Tradeology, the ITA Blog

Jason Lindesmith is a Communications Specialist at the International Trade Administration

Robotic arms with eyes. Glasses and helmets that revolutionize how employees on the manufacturing floor do their job. Software programs that transform old-school machines into integrated industry 4.0 solutions. These innovations are just a small sample of the U.S. technology on display this week at HANNOVER MESSE 2017.

Acting Under Secretary, Ken Hyatt speaks at Hannover Messe’s Transatlantic Forum about the strong economic ties between the U.S. & Germany.

More than 220 U.S. exhibitors from 30 states chose to showcase their manufacturing and industrial technology at this year’s Hannover fair – making this year’s group of U.S. exhibitors one of the largest contingents ever.

As the world’s largest industrial technology show, HANNOVER MESSE provides a venue to show off the latest and greatest on the world stage. HANNOVER MESSE hosts more than 200,000 visitors from more than 60 countries and spans across a hard-to-comprehend 27 conference halls.

Here is a sample of the U.S. technology on display at HANNOVER MESSE 2017:

UpSkill is a Virginia-based company specializing in augmented reality solutions. Its technology connects hands-on workers to their equipment and work environment in ways that boost productivity and greatly reduce training time. All you do is put on the glasses, then real-time instructions, pictures, and status information appear to guide you through assembly or diagnostic procedures.

Tulip’s products are all about creating smart manufacturing environments. They allow manufacturers to integrate manual and machine data with apps that provide a more holistic, real-time view of what’s happening on the shop floor.

Try on one of DAQRI’s helmets or glasses, and you’ll immediately become aware of another layer of information and data all around you. Its technology helps manufacturing employees be more productive and predictive by pushing the right data to them at the right time.

Telit’s technology allows manufacturers to transform their current equipment and processes into a smart, connected end-to-end system. It’s not feasible for most companies to replace their entire suite of machinery and equipment to upgrade it to today’s latest models. Telit’s solution works with what manufacturers are already using – that’s the key.

The “robot with eyes” mentioned earlier this this post belongs to Rethink Robotics. The Boston-based manufacturer specializes in making collaborative robots with software to ensure they are easy to train and deploy. Strategically placed sensors allow its robots to work safely next to people without a cage around them (cages oftentimes surround robots in a manufacturing environment).

These and other innovative U.S. exhibitors are just one piece of the U.S. presence at HANNOVER MESSE. The U.S. Commercial Service is also on hand to help U.S. companies find the right international partners and opportunities during their time at the fair.

This post originally appeared on the Department of Commerce blog.

 Vinai Thummalapally  Executive Director, SelectUSA

The 2016 Hannover Messe was not only an opportunity to showcase the ingenuity and innovation of American products and services, it was also a chance to demonstrate on an international stage why the United States is the world’s most competitive investment destination.

More than 90 state and local economic development organizations (EDOs) were on hand to represent locations across the United States where innovation thrives.

SelectUSA Executive Director Vinai Thummalapally Joins Deputy Commerce Secretary Bruce Andrews on Tour at Hannover Messe 2016

At SelectUSA, our mission is to create a platform through which international companies and EDOs can meet, learn about each other, and explore opportunities for investment together. During the Hannover Messe, our team hosted briefings and roundtables at the USA Investment Pavilion (check out the agenda here), and we had the privilege of engaging in some great conversations.

At the Hannover Messe, Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker met with business and economic development leaders to thank them for their work, hear their feedback on the U.S. investment climate, and seek their advice on how SelectUSA can continue to meet the needs of our clients.  While the conversation touched on many issues, participants emphasized two key themes, both of which will be integral to our upcoming 2016 SelectUSA Investment Summit.

The first theme was the growing number of foreign small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) interested in investing in the United States. At SelectUSA, we understand that SMEs, start-ups, or first-time investors of any size need assistance as they seek to establish operations in the United States.  Our team members stand ready to help companies figure out where to get started. We help companies find the information they need to make decisions, connect to the right people at the local level, navigate the federal regulatory system, and find answers related to the federal government.

Last March, roughly 60 percent of the investors at the 2015 SelectUSA Investment Summit were SMEs, and we expect a similar turnout at the 2016 Summit scheduled for June 19-21 in Washington, D.C. The Summit provides a cost-effective way for businesses to explore thousands of miles of U.S. territory in one convenient exhibition hall.  EDOs from every corner of the nation will be on hand to share opportunities in their locations and meet face-to-face with investors.

The second theme of the discussion was the importance of workforce development to ensure that the American workforce is prepared for the changing demands of the digital economy. Secretary Pritzker has made this a priority for the U.S. Department of Commerce, which is leading the “Skills for Business” agenda and working closely with the Departments of Labor and Education.  Earlier this month, Secretary Pritzker visited Houston to highlight the “Communities that Work Partnership,” which the Commerce Department created with the Aspen Institute to facilitate industry-led training partnerships that help prepare workers with the skills they need for in-demand jobs.

Workforce development will also be featured at the SelectUSA Summit. The overarching theme is “The Innovation Advantage,” and the diversity, skills, and productivity of American workers are essential to creating a business environment in which innovation thrives. We recently released the Summit agenda, which includes sessions on cultivating talent and best practices for apprenticeships and occupational training.

We look forward to continuing these conversations over the next few days at Hannover Messe, at the SelectUSA Summit, and every day in between on Twitter, by email, or by phone. Let us know how we can assist you.

Join us for the 2016 SelectUSA Summit, June 19-21 in Washington, DC: Hosted by President Barack Obama, the SelectUSA Investment Summit is a high-profile event that promotes foreign direct investment (FDI) in the United States and will showcase investment opportunities from every corner of the country. Companies of all sizes will find the practical tools, information, and connections they need to move investments forward. High-profile business and government leaders will share their insight about our innovative climate and diversity of resources in plenaries and breakout sessions during the Summit.

Representatives from companies like Xerox, Indiegogo, ABB Group, L’Oréal, Rassini, IKEA, Wanxiang Group, and TOTO will share real-world examples of successful investments across the United States. At the Summit, international investors and U.S. economic organizations will have the opportunity to engage face-to-face to explore how, where, and why invest in the United States. Learn more at www.selectusasummit.us.

This post originally appeared on the Siemens Blog.

Hannover Messe is the world’s largest industrial technology trade fair and it is fitting that the United States will serve as this year’s partner country as the U.S. and Germany deepen and broaden cooperation in shaping the new age of industry – combining Germany’s engineering prowess with America’s leadership in software. Siemens has been a Hannover Messe exhibitor since the inaugural fair in 1947, and with investments of $35 billion in the U.S. over the past 15 years, Siemens plays an important role in advancing the future of U.S. manufacturing. To learn more and for expert insights, sign up for our blog and follow @SiemensUSA

Yesterday I had a chance to join manufacturing leaders at the German Embassy to talk about the importance of the world’s largest industrial trade fair, Hannover Messe.

We are just a few weeks away from President Obama and Chancellor Merkel opening the fair together. And as U.S. Department of Commerce Deputy Secretary Bruce Andrews noted in his remarks, this underscores why the event is more than a trade show. “It’s an opportunity,” he said, “to discuss policy and show off the best of American industry.”

Later in the event, Jay Timmons, CEO of the National Association of Manufacturers, added that Hannover “stretches your imagination.” Global industrial leaders are there not only to demonstrate the best production, solutions and services of today, but to show the world what is possible in the future.

U.S. industry will have the Hannover spotlight like never before.

President Obama’s visit will mark the first appearance by a U.S. President and coincide with the United States’ debut as a partner country. And the U.S. delegation, led by Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker, will be its largest ever, featuring more than 400 companies, economic development organizations, and research institutions.

At Siemens, we are excited to see American industry receive this positive exposure. The United States is both our largest market and a vital production center. We have more than 70 U.S. manufacturing sites and have invested $35 billion in America in the past 15 years.

Furthermore, the timing for American industry to assert its global leadership could not be better. Building off Jay Timmons’ point – what is possible in the future – Hannover is a focal point for the development of a new industrial age, or Fourth Industrial Revolution.

We are in a moment when everything that has happened in the consumer and retail space because of power advances in software is reaching the industrial world. There’s a transition underway from smartphones to smart factories that will bring unprecedented speed, efficiency, and flexibility to manufacturing operations.

Industry 4.0 is next – and the U.S. and Germany are natural partners in its pursuit. While Germany stands out as a leader in shop floor technology, the United States stands out as the world leader in software innovation, with more than 75 percent of software revenues generated by U.S. companies.

“When these two forces are combined,” German Ambassador Peter Wittig said, “they pave the way for the factory of the future.”

German Ambassador to the United States Peter Wittig

Ten years ago, would you have predicted a software company like Google would be represented at a manufacturing event? Today, Google, in addition to pioneering driverless cars, is striving to develop Industry 4.0 systems and platforms that are open-sourced yet secure from cyber threats, and interoperable. Another company we heard from yesterday, Local Motors – which used Siemens PLM software to create the world’s first 3-D printed car – did not even exist a decade ago.

This latter attribute, in particular, is essential. Without it, global Industry 4.0 value chains will never be achieved. Which is why, in his speech, Siegfried Russwurm, a member of our Managing Board and Chief Technology Officer of Siemens AG, made a strong case for continued international collaboration towards joint testing and the development of standards.

Pictured with Managing Board Member Siegfried Russwurm and German Ambassador Peter Wittig

As we begin the Road to Hannover Messe, we’ll continue to explore how industry 4.0 is manufacturing our future in the U.S., demonstrating the importance of upgrading the national industrial base and embracing technology-driven enterprises.  Economic shifts are also shining a spotlight on innovation as labor costs and energy prices are less impactful than before, and customers want to be near companies that offer the right technology and flexibility.

In the years to come, we could look back to the 2016 Hannover Messe as the year when Industry 4.0 became a common term, and when two industrial giants came together to chart a course towards making this term a global reality.

This post originally appeared on the Department of Commerce blog.

Ed. note: This post is part of a series highlighting the upcomingHannover Messe Trade Show April 25—29, 2016. This series will highlight U.S. exhibitors that will participate in the world’s leading trade fair for industrial technology.

Guest blog post by Kevin Miller, Marketing Manager at the Virginia Economic Development Partnership

“Virginia offers a wealth of diverse options for any company seeking a new home in North America.”

This is not your first time at Hannover Messe. What factors influenced your decision to come back this year?

The fact that we would be featured in the SelectUSA Investment Pavilion and that there will be opportunities for increased viability with USA as the Partner Country.
Why is the Investment pavilion a natural home for you?

In recent years, we have developed a relationship with the SelectUSA program. The pavilion will give us the platform to tell the Virginia story to global companies that are seeking a new home in the United States.
What do you hope to accomplish at Hannover Messe?

We hope to connect with current and potential future investors.
When and how did your organization enter the global marketplace? With what countries or markets are you currently engaged?                                                                                                 

The Commonwealth of Virginia was founded as a global business venture in 1607 when English colonist landed in Jamestown, Virginia—the first permanent English settlement in North America. We currently have offices in the UK, Germany, China, India and Japan.
What impact has this had on your organization or region? What advice do you have for other American organizations looking at the global market?

Today, Virginia is a leading gateway to successful business in North America. More than 750 internationally owned companies call the Commonwealth home. Virginia offers the qualities that corporate decision-makers everywhere are seeking in today’s global environment. Our exceptional infrastructure, strong education system, dynamic workforce, strategic location, and pro-business climate provide a solid foundation for growth and make the Commonwealth a great place for global enterprise.

In the past five years, international companies have announced more than 15,000 new jobs and $4.6 billion in investment in the Commonwealth. These companies contribute to the state’s economy by enhancing international trade. In 2014, sales of international goods and services from Virginia to the world were valued at $35.3 billion. Internationally owned firms in Virginia are often significant exporters of locally made products.

Internationally owned companies diversify Virginia’s economy, enhance the state’s culture, and introduce new technologies and advanced manufacturing techniques.