Achema 2012 Presents the Process Industry’s Response to the Challenges of the Future

Some eight months before the start, the world s leading event for chemical process engineering, process technology and biotechnology is overflowing with ideas and energy. The cornerstone of every Achema is the exhibition, which is expected to attract 3,800 exhibitors from all over the world, together with the congress, featuring around 900 papers on cutting-edge topics from research and industrial application. This Achema will focus on issues relating to the energy revolution and the shift in the raw material base; moreover, due to the impact of global networking, there is also a surging interest in innovative security concepts. The reorganisation of the halls has proved to be a boon for Achema classics , such as the exhibition groups Pumps and Compressors or Instrumentation, Control and Automation Techniques; it has also provided several other exhibition groups with badly needed scope for growth. To date, exhibitors from 49 different countries have already registered; emerging regions, such as India and China, are showing great interest, and there is also a keen demand from Eastern Europe.

In view of the huge range of topics and services, Achema 2012 is launching a Partnering scheme to assist the anticipated 175,000 visitors and exhibitors to pinpoint suitable contacts. Two months before the event starts participants can register and specify their areas of interest. The system facilitates selective searches for potential cooperation partners by topic and makes it simple to schedule meetings at exhibition stands or in the special Partnering area.

The energy revolution and the shift in the raw material base are the hot topics, each with their own individual slant. "Innovative Energy Carriers and Storage", for instance, is the theme of the special show which will highlight novel technologies. The attractive rates are designed to enable SMEs to present their solutions at a reasonable price. Innovations in this sector will also be displayed in other exhibition groups. This topic is also reflected in the Congress programme which provides a forum for the discussion of trends that have not yet reached market maturity.

The shift in the raw material base is part of the impressive spectrum of issues addressed by "BiobasedWorld at ACHEMA". BiobasedWorld is the platform for the bioeconomy, integrating products and services of exhibitors from all sectors with Congress sessions and a number of special events to be staged in the BiobasedWorld forum in Hall 9. Besides scientific and technical questions, the spotlight will be on market-ready concepts. A Venture Capital Day, a Business Plan competition and a series of workshops focusing particularly on business models and SMEs round off a programme targeting not only scientists and entrepreneurs, but also investors and funding organisations.