On 21 and 22 February 2018 the Rittal Arena in Wetzlar will again open its doors to welcome national and international experts from the precision technologies industries. Over the course of the two days, the 5th W3 Fair+Convention will be taking place, enabling visitors to exchange ideas and expand their networks. The fringe programme, which is largely free to enter, boasts a variety of intriguing speakers and topics. The key note speakers are Andreas Kaufmann from Leica Camera, Scott Stegert from Continental, Fabian Etzold from Dioptic and Heino Hilbig, innovation manager and author. They will be presenting talks on the core topic - innovation. As part of the innovative EPIC TechWatch event - organised by the European Photonics Industry Consortium - the main events stage will feature presentations from companies involved in the value-added chain of aspheric and free-form special optic solutions. Users such as Orafol Fresnel Optics, Light Tec and AMS Technologies will deliver 10-minute key note addresses shedding light on the current state of the art and the emerging challenges. And the future is also the focus of the workshop organised by the Czech-based ELI Beamlines EU laser project. “The most powerful laser in the world” is calling on potential companies to take part in the tendering process for the project of the century.

Panel of experts organised by Spectaris and Design Camp

Spectaris, the industrial association, is extending invites to a panel of experts. Jürgen Weitenkopf of Hexagon Metrology, Rolf Slatter of Sensitec, Holger Werner Dietz of Janitza, a spokesperson from Continental and Heino Hilbig, will be discussing the topic "Photonics - an ever-increasing phenomenon in the automotive industry" as well as looking at current political developments and their impacts on companies. “Design to Business”, a network of experts, is welcoming the optics sector along to its Design Camp. Within this forum there will be presentations on practical methods for innovative processes, assessments of the digitalisation opportunities in product development and explanations about auspicious business models.

Recruiting opportunities at the Student Day, Business Matching and Industry 4.0

Around 300 pupils and students are expected to attend the Student Day on the second day of the trade show. This will enable companies and potential new employees to make initial contacts. Jobvector, an expert partner in the crucial task of recruiting, will be on hand to help companies with acquiring new skilled employees, and young people with taking their next career steps.

There is an international feel to Business Matching, established by the regional management agency of Central Hesse: The event is a place for business representatives to make fruitful contacts with foreign delegations. Then there is Industry 4.0, a conference on IT Security organised by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IHK) and scheduled for the first day of the trade show. The event will see practice-based lectures designed to support medium-sized firms with digitalisation issues. Those interested in the focal aspects of current university research will not want to miss the Campus Area. There is where THM University of Applied Sciences Mittelhessen, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Teisnach Technology Campus, and the University of Applied Sciences Jena will be explaining the latest findings achieved through university research work.

For 2018, the organisers of W3 Fair+Convention are again expecting some 3000 visitors, who can look forward to meeting 180 exhibiting enterprises and expert partners from Europe and America. “Those who can’t make it will be missing out on the link to forward-looking topics and future developments. Alongside that, our event makes it so easy to establish contacts and accumulate know-how in just a very brief time”, underlines Ralf Niggemann, Networking Manager of Wetzlar Network and co-founder of the trade show.

Tickets for W3 Fair+Convention are available now from the Ticket Shop. A day ticket to W3 Fair+Convention costs 25 Euro, while a two-day ticket for the whole event is 40 Euro. Free entry to schoolchildren and students. The admission charge to the trade show also includes admission to all the free presentations and talks.