"The world has changed." It was with these words that Peter Jackson began his film trilogy "The Lord of the Rings". The same slogan also accompanied the Hannover Messe, one of the largest automation and new technology fairs in the world.
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The Hanover fairs returned after a long absence, which in itself sends a clear signal that something strange and bad was going on. Blockade of the Suez Canal by a container ship, a global pandemic, more waves and mutations of the coronavirus, and when everything seemed to be coming to an end, another problem emerged. The Russian aggression against Ukraine shook the world with a double force, and the consequences of this event are still difficult to predict in one hundred percent.
Fairs different than anything
No wonder that although in Hanover - as always - a strong emphasis was placed on the issues of new technologies and how they can help the industry, which is entering the phase of revolution 4.0 with full force, there was a serious shadow over the whole event. A shadow of uncertainty and danger.
Everyone remembers well how great losses were caused by the coronavirus. Suspended production, broken supply chains or finally closed plants. The two-year pandemic has shown that something that has worked very well for years, in the face of a more serious threat, can crumble like a house of cards.
All these events made people wonder what to do to protect themselves better and how to function in these uncertain times. The opportunity to look for solutions was perfect, because over 2,500 exhibitors and the most important people in the industry, as well as from the world of politics, showed up in Hanover. The event itself was smaller than in the past, mainly due to the lack of Chinese people, but it was difficult to find a better platform for such debates.
The role of politicians
Regarding the dangerous times, a very important issue was raised by Jochen Koeckler from Deutsche Messe, the fair organizer. It is, of course, about the energy around which the great dependence of Europe towards Russia has grown over the years. And today, during the war, it is a key problem. - Without energy, our production plants will not be able to function - he said. - We need reliable and sustainable access to it so that we can operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week - Koeckler added.
The role of politicians in this matter will be very important, because without their decisions at the highest levels, it may not be possible to solve the problems. Wolfgang Weber from the Electrical Industry Association argued that synergy will be necessary in this matter. - I am sure that companies from Germany, but not only, will be willing to enter other markets and diversify their supplies - he said. - However, it will not be possible without the support of the political class. It is necessary to join forces in this matter - he concluded.
New markets
What, in turn, did Weber mean about opening up new markets? That, after years of dependence on cheap labor from China and raw materials flowing in a large stream from Russia, start to pursue a more sustainable policy in terms of supply chains and security guarantees. Here, the main markets are Africa, Asia and Latin America.
The changes that were initiated by the first case of the coronavirus increasingly affect the world around us and the industrial automation industry is not alone in this case.
