'Driving manufacturing forward' is the motto of the SMTconnect trade fair from May 9 to 11, 2023 in Nuremberg. It offers European electronics manufacturing a professional forum with solutions for electronic assemblies and systems as the basis for the key technologies of the future.
Until 2018, the trade fair ran under the name 'SMT Hybrid Packaging'. This year will show the current dynamism and energy in the industry. In 2022, more than 9,000 trade visitors attended despite the difficult circumstances, and a total of 321 exhibiting companies and partners were present.
Key players such as Asys, Ersa, Essemtec, Fuji, Juki, Panasonic, SMT Wertheim and Viscom had already confirmed their participation two months before the start of the event. They will be presenting products and programs from all areas of electronics manufacturing on current issues such as increased energy costs, component and raw material shortages and obsolescence management. Other pressing topics include the ongoing re-shoring of manufacturing to Europe, and the well-known highlights of SMTconnect include the 'Future Packaging' production line demonstrated by Fraunhofer IZM, this year on the topic of 'Trust the Line' - competitiveness through trust, sustainable tools and supply chains. The traditional IPC hand soldering competition for young professionals is also once again part of SMTconnect.
The special 'EMS Park' area will focus on the topic of supply chains. It will highlight the benefits of close cooperation between EMS providers and OEMs with keynote speeches and best-practice presentations. It thus offers a platform for development topics and optimization. Participating EMS companies include Assel, Elhurt and Coronex on the topics of 'Obsolescence Management', 'EMS Selection, Specification Creation and Collaboration' (Uhlmann & Zacher). Würth Elektronik will be represented at the joint stand 'PCB meets Components'.
The SMTconnect trade fair forum offers contributions on hot topics such as 'Operating AI Use Cases Integrated into Electronics Manufacturing Lines' by Sebastian Mehl (Siemens) as well as 'Promoting Young Talent' and 'Women in Mechanical Engineering - Change in the Company'. In addition to the VDMA, the ZVEI, Fraunhofer IZM and the Electronics Design & Manufacturing Association in the FED will once again be involved.
