ACHEMA Pulse: new opportunities for process industry

The ACHEMA Pulse Media Preview was a big success. An extensive programme on the live stage with high-ranking interview partners and panels offered media representatives the opportunity to get information on current trends in the process industry.

Numerous exhibitor presentations, live videos and the interactive platform provided background information and the chance for exclusive interviews with industry experts. “Our goal was to give exhibitors and journalists a first impression of the platform and its functionalities”, said Dr Thomas Scheuring, CEO of DECHEMA Ausstellungs-GmbH, at the close of a varied day. Member of the Executive Board Dr Björn Mathes added: “We received a lot of positive feedback from both exhibitors and media representatives. This gives the participants, but also ourselves, the certainty that we are on the right track with our digital offer”.

The need for international exchange is strong; this is shown by the response to ACHEMA Pulse so far. “We currently have registrations from 23 countries – this shows how important the exchange with others is. The opportunity to do so is gratefully accepted”, says Dr Björn Mathes, project manager of ACHEMA Pulse. Both exhibitors of ACHEMA 2022, including Siemens, GEA, EKATO, OPC Foundation or Romaco, and first-time exhibitors use ACHEMA Pulse as an opportunity to stay in contact with each other despite travel restrictions and to further develop business concepts and win new partners against the backdrop of last year’s sometimes painful experiences.

Now the ACHEMA Pulse platform is being prepared for the actual launch on 31 May 2021. From then on, it is open for exhibitors and participants with a plethora of information and matchmaking functionalities. The highlight will on 15 and 16 June 2021 with a two-day live programme, the extensive congress and many workshops and satellite events.

We asked some questions to Dr Björn Mathes, project manager of ACHEMA Pulse.

What will happen on 15 and 16 June during ACHEMA Pulse as a digital event?

15 and 16 June will offer a virtual firework of insight into topics that currently engage the process industry’s attention. We will stream discussions and visionary presentations from three live stages in Frankfurt, featuring topics such as artificial intelligence in biotechnology and the process industry in general; lessons learned from the unprecedented experience in developing a vaccine and bringing it into large-scale production within 12 months; the transformation towards a hydrogen economy and the complex integration with other sectors – and much more. Besides this, a virtual congress will cover the complete portfolio of topics relevant to the ACHEMA community, accompanied by many satellite events organized by friends and partners of ACHEMA. And if this is not enough, you can also take a “deep-dive” into our exhibitors offerings; they will also organize discussions, presentations, and interactive workshops and masterclasses featuring their solutions.

Thus, 15 and 16 June are the culmination of a meeting of the process industry that starts already on 31 May and will continue for four weeks on the interactive platform of ACHEMA Pulse.

What is for a visitor and/or an end user the added value to participate to ACHEMA Pulse?

ACHEMA Pulse makes full use of the opportunities a virtual environment offers and adds to it the unique essence of ACHEMA. At ACHEMA Pulse, visitors find the information of more than 850 exhibitors from all over the world – right now, already companies from more than 30 countries have registered. This event is not just a shop window for the process industry but a whole multi-story shopping mall. You can explore this in as much detail as you want, from the vision right down to particular hardware. If you are looking to experience the global process industry in one place – then that’s ACHEMA Pulse.

Around the event the interactive platform will be open throughout the entire month of June. Will it be possible to make contact and engage in conversation with the companies?

Yes, ACHEMA Pulse is dedicated to interactivity. Our goal is to provide the most interactive digital event so far. You can explore the content the exhibitors provide – more than 150 hours of exhibitors presentations and webcasts have been announced – and you can take your time, as the platform is open for four weeks. During this time, you may contact the exhibitors and participants via the platform. Not only those whose expertise or offerings you are familiar with; with the matchmaking, you can identify interesting contacts based on shared interests and get in touch easily.

Next edition in presence of ACHEMA is scheduled on 4 – 8 April, 2022. Do you think that the future of a crucial exhibition as ACHEMA will be more hybrid? Can online events support the event in presence?

We regard ACHEMA Pulse as an essential addition to our event portfolio. A virtual event and a trade show are different kettles of fish. Virtual events, for example, allow for easy access independent of time and location and quick information and interaction. But not even in the best of virtual worlds, the specific atmosphere, the multisensory experience of a trade show can be caught. And building trust is also something that is better done in person. That’s why we strongly believe in both: Having virtual events – and hybrid aspects of “real” events – to gather information, make the first contact and participate if you cannot travel, and in-person events that inspire and offer the irreplaceable feeling of belonging to a global community.

All information on dates, registration and other questions at www.achema.de