With its sheer size and its technical capabilities, the Global Innovation Centre at Samson’s main site in Frankfurt (Germany) makes
a powerful impression. This ultra-modern R&D and test centre for valve engineering provides more than 7000 m² of floor space for prototype construction as well as a wide range of simulations and tests. New avenues such as data analysis and cloud technologies will in future be explored at the Innovation Centre in addition to traditional research topics such as materials science, fluid mechanics, device safety and system integration. Work there is focused on the digital transformation of Samson products. “We are currently undergoing a radical evolution from manufacturer of iron products to seller of process intelligence”, emphasised Dr. Andreas Widl, Samson’s CEO. You can learn more about the options his company is pursuing in this area in our cover story on page 8.
Digitised production processes will once again take centre stage at this year’s Hannover Messe, which opens its doors from 23 to
27 April. With “Integrated Industry – Connect & Collaborate” as its lead theme, the Hannover Fair will enable visitors from all around the world to experience the completely new forms of business, work and collaboration that are being made possible by our increasingly connected, digitally networked industrial landscape. This year, the world’s number one fair for industrial technology will bring together five parallel trade shows at a single venue: Industrial Automation, Motion & Drives, Digital Factory, Energy, Industrial Supply and Research & Technology. Our Hannover Messe preview begins on page 24.
Günter Eckhardt, Editor-in-Chief
