Making a comeback for metalworking

Since 1982 the German metalworking show AMB has been a showcase for products, technologies, innovations, services and concepts for people who are passionate about metalworking. After an interval of four years due to Covid, the organisers are keen to report it “open for business” once again. PES reports.

One of Europe’s biggest showcases for the metalworking industry AMB returns to the Stuttgart Messe exhibition centre this year.

Last held in 2018 the show, backed by the German VDMA precision tools association, the VDMA software and digitalisation association and the VDW German Machine Tool Builders’ association, is expected to attract around 90,000 trade visitors and 1,400 exhibitors in 120,000m² of exhibition space.

Held this year from September 13-17, every aspect of metalworking innovation is featured at the show from metalcutting machine tools, precision tools, measuring systems and quality assurance through to robotics, workpiece and tool handling, industrial software and engineering, and parts, components and accessories.

“We are hugely grateful and even a little proud that the overwhelming majority of companies are continuing to commit to AMB. The support of our partners and exhibitors has played a key part in ensuring that Messe Stuttgart has survived the coronavirus-related enforced closures of the last two years relatively unscathed,” states Roland Bleinroth, president of Messe Stuttgart.

Aside from its homegrown audience, the show attracts visitors and exhibitors from around the world. Around a quarter of the exhibition space is filled with overseas companies with the leading countries this year being Italy, Switzerland and Spain.

The topic-themed floorplan has been largely retained this year, but with a few minor changes. For example, spindle manufacturers are moving from the gallery in the L-Bank Forum (hall 1) to the Oskar Lapp Hall (hall 6) and the zones for gear-cutting and surface technology will this time be located together in hall 5.

The digital approach

Automation and digitalisation will be key themes this year, not only from the manufacturing technology on display but also in terms of the visitor experience.

There will be an innovative online exhibitor overview, in which exhibiting companies can provide videos, animations, product brochures and similar for download in addition to static information. They can also incorporate interactive content for social media. Furthermore, companies can add multiple contacts for different target groups to ensure that the right people are brought together at their stands.

It will also be much easier for visitors to plan a route for the stands they are most interested in visiting. They can arrange their own specific topic-based tours using a new function in the online exhibitor overview, enabling them to conveniently arrange their visit to the exhibition in advance. These self-guided tours are managed by means of numerous filter options, which take visitors to exhibits and applications at stands showcasing the various industry technologies.

AMB will be featuring digital developments too when it comes to presentation subjects. Each day seminars covering different topics will be held in the Trend Lounge in the ICS foyer. The content will be recorded and made available on demand once the exhibition has finished.

This year’s themes include additive manufacturing, metal as a material, industrial security, digital networking, climate change and sustainability, as well as start-up pitches.

During the Mav trade journal magazine web sessions, which have been launched as a digital addition in the run-up to the exhibition, exhibitor companies have been given the opportunity to showcase the topics they will be presenting. Two of these web sessions will cover smart cells for flexible machine automation and innovative machining solutions. Mav will also be organising an ‘Art meets technology’ competition to design a game using metalworking design and machining methods.

Other conference sessions and forums include the SmartFactory show at Entrance East that will present a fully automated and digitalised process chain involving seven companies.

A personalised giveaway gift will be produced directly at the stand. All process steps from the start of an order to the final workpiece are networked and mapped in physical and virtual formats for visitors to observe.

Creating connections

Umati (universal machine technology interface) is a joint initiative between the German Machine Tool Builders’ Association (VDW) and the Mechanical Engineering Industry Association (VDMA) to promote the dissemination and use of open interface standards based on open platform communications unified architecture (OPC UA).

The umati zone will feature in the Paul Horn Hall (hall 10), and will demonstrate how machines and systems can communicate with each other or be integrated into customer- or user-specific IT ecosystems.

Live production will also be seen at a special event for young people, which is organised by the Mechanical Engineering Youth Foundation and aims to inspire young people to consider a career in mechanical engineering and to showcase new technologies used during training. From the stand in the atrium, an entire process chain from the design to the manufacture of a Formula 1 model car will be reproduced. Apprentices from the partner companies involved will be on hand to answer any questions.

The atrium is also the location for a further highlight for young industry talent: participants in WorldSkills Germany will be battling it out in various disciplines as part of the AMB country contests. In addition to the turning, milling and machining competitions that have been held in the past, contests in the fields of additive manufacturing and CAD are also planned.

Start ups

At AMB 2022, Entrance East will for the first time become a start-up area and a BMWK (German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action) group stand for young, innovative companies. Plans include holding an investor day on the Saturday. Exhibition organisers will be awarding the AMB Start-Up 2022 prize.

The VDMA Technology Forum in the L-Bank Forum (hall 1) is an established format from the VDMA Precision Tools Association in which specific technical implementations relating to Industry 4.0 and current research projects are showcased in 15-minute presentations.

In the Stuttgart Region Lounge, Entrance East, keynote presentations will be held on topics ranging from the digital transformation to the use of artificial intelligence in industry.

“Planning for the exhibition is in full swing,” comments director of mechanical engineering and production at AMB, Gunnar Mey. “Momentum is high and everything is set for AMB’s success story to continue. Together with exhibitors, we will design the best platform for all users of metalcutting technology from all over Europe to enable direct dialogue and exchange between people and face-to-face encounters.”

AMB 2022
www.messe-stuttgart.de/amb/en