Motek/Bondexpo 2021: Pure awakening!

It was a brilliant re-launch of Motek/Bondexpo, which was held as a presence trade fair from 05. to 08 October 2021 was held with great success in Stuttgart. The automation industry had been eagerly awaiting the 39th Motek – International Trade Fair for Production and Assembly Automation – and 14th Bondexpo – International Trade Fair for Adhesive Bonding Technology. The live event far exceeded the expectations of the exhibitors.

It was a goosebump moment when the fair gong sounded at nine o’clock on Tuesday morning. There was prolonged applause at many booths. Indeed: The fair is taking place, live and present, it is open. “Yes, we’re back!” exclaimed Bettina Schall, managing director of P. E. Schall GmbH & Co. KG to exhibitors, trade visitors and media representatives. On site, 453 exhibitors from 25 countries, 17 percent of them from abroad, were represented on 45,000 square meters of gross floor space. “My thanks go to all those who are present here today and are actively supporting the re-launch of the presence fair,” said project manager Rainer Bachert. The proven trade fair duo Motek/Bondexpo was not just a re-launch – it was a departure! “Motek 2021 completely exceeded our expectations,” sums up Ulrich Moser, Head of Marketing & Sales Controlling at IEF Werner GmbH. “We were surprised how many customers came with concrete projects and were looking for solutions. It was a brilliant re-launch of the Motek/Bondexpo, which was held as a presence trade fair from 05. to 08 October 2021 was held with great success in Stuttgart. The automation industry had been eagerly awaiting the 39th Motek – International Trade Fair for Production and Assembly Automation – and 14th Bondexpo – International Trade Fair for Adhesive Bonding Technology. The live event far exceeded the expectations of the exhibitors.

It was a goosebump moment when the fair gong sounded at nine o’clock on Tuesday morning. There was prolonged applause at many booths. Indeed: The fair is taking place, live and present, it is open. “Yes, we’re back!” exclaimed Bettina Schall, managing director of P. E. Schall GmbH & Co. KG to exhibitors, trade visitors and media representatives. On site, 453 exhibitors from 25 countries, 17 percent of them from abroad, were represented on 45,000 square meters of gross floor space. “My thanks go to all those who are present here today and are actively supporting the re-launch of the presence fair,” said project manager Rainer Bachert. The proven trade fair duo Motek/Bondexpo was not just a re-launch – it was a departure! “Motek 2021 completely exceeded our expectations,” sums up Ulrich Moser, Head of Marketing & Sales Controlling at IEF Werner GmbH. “We were surprised how many customers came with concrete projects and were looking for solutions. Finally, it’s possible to exchange ideas in person again.”

Motek/Bondexpo 2021 was one of the first major trade events after the trade fair-free period and was anticipated with correspondingly great anticipation. Now it became a complete success. From the very first hour, the trade show was characterized by intensive professional exchange at the exhibits. “Being here in person, networking, it’s good,” said Thomas Zettlmeier, technical sales at Otto Bihler Maschinenfabrik. He demonstrated processes and the operation of a machine for hairpin production as part of the Arena of Integration (AoI) together with CMC Engineers. Visitors were able to experience a real-time 3D animation of a Hairpin machine configured to customer requirements. “We are lucky to be part of AoI here and already had many interested contacts on the morning of the first day of the fair and were able to respond to technical questions.

Also part of the AoI was thyssenkrupp Automation Engineering with an exhibit showing the functionality of a Manufacturing Execution System (MES) – live at the production control of an assembly line as well as a digital twin of a battery assembly line controlled live by the MES. “It was superbly prepared,” said Stefan Fuchs, head of product management at thyssenkrupp Systeme Engineering GmbH, praising the organization of the AoI. “This initiative by the trade fair organizer was an excellent prelude to the presence trade fair for us, where we find exactly the target group we are looking for – that is medium-sized businesses, which can implement the ideal entry into digitized production with our pragmatic data management system ADM.”

Using examples from the sales process for customer-specific assembly technology, small batch and spare parts production with 3D printing, variant-flexible series assembly and intralogistics, the exhibits in the Arena of Integration made digitized, networked production processes visible and understandable. RAFI was also represented at the AoI with a system for production control of manual workstations using the example of a service call system that generates key operating figures. “AoI succeeded in linking different processes from different exhibitors,” said Axel Zauke, key account manager at RAFI.

“The special thing about Motek is that we meet the right people here,” stated Dr.-Ing. Christian Löchte from Formhand GmbH. “This includes system integrators and customers who want to get into automated handling processes. They are all here, and that is why we feel comfortable here.” Formhand was represented in the start-up area and was highly satisfied with the lively and “fresh” exchange with visitors, who learned about the innovative gripper cushion and also wanted to touch it.

Also part of the start-up area was Pebot GmbH from Kalkar, which was represented at a trade fair for the first time and already had almost a dozen serious customer contacts on the first day. Also highly satisfied were the representatives of Smela GmbH from Magdeburg, who presented a compact, electric linear actuator that can be used in many industries in various applications. “We had an amazing amount of response and intensive discussions with trade visitors at our booth on all days of the trade fair,” said Florian Pflugfelder from the young company’s research and development department. With the start-up area, the trade fair organizer deliberately offered young companies a platform to initiate concrete industrial applications with their young ideas and product developments.

The implementation of the comprehensive hygiene concept of Messe Stuttgart, completely coordinated by the authorities and executed on the basis of the current, generally valid Corona Ordinance of the State of Baden-Württemberg, provided all participants with a suitable and safe framework for the live trade fair event. “This Motek/Bondexpo 2021 was a very special trade fair,” Bettina Schall sums up. “It has proven that presence trade fairs are indispensable! Because no format of virtual communication can replace face-to-face meetings in the capital goods industry and in the B-to-B sector. To all those involved, I thank you very much for making the Re-Start a success! Be invited all of you already today to the next Motek/Bondexpo from 04 to 07 October 2022 in Stuttgart!”