From small industry gathering to leading international trade show

The SPS first started in Sindelfingen in 1990 as a trade show and accompanying congress with a total of 63 exhibitors and 3,420 visitors. Five of the companies that exhibited at the very first show are this year also celebrating their 30th anniversary as exhibitors at the event: Beijer Electronics, Hüthig, M&M Software, Pilz and Yaskawa (formerly VIPA).

The move to Nuremberg in 1997 gave the SPS room to grow, all at once expanding from an exhibition hall in Sindelfingen to three halls in Nuremberg. This change of location also attracted some new exhibitors from around the Nuremberg area.

For many exhibitors, SPS has become something of a tradition: “The SPS has always been a trade show of the highest order and, for the past 25 years, the last week before Advent has become a fixed date in my calendar. As an adoptive Nuremberger, I was naturally delighted when the SPS moved here from Sindelfingen, and I started entertaining the Beckhoff booth team at our home on the Monday evening before the Show. Unfortunately, our living room could not keep up with the growth of the show (or that of Beckhoff), so this mini-tradition was pretty short-lived...,” muses Martin Rostan, Head of Technology Marketing at the Beckhoff branch office in Nuremberg.

Nor was it only the move to Nuremberg that prompted a growth spurt; over the years, the trade show has continued to grow and expand. While the exhibition space has increased from 3,500 m² to 136,000 m² since 1990, many exhibitors have themselves seen significant growth: “SEW-Eurodrive has been a regular exhibitor at the SPS since 1996. Originally starting out with a small component booth of around 50 m², SEW-Eurodrive has grown with the trade show. This year, we will be showcasing practical solutions, ranging from smart components and intelligent machine automation through to digital cloud applications, on 1,620 m² of exhibition space. For us, SPS - Smart Product Solutions remains the most important trade show for industrial automation,” sums up Heiko Füller, Head of Market Management at SEW-EURODRIVE.

Recipe for success

Today, SPS is the platform for smart and digital automation. It offers a meeting place for expert visitors and exhibitors with a focus on practical, intelligent solutions for the challenges of today and tomorrow. In Nuremberg, exhibitors will be showcasing their existing product ranges as well as their very latest product innovations, giving the visitors a comprehensive picture of the market. Something that is greatly valued by the exhibitors who have been returning to the SPS for many years:

“I have only good things to say about the SPS—it offers the ideal environment for exhibitors to showcase their products and the perfect opportunity for customers to research products and services.” Matthias Schagginger, Product Line Manager, Bachmann electronic GmbH (exhibitor since 1991):

“For me, SPS is the technology show par excellence; a trade show where innovation comes first and where expert discussions with specialists and customers play a very special role. It takes you right to the heart of the technology—that’s a valuable exchange.” Susanne Kunschert, Managing Partner Pilz GmbH & Co. KG (exhibitor since 1990).

“The SPS trade show is an integral part of the annual calendar for Wöhrle Stromversorgungssysteme GmbH and it is great that the show has become such an important event where we can meet and share with our customers and new prospective customers. Like in 2019, we always use the show as the market launch event for our new energy supply innovations. Wöhrle was founded in 1986—and we have been exhibiting at SPS for 27 years now. During this time, we have grown together with the SPS and, like the SPS trade show, have gained a firm foothold in the industry. We look forward to continuing this journey together with the SPS!” Dietmar Ruscher, Technical Director of Wöhrle Stromversorgungssysteme GmbH (exhibitor since 1991).

Take a journey through the past

For more information about SPS, automation and the industry, as well as interesting milestones, see the website www.sps-exhibition.com .