Advanced Packaging - electronica 2008 Highlights

(November 20, 2008) MUNICH, Germany — electronica 2008 attendance was stable this year despite the difficult financial situation facing many exhibitors and attendees, reported event coordinators Messe München International (MMI). Of the 2,800 exhibitors, 58% were international. Around 72,000 people attended.

The automotive topics drew 250 delegates from 23 countries, discussing hybrid vehicles, low-cost cars and the i-car. Speakers came from leading international automotive companies. A featured topic was technologies to reduce automotive CO₂ emissions. An above-average number of visitors came from the U.S., Japan, Italy, the Netherlands, and Sweden. The German Electrical and Electronic Manufacturers' Association (ZVEI) was intimately involved in developing the conference agenda and organizing the electronica automotive forum.

This was the greenest electronica to-date. There were green technologies and solutions providing higher energy efficiency as well as energy generation components and systems that conserve resources at the show. The CEO Round Table also dealt with the green issue. Chaired by Jürgen Gromer, Ph.D., former president of Tyco Electronics; the CEOs of Infineon Technologies, Freescale Semiconductor, STMicroelectronics, National Semiconductor, and Osram Opto Semiconductors discussed "The Contribution of the Semiconductor Industry to Climate Protection." Intelligent semiconductors can significantly increase electronic systems' efficiency. The electronic industry's economic future is closely tied to increasing energy efficiency in each product developed.

Electronic displays are one of the fastest growing segments of the electronics market, according to MMI. The e-Signage forum was created at electronica to recognize this market. A product show and a "Speaker's Corner" showcased, for example, the world's largest liquid crystal display with a screen diagonal measurement of 2.75 m.

Attendance and exhibitor numbers are essentially unchanged from electronica 2006, MMI reports. The number of attendees from Central and Eastern Europe, Taiwan, Brazil, South Africa, and Russia increased compared to previous years. The number from the U.S., U.K., France, and Israel declined, due in part to the current economic conditions and to individual companies' limit on the number of employees allowed to attend.

Exhibitor and visitor satisfaction remained high. Exit evaluations showed top marks for the completeness and range of the exhibited products and services. The results also showed that respondents were pleased with the presence of market leaders and the internationality of exhibitors.

The world economic situation dominated the discussions in the exhibition halls, with virtually all exhibitors and visitors expecting an economic downturn. However, companies are confidently facing the situation and reorganizing accordingly.

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