INTERKAMA+: Tailor-made for the process industry

The twelve leading trade fairs of HANNOVER MESSE (the Hannover Fair) offer major innovations – and that includes hygienic production.

Nowhere in the world will you find a broad-based package of information on industrial automation to match what HANNOVER MESSE (the Hannover Fair) has to offer from 16 to 20 April 2007. Little wonder then that there are some real process “treasures” to be found within the diverse exhibition program.

For example, a visit to INTERKAMA+ is an absolute must. Shaped by the fast pace of innovation in electronics, process automation provides a diverse range of new developments each and every year, not least in terms of sensor and fieldbus technology. Pepperl+Fuchs are exhibiting one such development – the innovative Advanced Diagnostic Module (ADM) for the FieldConnex Power Hub. The ADM is designed to make it easier to control the complexity of the Foundation Fieldbus H1 and the Profibus PA. David Hohenstein, Department Manager at Pepperl+Fuchs in the USA: “The ADM monitors the fieldbus physical layer, thereby creating transparency and making it easier to evaluate a network.”

There is no doubt that the leading international trade fair INTERKAMA+ is a key focal point in sensor technology under the unifying umbrella of Industrial Automation. More than 200 sensor manufacturers and research facilities are showcasing their latest developments at HANNOVER MESSE – incorporating everything up to and including wireless sensor networks, which are also part of the “Wireless Automation” competence center.

Visitors mustn't miss out on the “Hygienic Design & Cleanroom Technology” competence center, which offers a valuable insight into several ideas for the easy-to-clean design of facilities and their components. Everything on show here serves to optimize hygiene in the food and semi-luxury goods sector, as well as in pharmaceuticals and other hygiene-relevant industries. It is barely possible to take in absolutely everything on offer at the main exhibitor stands in just one day. However, the competence center offers the opportunity to find out about analysis devices, SIP- and CIP-compatible fittings, actuators, sensors and pumps in the very minimum of time. Visitors can also meet suppliers specializing in hygienic production.

But this show-within-a-show (Hall 7) certainly doesn’t contain everything HANNOVER MESSE has to offer on the subject of hygiene. The leading MDA – Motion, Drive & Automation exhibition in Halls 19 to 26 with its hygienic seals is also worth a visit.

As a member of Trelleborg Sealing Solutions, sealings manufacturer Busak+Shamban alone is presenting no fewer than ten elastomer materials that comply with 3A sanitary standards. Alongside EPDM, NBR, and FKM materials, visitors will also be able to see new PTFE materials for static and, to a certain extent, dynamic sealing on rotating shafts degreased using CIP cleaning regimes. The company claims that the new “Turcon MF” family of materials complies with both FDA rules and the EC plastics directive 2002/72/EC. Other materials and hygiene-compatible technical parts can also be found in Halls 3 to 5, where subcontracting is the theme and suppliers therefore take the floor. Hygienic robots and handling systems are being exhibited in Halls 16 and 17.

The recently launched research project, “VERSTAND” illustrates just how interested foodstuff manufacturers are in condition-based maintenance for their packaging machines, fans, and agitators. Involved in the project are the Machine Tools Laboratory (WZL) of RWTH Aachen University, the packaging systems manufacturer Rovema and the branded products company Teekanne. A bag packaging machine from Wolf – fitted with condition monitoring technology from Festo – also underscores the importance of condition monitoring for food and semi-luxury goods manufacturers. This machine forms part of the demonstration park where the functions and advantages of condition monitoring are being demonstrated live (Hall 24).

About HANNOVER MESSE (the Hannover Fair)
The world’s leading exhibition for industrial technology takes place annually in Hannover, Germany. The next show will be staged from 16 to 20 April 2007, with Turkey as its official Partner Country. The lineup of flagship fairs taking place under the umbrella of HANNOVER MESSE 2007 is as follows:
INTERKAMA+ • Factory Automation • Industrial Building Automation • MDA ­ Motion, Drive & Automation • Digital Factory • Subcontracting • Energy • Pipeline Technology •  ComVac • Surface Technology plus Powder Coating Europe • MicroTechnology  • Research & Technology. HANNOVER MESSE will focus in particular on industrial automation, power transmission and control, energy technologies, subcontracting and services, as well as cutting-edge technologies.