productronica 2015 features five new clusters

productronica has been held every two years in Munich for 40 years. A number of innovations in manufacturing had their beginnings at the world's leading trade fair and have since had a significant influence on the ongoing development of electronics. productronica has been restructured just in time for its 40^th anniversary. The fair's 19 different segments have been integrated into a new cluster structure that gives visitors a unique overview of the entire value chain in electronics production. The five new clusters are as follows:

• PCB & EMS cluster
• SMT cluster
• Semiconductors cluster
• Cables, Coils & Hybrids cluster
• Future Markets cluster

New concepts were also developed for the forums that accompany the fair: In the future, each cluster will have its own Speakers Corner in Halls A1, B2 and B3. As in the past, the PCB & EMS Marketplace in Hall B1 will be dedicated to those two sectors.

For the first time ever, the fair will present the productronica innovation award in the five cluster categories. An independent panel of industry experts will present awards for the most innovative new products and manufacturing techniques. This is the electronics-production industry's first independent award and it will be presented on the first day of productronica. All of productronica's exhibitors are invited to compete with one or more innovations. They may submit products that are an entirely new development or a significant further technical development.

Making product innovations in the five new clusters an experience to remember: That is the motto of this special show at productronica. The world's leading trade fair for electronics production will present the hot topic of Industry 4.0 from a new perspective: Industry 4.0 will make it possible for visitors to visually experience previously hidden procedures that machines and workpieces negotiate and that incorporate people on five select electronics manufacturing machines - with the help of augmented and virtual reality.

productronica's opening event, the CEO Roundtable on Cyber security: Challenges for the Manufacturing Industry, is on the first day of the fair. Leading personalities from the industrial, scientific and political sectors will discuss questions such as 'How can I gain insights into our security status?' and 'How relevant is cyber security to companies that don't think they have highly sensitive data?' Besides focusing on office IT (attacks by viruses and malware), specific aspects of cyber security in industry (smart factory) will also be examined.

According to a recent survey about the business climate conducted by VDMA Productronic, German manufacturers of components, machines and systems for electronics production are expecting sales to increase by 2.8% this year and by 6.3% in 2016. This positive trend is also reflected by the exhibitors that are participating in this year's productronica. There will also be national pavilions from Austria, Bulgaria, China, Estonia, France, Great Britain, Hungary Morocco, the Netherlands and the United States.

For the first time ever, IT2Industry, the trade fair and open conference for intelligent, digitally networked working environments, is being held at the same time as productronica. The industrial IoT is changing the prerequisites for production and manufacturing. The products and services that are presented at IT2Industry at the same time as productronica demonstrate the link between classic manufacturing and Industry 4.0.