04/27/2023

Cutting World 2023: Digital solutions were in focus

AI as a trend topic at international cutting trade fair and cutting congress

What will the cutting industry of tomorrow look like? The international Cutting World trade fair and the parallel German Cutting Congress at Messe Essen provided an answer. Under the motto "The Next Cut", 50 exhibitors showed their innovative products and services over the three days of the event. "Cutting World is the only trade fair that focuses on the entire process chain on the subject of cutting. With an innovative mix of machine and product presentations, networking and the content offered in the German Cutting Congress, it creates the right fit between machine manufacturers, suppliers and users," said Torben Wegner, Business Unit Manager Corporate Development at Messe Essen. "Each of our trade visitors showed strong interest in the topic of cutting. Exhibitors reported high-quality discussions and expressed confidence about good post-fair business," adds Julia Jacob, Cutting World Project Manager.

The dominant theme at the trade show booths was digitization. Numerous companies impressively demonstrated to the trade audience how AI and automated work steps can achieve more efficient and better production results. For example, the Dutch company Voortman Steel Machinery illustrated the benefits of increased digitalization, reported Area Sales Manager Guido Heilen: "The industry is facing a huge shortage of skilled workers. Thanks to the intelligent combination of machine and software, our Voortman solutions are self-explanatory and can also be operated by non-trained employees. The skilled worker is hardly needed at the machine and can pursue other value-adding activities. Cutting World has proven to be a good platform for us to make this added value visible to the trade audience."

Wide range of the 50 exhibitors

In addition to Voortman, companies such as 247TailorSteel, Air Liquide, Boschert, ESAB Welding & Cutting, Expercut, Hypertherm, IHT Automation, Lantek, Maximator Jet, Mecanumeric, Messer Cutting Systems, SigmaNEST Systems, STM Waterjet, TECOI and Zinser were also represented at Cutting World. The offerings of the total of 50 exhibitors from seven nations in Exhibition Hall 8 ranged from cutting technology and operating materials to pre-processing and contract manufacturing, control software, artificial intelligence, as well as services, training and research.

Combination of trade show and congress offered visitors high added value

With their trade show ticket, participants also had access for the first time to the German Cutting Congress, which took place parallel to Cutting World. Here, the focus was also on digitization: "Whether AI or other digital developments - the innovations decisively help companies to become better and save resources. The congress visitors were very interested in this potential and emphasized particularly positively that they were able to obtain further information directly from the exhibitors at Cutting World afterwards," said congress organizer Gerhard Hoffmann from Schneidforum.

Around 30 speakers provided information on these latest developments and trends in the cutting industry in their presentations. Dr.-Ing. Markus Witthaut from Fraunhofer IML Dortmund used a practical example from medium-sized companies to present how artificial intelligence supports material supply and inventory optimization. Dipl.-Ing. Johannes Steinbrück from Jotes spoke about the organization in cutting operations with digital tools. Dr.-Ing. Marco Münchhof from Eckelmann AG reported on IoT (Internet of Things) technologies that network machines independently of manufacturers and open up potential savings in production.

The next Cutting World will be held together with the German Cutting Congress from May 6 to 8, 2025, at Messe Essen. The first companies, including Air Liquide, Boschert, Maximator Jet, Mecanumeric und Tecoi have already confirmed their participation. Other interested exhibitors can find the registration documents at www.cuttingworld.de. The early bird rate is valid until May 31, 2024. The registration deadline is November 30, 2024.

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