[Technology Report]
electronica 2008: The Industry’s Tech Extravaganza
Nearly 3000 electronics companies will congregate at the Munich International Trade Fair, Nov. 11-14, to participate in the 23rd electronica Exhibition and Conference.
Paul Whytock
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ED Online ID #19966 |
November 5, 2008
Every two years, the world’s electronics industry flocks to the Bavarian city of Munich (Fig. 1). This year’s electronica 2008, a festival of electronics technology, provides a rich source of news and views as well as hard technical data on new technologies and their applications. It’s a mixture of technology forums, conferences, and a huge exhibition area occupying 14 very large halls (Fig. 2).
Detailed technical papers will cover automotive electronics, wireless technology, micronano developments, green technology strategies, and an entirely new component technology with the Greek god-like name of Hybridica—the combining of metal and plastic to create hybrid components. In addition to the technology on display, electronica 2008 serves as a melting pot of informed opinion about how the world electronics industry is trading.
With this in mind, the organizer of the exhibition, Messe Muenchen International (MMI), has set a buoyant market tone by releasing some positive figures for the international semiconductor industry in 2008. A collection of market researchers has forecast a growth rate of between 5% and 8% for the worldwide semiconductor market this year, with the German Electrical and Electronics Manufacturers’ Association (ZVEI) anticipating a growth rate of 5.1%.
Technology on The Road Electronics for automobiles will have its own Focus Area in Hall A6. There also will be an electronica Automotive Conference entitled “Electronics Meets Automotive.” The automotive market represents a growth application area for electronics, as well as a stable one. That’s because it avoids some of the erratic tendencies of markets like the communications sector.
In 2007, the standard passenger vehicle incorporated an average of $295 worth of semiconductor components. By 2015, that amount will rise to $375. Last year, the global market for automotive semiconductors achieved a volume of about $20 billion, and it’s expected to escalate to $30 billion by 2015. About 1200 companies are slated to present products and applications relating to automobile electronics at the show.
The German Electrical and Electronics Manufacturers’ Association (ZVEI) is supporting the electronica Automotive Conference Sessions. This program was developed jointly by MMI and the Conference Program Committee, whose members include BMW AG, Infineon Technologies, Chrysler AG, Brose Fahrzeugteile, TRW Automotive, Valeo, Freescale Semiconductor, and Tyco Electronics.
These sessions will be held in the Munich International Congress Center (ICM), starting Nov. 10, one day before the electronica show kicks off. With 10 contributions of 30 minutes each, the first day of the conference will be devoted to automotive developments and strategies. For example, Ian Riches of Strategy Analytics will look at “Ultra Low Cost Cars— Opportunities and Challenges” (Fig. 3a).
Hans-Peter Feustel of Continental Automotive will examine the demands that hybrid vehicles place on electronics in a talk entitled “Demands and Realization of Automotive Power Electronics.” Fabio Marchiò of STMicroelectronics will cover “Semiconductor Trends in Automotive Markets.” Tsutomu Miki, general manager of Renesas Technology, will describe semiconductors of the future during “i-Car—Semiconductor Contributions for the New Era of Car Applications” (Fig. 3b).
Manufacturers and providers of automotive electronics, along with their customers from the automobile industry, will convene in Hall A6. In the Focus Area, exhibitors will present products and technologies, including information and communication, bus systems, transport information technology, drive by wire, safety systems, and engine and chassis management systems.
Exhibitors will include Cherry, Heraeus, Robert Bosch, Huntsman Advanced Materials, Lackwerke Peters, Preh, Vishay Electronic, Altera, TDK Electronics Europe, Littelfuse Automotive, Provertha, OmniVision Technologies, Fujitsu Components Europe, Hirschmann Car Communication, and AB Elektronik.
Wireless Congress: systems & Applications Experts from the field of wireless technology will meet at the ICM on Nov. 12 and 13 for the fifth “Wireless Congress: Systems & Applications.” Developers, system designers, technology decision-makers, and systems managers can choose from 50 presentations on tap.
Forum Programs The seven forums that will run at electronica 2008 include topics like financing startups, embedded software technologies, careers in electronics, energy efficiency, component distribution challenges, and product traceability and technology piracy. On the regulatory front, a special forum will look at REACH, the EU Regulation on the “Registration, Evaluation and Authorization of Chemicals.”
Speaking of chemicals and hazardous materials, the “greening” of the electronics industry remains a hot topic, now that compliance with international regulations is a legal obligation. But what other contributions can the electronics industry make to prevent environmental damage?
The International CEO Round Table will examine and discuss the efforts being made by the semiconductor industry to protect the planet on Nov. 11 at 11 a.m. in Hall A2. Peter Bauer of Infineon Technologies, Brian L. Halla of National Semiconductor, Carlo Bozotti of STMicroelectronics, and Rich Beyer of Freescale Semiconductor all will discuss how their companies are contributing to environmental protection.
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