A+A 2021 preview

Foto: Messe Düsseldorf, Constanze Tillmann / Photo: Messe Düsseldorf, Constanze Tillmann

Foto: Messe Düsseldorf, Constanze Tillmann / Photo: Messe Düsseldorf, Constanze Tillmann

Foto: Messe Düsseldorf, Constanze Tillmann / Photo: Messe Düsseldorf, Constanze Tillmann

The pandemic has markedly accelerated the process of change in the working world. A fundamental change that enabled amongst other things the implementation of digital solutions overnight. At the same time, sustainability is more than ever the focus of society and industry. This opens up new areas of activity and raises new questions for the entire industry. How do we want to shape tomorrows’ world, how do we want to live, work and operate in this world while treating our fellow human beings and the available resources ecologically and responsibly? Comprehensive insights as well as solutions and products for the future of work come care of this year’s A+A. Registering more than 1,000 exhibitors (in Halls 1 to 10) the leading international trade fair for safety, security and health at work will open its doors at the Düsseldorf Exhibition Centre from 26 to 29 October. Tickets for A+A 2021 are available at: www.aplusa.de/2130. The current hall plan of A+A 2021 is available for download here.

Online services enhance the exhibition journey

To ensure optimal preparation for visiting the trade fair the digital exhibitor database is placed at attendees’ disposal: here visitors to A+A 2021 can find all relevant data on exhibitors, services, products and contact persons. Another digital add-on are the product-related exhibitors’ web sessions. Thanks to this additional digital channel all those unable to attend the trade fair this year can enter into virtual contact with exhibitors. The web sessions will also be available on demand after the trade fair. 

Back to Business – and safely so!

The successful holding of A+A 2021 is ensured by an extensive Hygiene and Infection Protection Concept for events at the homebase in Düsseldorf, which has already proven its worth during several trade fairs and is constantly adapted to current circumstances. To provide the best protection possible for all trade fair attendees, registration for A+A 2021 is mandatory as well as tickets booked with TVR-proof (tested, vaccinated or recovered) on a daily basis. With this move A+A also sends out a clear signal to the industry in COVID times: people count – now and in future. A brief synopsis of the most important facts from the detailed Hygiene Concept can be found as a pictogram on the Hygiene and Infection Protection information page of A+A 2021: www.aplusa-online.com/en/Exhibitor/Overview/Hygiene_concept_PROTaction.

For a detailed interview with Markus Leuker, Head of the Occupational Safety and Health Department at Messe Düsseldorf, on the Hygiene and Infection Protection Concept of Messe Düsseldorf visit: https://www.aplusa-online.com/Interview_Hygiene_EN

37th Congress for Occupational Safety and Medicine

The most relevant congress for all experts and insiders is organised by Basi, the German Federal Association for Occupation Safety and Health, and brings together the OSH actors and decision-makers from industry, skilled crafts, administration, politics and science in Düsseldorf every two years. Centre stage this year will be current topics such as Work 4.0, possibilities of digitalisation and AI for occupational health, working in pandemic times as well as making Vision Zero a reality. In a host of modern event formats there will be debates about mobile working, occupational safety in international supply chains, sustainable OSH as well as on the future of work in Europe and worldwide. For the programme of the 37th Congress for Occupational Safety and Medicine please visit: http://www.basi.de/aa-kongress/.

In addition to this, selected Congress content can be streamed free of charge on the A+A website. In Hall 10 on the fairgrounds trade visitors will find a competence centre for occupational safety and health at the Meeting Point Safety + Health. Here Basi will jointly with its national and international partners provide information about such subjects as corporate health promotion, occupational diseases, hazardous substances, personal protective equipment, accident insurance, rehabilitation and rules and regulations.

Trending themes at A+A 2021

The trending themes in the industry characterise the appearance of A+A 2021 – be it by the solutions and products that exhibitors present on approximately 50,000m² or by the numerous lectures and presentations at the Special Show areas and Trend Forum. 

Digital efficiency and sustainability determine the current debate and will continue strongly influencing the future of work. Alongside these megatrends at A+A 2021 the programme of side events will focus on Future Solutions, New Work and the topic Hygiene and the Pandemic.

A+A live: practice-oriented lectures plus live action

Next to the exhibitors’ products and solutions, this year’s Trend Forum in Hall 4 will map all facets of trending themes with its practice-driven talks. The themed sessions:
– Digitalisation + Safety: Lectures on the themes of digital documentation of PPE use, such as purchase, maintenance, care and cleaning as well as the recording of near accidents.
– Digitalisation + Health: Presentation of health Apps, teleworking and new working worlds as well as mental stress and workload reduction through exoskeletons.
– Sustainability: Introduction to the Due Diligence Act on the German and European level. (The limits to) circular economy.  
– Protection and Hygiene: Best practice, experiences and learnings for the selection of PPE (masks, hand protection, disinfection, etc. incl. combinability), CE conformity and quality awareness.
– Handling of Hazardous Substances: Talks on handling, evaluation and the risk assessment of hazardous substances. Latest insights associated with REACH as well as experimental lectures on hazardous materials storage.

Selected lectures will be streamed live on the A+A 2021 website. For updates on the lecture series and speakers visit: https://www.aplusa-online.com/en/Home/Program_2021/

In Hall 6 the Factory Fire Brigade Association Germany (WFVD) will stage the special show company fire protection and emergency management. In several live demonstrations they will simulate the use of Chemical Protection Suits (CPS) in the event of loss of containment of toxic substances during accidents. This shows which measures have to be undertaken to prevent accidents and detrimental substances from spreading into ground water.

Robotics Park & Selfexperience Space: this is how prevention actually works

The Robotics Park features manufacturers of exoskeletons together with the Fraunhofer IPA, (Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation); they show how these technologies can support workers in physically demanding jobs or when working in unergonomic postures. In the adjacent Selfexperience Space exhibitors can also present their innovations in action. Three simulated working situations of relevance to industrial exoskeletons and selected by experts will be made available there. The three concourses are: logistics, assembly and welding. The courses were designed by the Fraunhofer IPA and the Stuttgart University Institute of Industrial Manufacturing and Management (IFF) and can be used by exhibitors and customers for trialling the various exoskeletons. “With the Selfexperience Space we want to show that industrial exoskeletons are fascinating new tools – developed and deployed to support physical work,” says Dr. Urs Schneider of Fraunhofer IPA.

EXOWORKATHLON: live study on load control

In addition to this, the Fraunhofer IPA and University Stuttgart IFF will organise the EXOWORKATHLON as part of the Robotics Park. Here, too, a course will be set up that young test persons (apprentices and technical students) go through with and without exoskeletons. Various jobs are included to flag up and discuss functionalities in response to user feedback, ergonomics, metabolism and production quality of exoskeletons.

START-UP ZONE – introducing the youngsters of this industry

In the special START-UP ZONE young, creative, future-oriented companies will introduce their innovations to the high-calibre audience from all segments of occupational safety and medicine. Be it a health App, VR goggles or high-tech textiles: there are no limits to the subjects covered. The start-ups at A+A 2021 enrich the ranges at this leading trade fair with fresh ideas.