Stuttgart, 14/11/2024. The SPS - Smart Production Solutions 2024 has come to an end. The 33rd edition of the specialist trade fair forintelligent and digital automation once again enthused all participants with a diverse range of key technologies for industrial production. Visitors from all over the world used the platform to discover the latest trends in specialist discussions with exhibitors, panel discussions, product presentations and visits to the special exhibition areas, and then set the course for the 2025 financial year

On a total of 125,000 m² in 16 exhibition halls, visitors to SPS 2024 were able to enjoy a wide range of exhibiting companies. With 1,114 exhibitors and some 51,300 visitors, this year's trade fair was once again a complete success. In view of the difficult economic situation in which the industry currently finds itself, the increase in visitor numbers compared to the previous year is a strong and important signal for the automation sector. The event was characterised by intensive technical discussions about the latest products and current market launches, as well as forecasts about automation and the digitisation of the industry. "The SPS is the highlight of the year for automation. Here, visitors can discover the latest technologies in person and meet the respective experts, which enables them to establish and develop valuable industry contacts. Even in difficult economic times, SPS remains a strong centre for innovation and discussion. This is where we shape the future together,' says Steffen Winkler, CSO of the Automation Business Unit at Bosch Rexroth AG and Chairman of the SPS Exhibitor Advisory Board.

The three days of the trade fair were punctuated by a targeted and high-quality conference programme focusing on key topics such as artificial intelligence in automation or digital transformation. "For us, the main trend at SPS is clearly towards artificial intelligence. We are convinced that this technology will bring enormous productivity benefits in the coming years, perhaps even decades,' explains Dr Axel Zein, Managing Director of WSCAD GmbH. The four forums at the trade fair offered the opportunity to learn more about the relevant topics and to have a direct dialogue with experts. And even after the event, a certain amount of specialist talks and panel discussions will be available on demand on the digital platform 'SPS on air'.

Group stands as an additional magnet attracting the audience

The ' Automation meets IT' group stand in Hall 6, which has been established for many years now, once again attracted many visitors. Those interested were able to ask a total of 17 exhibitors about, among other things, IT management solutions and security measures for production, cloud- and edge-based solutions, as well as IoT- and AI-based solutions.

In Hall 8, the ' young INNOVATORS' collective stand and the start-up area offered unique and topical insights into the latest products, processes and services in the field of intelligent and digital automation. The programme was rounded off by the presentations of the 'newcomers' at the adjacent exhibition forum.

Numerous offers for young talent

Both the Makeathon, which ran for the entire duration of the fair, and the Young Talents Day, which took place on the last day of the fair, were very popular: 'Our exhibitors were immediately very interested in taking part in these offers, and the places were filled very quickly. This confirms to us that in these times of shortage of skilled labour and young talent we have struck the right nerve,' summarises Sylke Schulz-Metzner, vice-president of SPS.

At the Makeathon, engineering students were able to apply what they had learnt as well as demonstrate their creativity and experiment with real projects. Guided tours offered on Thursday took each young target group to the stands of six exhibitors. On this occasion, the students were able to gain valuable insights into the latest trends and technologies directly from the experts and were able to make contacts with industry professionals. In addition, two job fairs with digital access to the SPS CareerDrive career platform in Halls 8 and 10 offered not only young talents but all interested parties an overview of current job offers in the automation industry.

Future perspectives

A detailed trade fair analysis with further results for SPS 2024 will be available from the beginning of 2025. Next year, the specialist trade fair will return to its tried-and-tested format in the last week of November, and will therefore take place in Nuremberg from 25 to 27/11/2025.

To ensure that exchange with the SPS community is also possible throughout the year, to network and not miss out on current trends, the SPS offers a varied programme and a wide range of information. The SPS Automation Hub brings together technology enthusiasts to drive the future together using intelligent, digital solutions. Whether digital events like the monthly Technology Talks, SPS Insights with industry news or the preview of the Industrial Technology Summit in Stuttgart on 22/05/2025, everything always revolves around automation and its fields of application. The new event, which will take place in May next year, will offer experts and decision-makers from industry an additional personal platform to discuss technological advances and their practical applications in automation. In addition to thematic exchange, the focus is on networking between participants and the opportunity to develop new perspectives and projects together. For more information on the SPS, the SPS Automation Hub and the formats offered throughout the year, please visit sps-exhibition.com.

Further comments on SPS 2024

Gunther Koschnick, director of industry/managing director of the Association for Automation, ZVEI e.V.: 'This trade fair is unique and for good reason: whether you are a design engineer, machine builder, plant operator or production manager, this is the right place to get comprehensive information. In fact nowhere else can you find such concentration and focus on automation as at this trade fair.