World Business

World's leading industrial expo opens in Germany

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-04-19 15:10

HANOVER: The Hanover industrial fair 2010, the world's leading annual expo for industry and technology, officially opened at the night of April 18, ready to showcase the latest innovations and solutions on automation, energy efficiency, and digitalization in the next 5 days.

The opening ceremony started with a music show, performed by a female violoncello player and a robot drummer, their exquisite cooperation drawing great applause from audiences.

World's leading industrial expo opens in Germany

An industrial robot playing percussion and a cellist perform during the opening ceremony of the "Hannover Messe" industrial trade fair in Hanover April 18, 2010. [Agencies]

German Economy Minister Rainer Bruederle and Education and Research Minister Annette Schavan inaugurated the fair with Italian Economic Development Minister Claudio Scajola, whose country was this year's partner.

"We are here to showcase our companies, to demonstrate our enthusiasm for technological progress and of course, to make good business deals," Friedhelm Loh, president of German Electrical and Electronic Manufacturer's Association, said in the opening ceremony.

Some 4,800 exhibitors from over 60 countries and regions are to attend the expo, presenting their newly-designed products or leading-edge technologies, such as robots, software, renewable energy distribution solution and electric car engines.

"The trade fair is a visible proof that we have courageously curbed the (international economic) crisis," Loh said. "Companies have presented many new products, showing that they were working hard to maintain the competitiveness and viability of businesses."

Under the theme of "Efficiency - Innovation - Sustainability," the fair focuses on renewable energy generation and transmission, industrial automation and supply, hybrid and eclectic technology and alternative mobility solutions, as numerous special displays, presentations and panel discussions are to be held during April 19 to 23.

However, as a giant cloud of volcanic ash grounded all the flights in Germany and most of Europe in last four days, many companies were unable to arrive on time.

Deutsche Messe, the organizer said it has sent buses to fetch exhibitors from Europe's main airports, which was a part of " comprehensive package of measures" to limit the impact of air traffic bans on the expo.

Many European guests, such as Scajola and the Spanish delegation, reached Hanover eventually after thousands of kilometers' driving. Some Asian exhibitors had to cancel their plan at last due to the lasting flight control, organizers said.