A spirit of optimism for future technologies at Optatec 2018

Optatec – International Trade Fair for Optical Technologies, Components and Systems scored over three days in mid-May with technical innovations from all areas of photonics. The increased importance of this leading trade show was again demonstrated this year by the renewed growth in the number of high-caliber international visitors.

With 540 exhibitors from 32 nations, 5803 visitors from 45 countries, Optatec 2018 has once again gained in internationality and thus, as a central industry event, represents the worldwide range of products, detailed and system solutions as well as applications from the broad field of optical technologies.Optical components, optomechanics, fiber optics and optical waveguides, laser components, coating technologies and, above all, the key technology of photonics were represented here just as much as systems for additive manufacturing, industrial image processing and optical metrology.

“In this combination and internationality, never before have so many experts, manufacturers and users come together on one platform,” says project manager Fabian Krüger. The concept of Optatec with its constant further development is working. Top-class trade visitors with decision-making authority will meet experts from different fields and a concentrated future-oriented range of products and services. This makes investment decisions more targeted and faster. The positive and optimistic mood on the part of both exhibitors and visitors, which was already noticeable shortly after the start of the trade show, continued throughout the entire trade show. This was certainly also due to the fact that many visitors took an above-average amount of time not only to make intensive trade show contacts, but also to experience the first-ever “Optical Systems Design Conference”, hosted by SPIE Europe with a large number of world-renowned experts. Also very well attended were the exhibitor forum with about 1200 participants, the SPECTARIS workshops and the “Technology Park Education and Research”.

Once again, more than just scientific findings and practical applications were demonstrated at the highest level. Partnerships were formed, knowledge was imparted, and contracts were awarded. The cooperation partners were also more than satisfied with the quality of the event. Long-time participants as well as first-time exhibitors therefore still held out the prospect of their participation in the upcoming Optatec, from May 12 to 14, 2020, on the spot.