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As Industry 4.0’s biggest trade show, Hannover Messe is an opportunity for organizations from Québec and beyond to explore the latest technological advances in sustainable productivity.

Held in Hanover, Germany, with the theme Industrial Transformation – Making the Difference, the exhibition attracted more than 4,000 exhibitors and 130,000 visitors from over 75 countries. Roughly 30 participants made the trip from Québec, hoping to develop international business opportunities.

This year’s industry trends:

Artificial intelligence technologies such as automated inspection in manufacturing automation cells, automated pallet conveyor systems, and collaborative robots are increasingly present.

The industrial sector is incorporating new quantum technologies with integrated sensors that measure particles in gases, liquids and powders with unprecedented precision. For example, these sensors can accurately measure a coffee bean’s size and shape, which are important indicators of quality in the food industry.

Today’s organizations want to reduce their environmental footprint. New industrial technologies use intelligent sensors and software to calculate the environmental footprint of manufacturing and assembly for each product.

It has been more than a decade since the concept of Industry 4.0 emerged in the industrial sector, and there are signs that Industry 5.0 is on the horizon. This new shift signifies greater awareness of the role of humans rather than a new industrial revolution. Major breakthroughs include digital twins, simulation tools, and data transmission, storage and analytics technologies. These developments enable employees to add value by optimizing their use of machines, software, spaces and data. They also contribute to well-being in the workplace by making work environments safer and more exciting.

In a constantly changing market characterized by geopolitical tensions and climate change, data sovereignty is a strategic approach that ensures competitiveness in the industrial sector with rapid, flexible supply chain management. The German government unveiled Manufacturing-X, an initiative to create a new, coherent data ecosystem for supply chain digitization. This new ecosystem is based on access to reliable data and open standards that allow supply chain stakeholders to share data.

Industrial Operations X, at Siemens, is aligned with this initiative. Its optimization solutions for design, execution and production rely on advanced computing and artificial intelligence to accelerate the transition from automated manufacturing to adaptive production. The pillars of this approach are:

1. Facilitating operational management with integrated information technology

2. Flexible, modular and scalable capacity

3. An interconnected and transparent global production line

4. An open ecosystem

Sustainable development: a central priority for the industrial sector

Leading industrial process and product manufacturers have mapped out the route for the next few years with clean technologies that favour energy efficiency, use and storage of renewable energy (e.g., hydrogen), and energy autonomy.

Major industrial clients and governments agree that embracing sustainable development is not only a social responsibility, but also a way to create numerous business opportunities for organizations. Adopting and integrating environmentally responsible practices is directly associated with increased productivity and profitability.

For example, in the circular economy model, clean technologies help reduce and recover production waste so it can be reintroduced as industrial raw material. This approach reduces waste and associated management, transportation and disposal costs. It also reduces greenhouse gas emissions.

Québec businesses are well positioned to go green and increase productivity in a sustainable manner. Our Compétivert initiative can help Québec businesses transition to a green economy while increasing profitability with innovative, efficient technological support and effective financing solutions.