ACHEMA 2024: Multifaceted lecture programme for the world of the process industry

ACHEMA 2024 will once again fully integrate the lecture and supporting programme with the exhibition. In 2022, ACHEMA integrated the congress and the so-called Innovation Stages into the exhibition for the first time. Due to the positive feedback, the concept will be continued this year. In total, more than 750 presentations await visitors in the lecture halls and on the stages in the exhibition.

“Science and Industry in Dialogue has always been DECHEMA's credo and since the last ACHEMA it has also been a living practice in the lecture and congress programme. The success proves us right: With more than 20,000 listeners, the number of attendees in 2022 was significantly higher than at ACHEMA 2018, which had more participants overall," says Dr Andreas Förster, Executive Director of DECHEMA e.V. and thus organiser of ACHEMA. This year's congress programme focuses on the topics of hydrogen, sustainability, circular economy and digitalisation. At the six Innovation Stages in the exhibition and in the five highlight sessions of the congress, ACHEMA 2024 will address these and other top topics of the process industry.

Process Innovation

The GEA Process Innovation Stage in Hall 9.0 will focus on topics such as electrification, flexibilisation and biotechnologisation of chemical processes as well as contributions to smart digital technologies in plant construction and operation. In the Process Highlight Session "Nature as a role model – maximum resource efficiency in the chemical industry", experts will discuss the vision of a fully resource-efficient chemical industry and its implementation. The highlight session will take place on Friday, 14 June 2024 from 12:00 to 13:00.

Pharma Innovation

The ZETA Pharma Innovation Stage in Hall 4.1 will cover biopharmaceutical production in addition to many other topics related to pharmaceutical production and packaging, which is also the focus of the Pharma Highlight Session on Monday, 10 June 2024 from 13:00 to 14:00: Under the title "Next generation pharma manufacturing – current advances in cell and gene therapy", the Pharma Highlight Session will have a closer look on the centralised and decentralised production of cell therapeutics and the current challenges of translational research and the marketing of therapies.

Lab Innovation

More than ever, success in the laboratory is determined by the technologies used in the laboratory and at the interfaces to engineering and production. This is the focus of the presentations on the Lab Innovation Stage in Hall 12.0. In addition to the Lab Innovation Stage, ACHEMA 2024 will also feature an action area dedicated to the digitalised, miniaturised and automated laboratory of the future. Besides innovative bioanalytics and (bio)pharmaceutical applications, sustainability as well as the planning, construction, equipment and operation of laboratories will also be highlighted. The latter is a particular focus in the SEFA Theatre of the Scientific Equipment and Furniture Association: at ACHEMA, it is the contact point for laboratory operators, architects, users and experts from the laboratory community who want to find out more about the laboratory-grade environment and gain insights into successful examples from around the world.

Green Innovation

The challenge of climate-neutral production in the process industries, the circular economy, the integration of molecular and industrial biotechnology, sustainable innovations and investments – these are the topics that are the focus of the EY Green Innovation Stage in Hall 6.0. “The chemical industry is looking to innovative technologies to bolster sustainability, such as green chemistry and circular economy practices. ACHEMA is a key platform for bringing industry experts together to address these challenges and foster innovation”, emphasises Matthias Brey, Head of Sustainability Consulting Europe West at EY. In the highlight session "Beyond fossil fuels – exploring alternative carbon sources for a sustainable chemical industry”, on Thursday, 13 June 2024 from 13:00 to 14:00, experts from science and industry will discuss how fossil-free production can become a reality.

Digital Innovation

Industry 4.0, artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, digital twins and, last but not least, cybersecurity: The Siemens Digital Innovation Stage in Hall 11.0 offers a comprehensive and practical overview of key digital trends and their use in the process industry. “For the process industry, ACHEMA is the key platform where innovation and practical application come together. We will show how Siemens is connecting the real world with the digital world to create a more sustainable future for our customers", says Axel Lorenz, CEO Process Automation at Siemens. The highlight session "Artificial intelligence and autonomous systems in the process industry" on Wednesday, 12 June 2024 from 13:00 to 14:00 will discuss the steps towards autonomous systems and explore the technological and cultural challenges that lie ahead.

Hydrogen Innovation

The process industry stands like no other sector for the technological backbone of a functioning hydrogen economy: The Siemens Hydrogen Innovation Stage in Hall 6.0, the Special Show Hydrogen and numerous other exhibitors at ACHEMA will present the milestones of the hydrogen economy to date as well as future challenges. The highlight session "Hyperscaling hydrogen – turning strategy into reality " on Tuesday, 11 June 2024 from 13:00 to 14:00 will deal with the central questions of the hydrogen ramp-up: What does hyperscaling mean for plant engineering, its suppliers and users? What investments and partnerships do we need for technology development and infrastructure?

All highlight sessions will take place in the room Europa in Hall 4.0.

While the congress sessions will primarily focus on application-oriented research and the development from proof-of-concept to the threshold of market entry, the Innovation Stages will focus on current production issues, best practices and ready-to-use technologies via short presentations – always with application in mind. With the exhibition and the closer integration of the various components, ACHEMA will offer a complete 360-degree perspective on all trends and technologies in the process industries. The lecture programme is therefore an important reason why experts and users from 130 countries will once again be coming to ACHEMA in Frankfurt this year.