Electronica 2022: The Same, but Different
Electronica 2022: The Same, but Different
The world is opening up and, last month, I found myself at Electronica in Munich — and after a couple of years of staying home, it was an exciting and invigorating experience. It reaffirmed my confidence in the ability of the electronics industry to grow and evolve. And my hours on the show floor energized me by confirming the growth that we are seeing in our own business.
Electronica is like no other show in the industry. Generally a biennial event, world events have kept it at bay since 2018. The show came back robustly with 2,144 exhibitors from 48 countries (compared with 3,124 at the last show). It brought 70,000 visitors, with most coming from Germany, Italy, Austria, France, Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Switzerland, the U.S., Israel, Spain, Turkey and Sweden.
Unless you’ve been there it’s hard to imagine. The exhibits are spread across multiple halls, each with its focus. Compared with domestic trade shows, I can only describe Electronica as “more.” More exhibits, more people, more meetings, just more everything… especially caffeinated hospitality. I couldn’t count the number of in-booth espresso bars.
We spent the weeks before the show setting up meetings with at least 50 key and potential suppliers, partners, and customers. Meeting face-to-face has a real impact, particularly since it’s been so long since we could. Plus we had a line of people who happened by and wanted to chat. As much as we talk about domestic business and its concerns, this show was a strong reminder that we are a global industry and that it’s important to take time and energy to build and maintain good relationships. Any chance to meet new friends and partners is valuable.
I was also reminded that business concerns are similar no matter where you are in the world. Demand is robust in Europe and most people have been having good years and maintained spending. The supply of components is loosening but not as quickly as anyone would like. Plus, the hot topics are just what you might expect, such as green energy and automobiles. I saw all-electric drones and concept cars. There are some exciting technologies out there that are on the verge of being real. Everyone sees them coming down the pike and are looking for the right partners to help navigate the changes.
As we head into 2023, I am full of optimism about the opportunity in our industry. We can’t control everything that happens, but we need the innovation of products that are going to change the world. Our industry is full of talented people and strong organizations intent on bringing these visions to life.
To read the article on EPSNews.com, click here: https://epsnews.com/2022/12/21/electronica-2022-the-same-but-different/