Reflections on EMO: Huge. Opportunity.

Overwhelming, vibrant, exciting and just plain huge…all adjectives I’d use to describe last week’s EMO show in Hannover, Germany.  From a footprint size standpoint, this show makes IMTS look tiny (and for those who have actually walked McCormick Place during IMTS, tiny is not a word typically used to describe it).  Sixteen buildings, 2,100 exhibitors from 43 countries, nearly 145,000 attendees from 100 countries and six days all focused on manufacturing.

As an EMO newbie, I walked in with eyes wide open, prepared to soak it in, experience the cultural differences and see what the European marketplace has to offer.  What surprised me most, is that even though I was nearly half way around the world from home, it didn't feel as if I was far from home at all.  On multiple occasions, while walking across the expansive show grounds, I ran into people I know.  Even on the train from Frankfurt to Hannover, one of my colleagues met a gentleman whose brother-in-law works for one of our distributors.  We say it often - it really is a small world.

That being said, there were some key themes I noticed during my time at the show.

Technology

So, what was the “hot” technology and/or product on display?  From a CNC machine tool standpoint - 5-axis, multi-tasking and automation.  No surprises there.  This has been hot in the United States for a few years.  What we continue to see is enhanced productivity (doing more with less), increased collaboration (various suppliers coming together to solve problems), and increasing expansion of CNC control capabilities and connectivity.

Globalization

While this is mainly a European show, there were visitors from all over.  I was surprised that so many American companies were there, not just to see new technology but to actually purchase.  We’ve been hearing in the States about reshoring, but some of what’s happening is a continued diversification in geography – companies establishing manufacturing facilities in various places across the globe.  In order to be better suppliers to these companies, we have to be better aligned with our own corporate sisters/brothers and provide a unified face to these customers.  Companies don’t have to be the size and scope of GE, Boeing or John Deere to have operations on multiple continents.  Even a two-location organization can be bi-continental – and maybe it’s even more important to them to be able to work with one supplier.

Enthusiasm

There was a lot of buying activity, which generally indicates a positive attitude and enthusiasm about the economy.  As noted above, there were even American companies that had traveled to make purchases.  While there continue to be pockets of economic and political strife, there is optimism on some level in all areas.  And this optimism will help fuel growth.  As suppliers, if we can continue to help manufacturers solve problems, we’ll all be better off.

All in all, my EMO experience was fantastic.  This was my first trip to Germany, the land of more than half my ancestors (I married into the Irish last name).  The people were nice, albeit not overtly friendly, the public transportation phenomenal and the beer, well, let’s just say I have profound respect for the Bavarian purity laws.  It was exciting to meet and interact with people from so many places, get to meet and know fellow Okuma members from Germany and to see so many friends from the States.  Mostly, it was good to realize that aside from some basic cultural differences, our industry faces similar issues, challenges and opportunities, regardless of geographic location.

Did you attend EMO? Please comment below and share your experiences – we welcome your thoughts.