News 6 | Plant & Works Engineering www.pwemag.co.uk February/March 2024 In a bid to propel industries toward sustainability, Hannover Messe 2024 is set to showcase cutting-edge innovations in automation, artificial intelligence, and renewable energies. The global trade fair, held under the theme “Energising a Sustainable Industry,” aims to address the pressing challenges of enhancing competitiveness, climate protection, and economic prosperity. Basilios Triantafillos, Global Director of Hannover Messe at Deutsche Messe AG, emphasised the pivotal role of innovative technologies showcased at the event in fostering a climate-neutral and highperformance industry. Triantafillos acknowledged the hurdles faced by companies, including the need for guidance in implementing automation, artificial intelligence, and energy management concepts, as well as the obstacles posed by bureaucracy and a shortage of skilled workers. Hannover Messe 2024 seeks to provide solutions to these challenges through a mix of new technologies, cross-industry collaboration, and a clear political framework. More than 4000 companies, representing a unified industrial ecosystem, will demonstrate how automation, digitalisation, and electrification can lead to climate neutrality. Key industry trends highlighted at the fair include artificial intelligence, carbon-neutral production, energy systems, Industry 4.0 and Manufacturing-X, and hydrogen and fuel cells. Large global technology companies such as Amazon Web Services, Bosch Rexroth, Google Cloud, Microsoft, SAP, and Siemens, alongside numerous small and medium-sized businesses, will present their contributions to a greener future. Leading research organisations, including Bavaria Innovative, various Fraunhofer institutes, the Karlsruhe Institute for Technology (KIT), and Germany’s Ministry of Education and Research, will showcase the current state of research and technology transfer. Additionally, over 300 industrial start-ups will boost the focus on entrepreneurship and innovation. A significant focus of Hannover Messe 2024 is on green hydrogen, with approximately 500 companies from the hydrogen and fuel cell industry, including more than 300 at the group exhibit Hydrogen + Fuel Cells Europe. Norway, as the Partner Country at Hannover Messe 2024 under the theme “Norway 2024: Pioneering the Green Industrial Transition,” will highlight its plans for a low-carbon society and its role in developing solutions for renewable energy, carbon-neutral production, and green and digital applications. The European Union, showcasing itself as an economic alliance, presents a programme featuring Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, at the opening ceremony. The EU’s programme includes the conference “EU as Home of Decarbonised Industry” and the European Commission Pavilion. Addressing the persistent challenge of a skilled workforce shortage, Hannover Messe introduces “YOUR FUTURE,” a young talent initiative encouraging high school graduates, college students, and young professionals to pursue careers in AI, engineering, and robotics. The programme includes meetings with potential employers, guided tours, information on apprenticeship and trainee programs, and networking opportunities. Hannover Messe 2024, the world’s leading trade fair for industrial technology, promises to be a key event shaping the future of manufacturing and energy supply. The exhibition runs from April 22 to 26 in Hannover, Germany, with Norway taking centre stage as the Partner Country. Hannover Messe 2024: Empowering a Green Industrial Revolution BCAS appoints Steven Rohan as new President The British Compressed Air Society (BCAS) has appointed Steven Rohan as its new president. Rohan is the division engineering manager for Parker Gas Separation and Filtration Division – Europe, Middle East and Africa and takes over the role from immediate past president, Mark Ranger from Atlas Copco. Having held the role of vice president for the past two years, Rohan is keen to build upon the excellent foundations set by the Society’s predecessors and to ensure that BCAS continues to play its crucial role in driving progress in the compressed air industry. Rohan commented: “It is an honour to be appointed as the 59th president of BCAS, a society that has been at the forefront of promoting safety and best practice in the energy efficiency and more cleaner and sustainable technologies. With this comes changing legislation and standards in a postBrexit regulatory landscape and, BCAS has a key part to play in representing its broad membership and as an independent voice of the compressed air industry. “To add further value for our membership, during my tenure I will also focus on talent acquisition and development. Our training and development portfolio and qualification programs will be broadened and strengthened, forming closer partnerships with the education sector. This will support the aim to attract more talent to our industry and our members’ businesses.” As part of the Society’s ongoing plans to compressed air industry for more than 90 years. “The world is changing rapidly. We are facing new challenges from the increasing demand for
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