Trend radar EMO: A trade fair review with a view to the future

After finishing the EMO in Hannover 2011 the Hoffmann Group can take a highly positive balance: More customer contacts than ever before, a higher volume on generated “leads” and a confirmation of the company’s strategy in the matter of lightweight construction can be announced.

Achim, 9^th November 2011 – At the EMO, the world’s leading trade fair of the machine tool industry, the focus of the Hoffmann group layed clearly on the theme of lightweight construction. The demand for materials such as aluminium, poylmers, composites and super alloys, is steadily increasing in the automobile and aviation industry, but also in other business branches. The Hoffmann Group has reacted to this trend at an early stage and offers with the own brand GARANT the biggest and most comprehensive product range for the processing of these materials. The comprehensive offer had found great response with the trade show visitors: More qualified visitors than ever before came to visit the booth of the Munich system partner for quality tools, to inform themselves of the trend progressions of lightweight construction. Overall the contacts made on the trade fair have increased by 15 percent in comparison with the year 2007. “For us this was the most successful EMO of all times”, says Bert Bleicher, executive partner of the Hoffmann Group. “We are delighted about the constantly growing interest of our customers and see our corporate strategy and product development confirmed.“

360° Tooling is going international

The EMO helped the Hoffmann Group also in coming to a first conclusion about the service concept “360° Tooling”. The seven-piece and modular applicable service range was introduced one year ago and has since then offered an all-round service for the whole machining process from tool planning via tool procurement through to the application. “With the progression of 360° Tooling we can be absolutely delighted“, says Bleicher. Due to the already achieved success, the 360° Tooling will be offered in some European countries from next year onwards. Single modules of the 360° Tooling are already available Europe-wide.

Very much liked is the module ToolScout, a personalisable online platform for tool selection and technology data determination. At peak times it is used by several hundred customers at the same time. Because of its uncomplicated and intuitive operation even schools use it for educational training. On the occasion of the EMO, the platform was built out and refined, so that the complete machining range of the Hoffman Group can now be shown via ToolScout.

Further highlights from the EMO

Great interest was also aroused by the new grooving range GARANT eco, the highly efficient clamping system GARANT ZeroClamp and the particularly flexible interchangeable head milling system GARANT TopCut presented at the Hoffmann Group booth. “The GARANT brand is and stays the heart of the company Hoffmann. With a product portfolio, which is stronger than ever before, we can  offer our customers solutions for highly complex projects”, explains Bleicher.

About 140,000 visitors from more than 100 countries were attracted by the EMO from 19^th to 24^th September 2011. 2,037 exhibitors from 41 countries presented their latest machines, solutions and services for metalworking under the motto “Machine tools and more”. “The EMO has proven itself again as a unique international shop window for innovations. The innovative strength of the branch as a basis for sustainable growth is amazing” says Dr. Detlev Eisenhorst, General Commissioner of the EMO Hannover.