Record figures again underlined electronica's position as the world's leading trade fair for the electronics business. At the 19th International Trade Fair for Components and Assemblies in Electronics, in November 2000, electronica reports that there were a total of 3050 exhibitors and 566 additionally represented organisations, with just over half the exhibitors from outside Germany.
electronica 2000 occupied a floor space of 16 hectares and had some 88 000 specialist visitors (1998: 84 713). Exhibitors and visitors alike said they were very satisfied with the way the fair went. The exhibitors gave it higher marks than two years ago: 98% of them assessed their participation positively while of the visitors 93% awarded electronica 2000 'excellent' or 'good'. Electronica reported as follows:
Clear structure and new topics
The structure of electronica 2000 was optimised to meet the needs of the market. A new sector was introduced: embedded systems (application-specific controllers embedded in a chip or on the circuit board). The fields of power supplies and circuit boards were separate topics for the first time.
The new layout was very well received by both exhibitors and visitors. For the American manufacturer ARM, for example, it was the clinching factor for taking part at electronica. Hans Carper, ARM's Regional Manager for Central Europe, was highly satisfied with the results: "We will be back next time".
The main point of interest for visitors was the Semiconductors sector (51%), followed by Electromechanical Components and Connector Technology (30%) and Passive Components (29%). Embedded Systems took fourth place (24%). The sectors Displays, ED/EDA, Testing and Measurement, PCBs and other bare boards, Sensors and Microsystems, Power Supplies, and Assemblies and Subsystems continued to attract a great deal of interest.
Visitor quality
The exhibitors lauded the international nature and the high technical level of the visitors; and were also very satisfied with the number of people who came to their stands. "Quite sensational" is how Marlis Thalmann, European Marketing Communications Manager of Tyco Electronics, described the quantity and quality of the visitors at electronica.
There was an exceptional proportion of specialists among the visitors - 99%. The proportion of decision-makers was as high as it was in 1998, at 91%.
Alexandra Jung of Kontron Embedded Computers had this to say about her première at electronica: "We were impressed by the frequency of visits to our stand and also by the level of competence and international nature. It was certainly worth taking part at the fair." Simone Kremser of Hitachi considers electronica the most important event in international electronics: "Every semiconductor manufacturer just has to come to Munich".
A more positive market
Both visitors and exhibitors at electronica painted a much more positive picture of the market and its potential than two years ago. 91% (1998: 74%) thought the market prospects were 'excellent' to 'good', while 44% (up 2 points) expect further improvements. Dietmar Harting, President of the ZVEI (Zentralverband der Elektrotechnik und Elektronikindustrie) trade association and also the Chairman of its Components Division, said: "From the point of view of market results, the year 2000 will go down in the annals of electronic components as the best ever. Not even the boom year 1994 can match it."
Job opportunities
The industry's main wish in an expanding market is to find qualified people to fill the vacant positions; for the first time, electronica 2000 had its own 'job shop'. In partnership with TMP Worldwide Deutschland, Messe München offered an information and contact exchange between job-hunters and the industry. Stefan Wolf, Managing Director of TMP, was very pleased with the response: "The job-hunters ranged from school leavers, via graduates, to experienced professionals from every field. The spectrum of available positions was also very broad and international."
electronica 2000 has closed - but see the new web site www.electronica-world.com for information about the upcoming electronica 2002, which will take place from 12 to 15 November 2002. For any other information contact the SA-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry, (011) 486 2775.
© Technews Publishing (Pty) Ltd | All Rights Reserved
printer friendly version