The industry highlight at its traditional venue in Frankfurt focused on an exciting topic, namely the technical exploitation of light. 422 exhibitors from 24 countries showcased innovations from the fields of optotechnology, optical metrology, new technologies, sustainable manufacturing processes and modern machines on 18,000 square meters of exhibition floor space. Roughly 64 % of the exhibitors came from outside of Germany.

“At this highly specialised top event, manufacturers and users from all over the world were once again able to discuss light and its technical use – face-to-face and in great depth,” sums up Fabian Krüger, Optatec project manager at trade fair promoters PE Schall. “As trade fair promoters, we’re very proud to have the opportunity of dealing with such a distinguished, exclusive topic, and we’re delighted to be able to offer this platform – the only one of its kind in the world which is intensely devoted to the specialised topic of optotechnology. We’re very pleased with the increasingly international presence,” confirms Krüger. A total of 3.962 expert visitors attended Optatec 2024 in Frankfurt.

Optatec presented important applications for the solution of current and future ecological, economic, social and technical challenges. This is why the optical technologies are among the most important future trends of the 21st century. The German photonics industry encompasses roughly a thousand companies with a total of approximately 190,000 employees who generate annual sales amounting to 54 billion euros. Jena and Berlin are major centers for photonics research and industry, and other photonics hubs are located in the German states of Hesse, Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria.

Germany commands a 40 % share of the European photonics market, followed by the United Kingdom and France with 15 % each. Around 45 % of all exports from German photonics companies go to European countries, and about half of Germany’s photonics imports come from Asia. According to Spectaris, the importance of the USA has increased as a trading partner for photonics.

Optatec 2024 was once again able to confirm its world-leading status and was also distinguished by an impressive supplementary programme: seminars were held by the Spectaris Photonics Association, a CEO Roundtable dealt with “The photonics and optics industry in times of uncertain markets”, the technology park for “Education and Research – Studying Photonics” provided information on photonics masters programmes offered in Hesse and, as a communication platform geared towards expert visitors, the exhibitor forum provided additional information about participating companies and technologies. “We’re very pleased with this successful trade fair, which addresses the inspiring topic of light,” summarises Bettina Schall, managing director of trade fair promoter PE Schall. “Optatec is the industry meeting place par excellence, and we look forward to seeing you again at the 17th Optatec, two years down the road, in Frankfurt from the 5th through the 7th of May, 2026.”

Further reading: Re-Start in Autumn – After a 4-year interruption, the optotechnology and image processing sectors met once again – live and in person – at Optatec, wileyindustrynews.com, 25 October 2022