A year and a half before the 33rd ACHEMA opens its doors, preparations are already in full swing. This also includes the identification of three focus topics that will shape the industry as a whole affecting all exhibition groups. For the 2021 edition these are
Product and process safety
The increasing use of Internet of Things (IoT) devices in plant operation and production puts IT and cyber-security at the top of the agenda. Cyber-attacks are becoming more frequent. The interplay between the physical and virtual worlds must therefore be secured. Weak spots along the entire value chain have to be evaluated and eliminated, from the procurement of raw materials to the recycling of products at the end of their useful life.
„The digital lab“
It’s in many cases still a long way to go before intelligent digital workflows will be implemented in a fully networked laboratory. The minimum basis is the construction of a powerful IT environment and fully integrated devices; but it can also go up to a complete redesign and repartitioning of laboratories. R&D laboratories and quality assurance laboratories may pursue different approaches. Therefore, a modular design is just as reasonable for the laboratory as it is for production facilities. Both laboratory types generate a large amount of data, which must be evaluated using big data methods.
Modular and networked production
Manufacturing processes in the chemical and pharmaceutical industries must be flexible, fast and cost-effective. Modular process skids that offer these features are pre-assembled, tested in the pilot plant and then assembled on site. The skids are equipped with their own programmable control logic or can be integrated into a higher-level process control system. Module Type Packages (MTP) with open standard interfaces allow for true interoperability. Modular systems are the key to meeting customer requirements for small batches of different products.
And there are yet more novelties: Based on the proven ACHEMA concept with its unique range of topics and the established interplay of exhibition and congress, the organizers at DECHEMA are currently working on new formats that will offer even more opportunities for discussion and networking. These include matchmaking tools as well as new interactive event formats. They are intended to stimulate discussion and provide additional impulses. The hall layout has also been slightly adapted to make optimum use of the structural changes on the exhibition grounds and to integrate the brand new Hall 12, located right in the center.
