The 2011 Hannover Fair Report

The Hannover Fair (Messe) is, without a doubt, one of the most incredible industrial shows in the world. For me, it’s the equivalent of going to a World Exposition. There is literally more to see and learn, than is possible, during the one week it is open. The 2011 edition of the Hannover Fair exceeded both my expectations and those of the Deutsche Messe Managing Board Chairman Dr. Wolfram von Fritsch at the shows conclusion, “Over 6,500 businesses from 65 countries came to Hannover to display their solutions.”

Hannover Messe 2011 attracted a total of well over 230,000 visitors. This represented growth of his represents growth of 10 to 15 percent over the comparable 2009 event. Some 60,000 of these visitors were from abroad, which is over a third more than in 2009. "Our foreign visitors, alone, would have filled over 150 jumbo jets," said a delighted von Fritsch. "Attendance was up from every country, thus bringing tangible benefit to exhibitors in every sub-section of the event." One in every three visitors was a member of top management, marking a 20 percent increase in this category.

The COMVAC Hall

I spent three full days walking the entire COMVAC (Compressed Air & Vacuum) Hall and literally ran out of time. It was literally filled to capacity with exhibitors from all over the world. This article will provide the reader with a glimpse of just a few of the exhibitors as we just don’t have enough pages to go around.

Kaeser displayed the Sigma Air Manager (SAM) with adaptive 3D Control

The Kaeser booth is always a site to behold. The booth is always more aptly described as “a section” of the hall. There were many, many technologies on display one being the Sigma Air Manager (SAM) with adaptive 3D Control. Active rather than reactive, the new self-adjusting 3D software responds to the three dimensions that affect air system efficiency: switching losses, control losses, and pressure flexibility. People at the booth explained to me that the results are (1) reduced compressor run and idling time (2) better pressure stability; and (3) reduced leaks and artificial demand. The CSD (60 to 125 hp) and ESD (250, 300, and 350 hp) single-stage fluid injected scrw compressors were also on display as they’ve been redesigned for compactness and higher energy efficiency.

The Atlas Copco booth featured their “most energy-efficient oil-free compressor” ever – the ZH 350+. Using a permanent magnet motor and magnetic bearings, this three-stage, oil-free, centrifugal compressor also eliminates the gearbox (and the associated power transmission losses) and uses titanium impellers permitting faster load-unload cycles. Optimally sized coolers reduce pressure drop and the system blows off before the aftercooler reducing air losses when air demand decreases. Another advancement is the new MD/ND rotary drum dryer now able to reach dew points down to – 40 F (-40 C). This allows this energy-efficient (and very low lifecycle cost) design to compete with twin-tower desiccant dryer designs in this important dew point category. I was very impressed by the new ES360 energy management system allowing end users to split their compressed air systems into different sub-systems to be monitored and managed. This has excellent application in the blow molding industry, for example. I also really liked the centralized heat recovery package (heat exchangers allowing hot compressor lubricant to heat water) on display allowing multiple air compressors to hook up to one system.

Atlas Copco’s New ZH 350+ Three-Stage Centrifugal Compressor. Pictured from left to right are Dr. Uwe Pahner, Sanjay Safaya, Conrad Latham, and Herman Geyskens from Atlas Copco.

One of the fastest growing companies in Europe is Ekomak Compressor. European General Manager Rolf Tappen said, “The growth of Ekomak in Germany and all over Europe is thanks to the hard work of our partner distributors.” Ekomak, whose manufacturing is done primarily in Turkey, has been particularly successful in developing a strong distributor network in Germany and Eastern Europe. The company has a full range of rotary screw air compressors. Particularly impressive has been their success with 50 kW to 250 kW machines in Central Europe.

Rolf Tappen, from Ekomak Compressors, in front of their 75 kW Rotary Screw VSD Air Compressor.

Celebrating their 100th birthday, Hitachi introduced their new oil-less 7.5 kW (10 hp) scroll air compressor. The “biggest-ever” oil-less scroll air compressor, the product was launched at the Hannover Fair. Hitachi America General Manager Nitin Shanbhag said the new scroll compressor is ideal for multiple OEM applications served by oil-less reciprocating air compressors.

Masanori Sugimoto and Nitin Shanbhag (left to right), from Hitachi Compressors, with the world premiere of the world’s largest oil-less scroll compressor (7.5 kW).

AIRLEADER displayed an upgraded version of their compressor management system. Jan Hoetzel showed me the upgraded panel design and how easy it is to monitor the energy consumption of all the individual components in a compressed air system. It’s really amazing to see such high-tech applications deployed to our “good ‘ol” compressed air systems!

Werner Weidner and Jan Hoetzel (left to right), from AIRLEADER, in front of their newly upgraded compressor management system.

SPX displayed their very energy efficient combination refrigerated and blower purge desiccant compressed air drying system. What I like about this system is that it makes it simple to capture energy savings. The system includes bypass piping so that customers can easily use the refrigerated air dryer in the summer (with lower energy costs) and the desiccant dryer in the winter.

SPX displayed the very energy efficient combination refrigerated and blower purge desiccant compressed air drying system.

BEKO Technologies once again not only had the best draft beer, but they continue to be pushing forward with new technologies. Compressor-room products like the Clearpoint 3E Series and the refrigerated and desiccant dryers are growing. Interestingly, the METPOINT compressed air measurement products (power, pressure, flow, dewpoint) are also growing segments for their business, according to Tilo Fruth, President, of BEKO Technologies Corp. in the U.S. I hear more and more from Corporate Energy Managers about how they’d like to start measuring compressed air going to different parts of the factory-and to start charging for it. I’m glad to see the growth of measurement products in our industry.

Manfred Lehner, from BEKO Technologies GmbH, oversees the global expansion of the firm.

FESTO once again impressed me with their knowledge and tools to improve the energy efficiency of pneumatics. Anyone who knows me is aware that I’m obsessed with “The Dirty Thirty” in a compressed air system (the last 30 yards!). I had a long talk with Dr. Axel-Andreas Gomeringer, Festo’s Head of Innovation & Technology Management. He showed me Festo’s new sizing software allowing OEM machine designers to see the energy costs, associated with compressed air, corresponding to the pneumatic components they select. He also showed me a OEM machine-level monitoring system capable of monitoring compressed air pressure, actual flow, and a flow-profile average. A Air Preparation unit was also on display featuring an integrated flow measurement device. He also told me that “Energy-Saving Service” work is growing in Europe.

Dr. Axel-Andreas Gomeringer, from Festo, demonstrated impressive OEM machine-level monitoring systems and software aimed at driving energy savings from the pneumatic systems.

JORC had an interesting innovation in their booth. The firm has designed a compact oil/water separator to be integrated into air compressor packages of up to 15 horsepower. It has a 1.8 m3/min rating and is called the SEPREMIUM 2. Another favorite product of mine on display was the AIRSAVER - a motorized ball valve allowing users to isolate the compressed air piping system after the receiver – so that air leaks don’t cause air compressors to turn on at night.

Aaron de Koning, from JORC, stands in front of the compact oil/water separator designed to be integrated into rotary screw compressor packages.

VP Instruments also had an innovation on display. Their new VP Flowscope dP integrates flow and differential pressure into one device. VP does a great job of measuring compressed air and then providing the “off-the-shelf” software to make it easy to provide reports.

Pascal van Putten, from VP Instruments, displays the new VP Flowscope flow meter with integrated differential pressure monitor.

ALMiG’s Rainer Haja and Daniel Fritz took the time to provide an excellent overview of their new technologies. This company always impresses me with how enthusiastic and “hungry” they are. They demonstrated air compressors designed for rail cars and a full range of oil-less and oil-free air compressors. The exciting innovation, still in the prototype stage, was a single-screw “spindle” air compressor. It has a dry compression chamber and is direct-coupled and speed controlled. It has one twin-shaft airend which can go from 0 to 25 bar (367 psig) in pressure. It consumes between 11 and 22 kW and has no intermediate cooling. Cooling is internal with fluid inside the rotor.

Daniel Fritz, from ALMiG, in front of the prototype of the innovative single-screw spindle compressor.

GARDNER DENVER had an impressive booth where one could see the international scope of the company and the many brands that are now under their umbrella. COMPAIR had a large booth as well. BOGE had a significant booth where they displayed their new booster packages. SULLAIR was present as was PARKER (over in the Fluid Power Hall). Anest Iwata had a booth and their manager told me they had just begun selling scroll air compressors in the U.S. out of their new Cincinnati subsidiary. THERMAL TRANSFER was there (I learned the term “tchotchke” from Tim McDonald) with their heat exchangers and ULTRACHEM had a very nice booth for their lubrication products.

MTA had a cool biogas dryer on display representing their interest in using their expertise in refrigerated dryers and chillers for this growing niche market. The unit is similar to a horizontal heat exchanger refrigerated dryer, but then uses SS 316 materials for the acidic condensate and has a vacuum circuit to suck the gas out and blow it downstream. PENTAIR displayed membrane dryers and told me their helically-wound membranes have purge rates down to 14% for 38 F dew points. They also have a good business in customizing membranes for specific applications.

Philippe Cluchague and Lucas Ferreres (left to right), from MATTEI, in front of their MAXIMA 75 kW PLUS rotary screw compressor.

Finishing Notes

I have been going to the Messe since 1992 and this year was as interesting and fun as any. PLUS, I made a big discovery – how to find a good room and breakfast for $100.00 per night! I used the “private accommodations” system organized by the City of Hannover’s Tourism Department. My hosts’ apartment, Frau Schonkalla, was located just one mile from the Fairgrounds. I had a nice room, a private bathroom, and a farmer’s breakfast every morning. My host told me how to use the bus and train to get to the Fair in 15 minutes and I was good to go! I highly recommend it to all who (like me) don’t spend much time in the hotel and who have certain budget limits to hotel prices.

I’m already looking forward to the 2013 Edition of the Hannover Fair. Hope to see you there.

For more information contact Rod Smith, Compressed Air Best Practices Magazine, tel: 412-980-9901, email: rod@airbestpractices.com