Have you ever wanted to exhibit at a trade fair in the USA? And were you surprised by the high price level or the organizational effort? You are not alone! Many European companies wonder how much the trade fair business in the USA differs from that in Europe. Here you can read my Top 10 tips for first-time exhibitors, using MD&M West in Anaheim as an example.

Frau Lehmann? Das ist doch die IVAM-Mitarbeiterin, die immer diese Fragebögen schickt: einmal im Jahr die Einladung zur Wirtschaftsdatenerhebung, ab und zu eine Meinungsumfrage und gelegentlich eine Einladung zur Mitgliederbefragung. Seit 2005 kümmere ich mich als Economic Research Manager um den Geschäftsbereich IVAM Research. Aber angefangen habe ich bei IVAM schon vor zwanzig Jahren. Und in all dieser Zeit ist immer wieder irgendetwas Spannendes passiert.

Personally, I really like Singapore. Maybe because it is a kind of "Asia for beginners". Language barriers and culture shock don't come. That makes it easier for us Europeans to make good international contacts. The excellent infrastructure and the high standards of hygiene, organization and reliability make many things easier that can generally become unplanned obstacles abroad.

Optical components play a particularly important role in the field of diagnostic imaging technologies, like X-ray, ultrasound examinations, computer tomography or endoscopy but also in the quality assurance of manufacturing processes. High-quality optics are essential, not least in the field of laser technology. Optical components, systems and assemblies form a focal point in the field of medical technology components, which will be on display at COMPAMED.

We would like to introduce our board members to you: For this reason, we did short interviews with them about key technologies, technology trends and the relevance of networks. Matthias Lorenz from AEMtec GmbH in Berlin has been a member of the IVAM board since March 2014. His areas of specialization include microsystems technology and the medical technology market in Europe and North America.

The miniaturization of electronics and the resulting constant reduction in production costs has been a major driver of innovation in recent decades in a large number of industries - medical technology is no exception. Today, high-quality and cost-effective microelectronics enable numerous convenient applications for patients that were unthinkable years ago - like wearable solutions.

Sensor technology is one of the key technologies when it comes to making conventional medical devices or production processes in the manufacture of medical products smarter and more controllable. Sensors make it possible to digitize diagnostic, control or therapy devices and thus also contribute to making these applications "wearable".

Surely at first you think the same as Dr. Dietrich when I contacted him about two years ago: What should IVAM members do at the W3+ Fair in Wetzlar? Wetzlar "only" stands for optics. I got rejected but I don`t give up easily: I invited him to the trade fair in Wetzlar and he got convinced by the mix of over 200 companies which operate in the sectors of optics, mechanics, electronics and photonics.

Microfluidics plays an increasingly important role in industry and in applications for everyday life. The medical technology and healthcare markets are particularly in focus. Mobile diagnostic and therapeutic devices are not possible without microfluidic components that process small amounts of liquids. At COMPAMED 2019, microfluidics is is again a special trend topic in our joint area as well as at the experts forum.

We would like to introduce our board members to you: For this reason, we did short interviews with them about key technologies, technology trends and the relevance of networks. Dr. Lutz Aschke, Managing Director of TRUMPF Photonic Components, has been a member of IVAM's executive board since 2007 and chairman of the board since 2015. He contributes his expertise in optics, photonics and laser technology to his work on the board.