronics industry’s significance as the most important branch of industry in the world. Everyone was here.” The market is constantly confronted with new requirements that manufacturers meet with intelligent solutions. This year’s hot topics included energy-efficient technologies and the latest developments in medical electronics. Automotive electronics, which account for an ever increasing share of modern motor vehicles, was central theme in all exhibition categories: from control elements for energy harvesting and battery management to new charging techniques for electric automobiles.

The industry is looking forward to the year 2013 with cautious optimism. That was also confirmed by Christoph Stoppok, Managing Director of the Electronic Components and Systems Association and the PCB and Electronic Systems Association in the ZVEI (German Electrical and Electronic Manufacturers' Association): “After a minor slump, we expect the world market for electronic components to grow by some four percent to 480 billion US dollars. Forecasts also call for an increase in sales in the global semiconductor industry.”

Solidified position

More than 72,000 trade visitors from 78 countries came to Munich. According to a survey by marketing-research institute TNS Infratest, visitors were extremely satisfied with the outcome of the fair: 95 percent gave the fair a rating of good to excellent.

Besides Germany, the countries with the largest contingents of visitors were Italy, Austria, Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Switzerland, France, the Russian Federation and the USA, in that order. The number of visitors from Canada, the Russian Federation, Turkey, the USA, the Czech Republic, Austria and Asia saw a significance increase. Nicole Schmitt, Exhibition Group Director for electronica: “The large percentage of international guests proves once again that electronica is the world’s leading trade fair for the electronics industry.”

2,669 exhibitors from 49 countries presented their products and technologies. Besides Germany, the countries with the largest numbers of exhibitors were China, Taiwan, the USA, Great Britain, Italy, Hong Kong, France, Switzerland and Japan, in that order.

CEO Round Table

The speakers at this year’s CEO Round Table all agree on one thing: “Smart grid” will be one of the electronics industry’s key topics in the future. The four CEOs from STMicroelectronics, NXP Semiconductors, Freescale Semiconductor and Infineon Technologies saw that as a great opportunity for the semiconductor industry. After all, without smart meters and smart lighting solutions, it will not be possible to ensure the energy-efficient supply of electricity in the future. The industry still faces a few challenges. Electricity must be fed, transported and controlled, and several components are needed to do so. The interaction and reliability of these components are essential to avoid ultimately ending up in the dark.

Other conferences and related events

More than 200 people including visitors from Denmark, Finland, Taiwan and the USA participated in the first embedded platforms conference. They gathered information about solution approaches and services for developing embedded platforms. Some 300 participants from 19 countries attended the electronica automotive conference, which focused on topics such as cost to design and car-to-car communication. For example: In the future, WLAN-based technology will make it possible for motor vehicles to communicate with one another, even at high speeds.

The next electronica takes place in Munich from November 11 – 14, 2014.