Hannover Messe 2024 highlights tech trends, AI, sustainability

The recently concluded Hannover Messe 2024, one of the world's largest and most influential industrial technology exhibitions, provided a platform for showcasing groundbreaking advancements in the sector.

Organised in Hamburg, Germany, the event underscored sustainability and industrial AI as pivotal themes, setting the stage for future developments in these areas.

According to IoT Analytics, which published an extensive 141-page event report encapsulating the fair's highlights, ten key trends emerged from the myriad technological advancements presented by various exhibitors. These include:

• Considerable divergence in sentiment between hardware and software for 2024.
• Continued emphasis on modularity in manufacturing processes.
• Numerous generative AI showcases, though widespread roll-out remains gradual.
• Incremental enhancements to virtual controllers.
• Maturation of sustainability data management solutions, facilitating streamlined ESG reporting.
• Efforts by vendors to simplify AI deployment at the edge.
• The debut of new edge node and application orchestration solutions.
• Growing interest in DataOps to enhance data usability.
• Improved AI capabilities in edge devices through GPU enhancements.
• Mixed sentiment towards private 5G, with managed 5G services drawing attention.

Knud Lasse Lueth, CEO of IoT Analytics, noted, "Hannover Messe 2024, once again, gave us a great view of the latest industrial technology trends. Our team found that edge technologies and ecosystem collaborations are becoming very important. While AI is still a key focus, there's a wider range of important tech developments happening, for example around sustainability, virtual controllers, and private 5G. Our detailed 141-page event report covers these insights and more, highlighting the key trends shaping the future of industrial technology."

Anand Taparia, Principal Analyst at IoT Analytics, asserted that advancements in edge orchestration were particularly noteworthy. "My personal highlight of Hannover Messe 2024 was the advancements in edge orchestration. Edge orchestration, driven by the proliferation of edge nodes and the need for efficient management, was a focal point. Vendors showcased innovative solutions with centralized deployment, zero-touch orchestration, and secure authentication. These developments highlight the industry's focus on enhancing edge capabilities for more scalable deployments," Taparia explained.

The fair also highlighted a range of new products and technologies. For example, modular robots certified with functional safety standards were presented at the Nexcobots showcase. Siemens introduced its AI-assisted Industrial Engineering Copilot, aiming to streamline engineering processes with enhanced AI integration. SymphonyAI, in collaboration with Microsoft, unveiled the IRIS Foundry architecture components, aiming to revolutionise industrial production. Additionally, Schneider Electric showcased hardware with support for IEC 61499 standards, adding significant value to the automation industry.

Furthermore, Beckhoff Automation displayed its TwinCAT Machine Learning Creator, which promises to advance machine learning applications in industrial settings. Dell focused on edge orchestration with its Native Edge platform, indicating a strong move towards more efficient and secure edge computing environments.

As the industrial sector continues to navigate the complexities of integrating advanced technologies, Hannover Messe serves as a crucial indicator of the industry's direction. The trends identified not only highlight current focal points but also provide insight into where investments and innovations are heading. With sustainability and AI at the forefront, companies are poised to embrace new technologies that enhance efficiency, scalability, and environmental responsibility.

In conclusion, the 2024 edition of Hannover Messe reaffirmed its status as a bellwether event for industrial technology. The latest insights from IoT Analytics underscore the significant strides being made across various domains, from AI and edge computing to modularity and sustainability. As these trends continue to evolve, their impact on the industrial landscape will likely be profound, steering the industry towards a more advanced and integrated future.