Munich, January 19, 2010. Following the successful premiere of hybridica in the autumn of 2008, the International Trade Fair for the Development and Manufacture of Hybrid Components is getting ready for Round 2. The event, which is being held at the same time as the international trade fair electronica, will be based on its proven exhibition concept, which is to depict the value chain for hybrid components in its entirety – covering everything from raw materials, development and prototyping to tool and die manufacturing, production systems, automation concepts and multifaceted applications for hybrid components in high-tech industries. However, some new themes are also being integrated into this year's fair. As a result, hybridica 2010 will feature not only components made of metal and plastic, but also ceramics – an innovative composite material for hybrid combinations. In the plastics sector, injection-molded interconnect devices and MID technology have been added to the product index. That makes hybridica an attractive information and presentation platform for new exhibitor and visitor target groups.
 
When hybridica opens its gates for the second time from November 9 – 12, 2010, it will continue its success story: 130 exhibitors from ten countries and more than 7,800 visitors from 21 countries gathered at the premiere of the new trade fair for hybrid components in 2008. Exhibitors and visitors welcomed the concept, which is to give hybrid components and related integrated manufacturing techniques an exhibition platform that makes the innovative strength of this technology the center of attention. Composite materials combine multifunctionality with design freedom, and integrated manufacturing techniques establish a link between automation and optimum added value at the same time that they improve the balance of resources.
The hybridica concept is to give this relatively new branch of industry, which has taken shape over the past few years, its own platform where experts can exchange knowledge and share their experiences, gather information about the latest trends and innovations, discuss new projects with potential customers and tap new application fields and sales markets.
 
The entire value chain at a glance
As in the past, hybridica will depict the entire value chain for hybrid technology again in 2010. That is why hybridica is home to companies that build plants and machinery for hybrid manufacturing as well as for manufacturers of hybrid components who use the fair to present their entire product, solution and material expertise. That includes hybrid components themselves as well as comprehensive know-how in the precision machining of metals – i.e. stamping, shaping and surface treatment – in plastics processing – i.e. overmolding inserted parts, insert molding, outsert molding, back molding metals, media-tight overmolding, etc.– as well as connecting, joining and assembly techniques.
Once again, the production process itself will be a key theme. Manufacturing hybrid components requires an enormous amount know-how – from the choice of raw materials, prototype development and tool and die manufacturing to configuring and carrying out all process steps in the production process. The trend is toward integrated techniques that turn multi-step processes into single-step ones, providing for particularly efficient manufacturing with high profit margins.
 
Expanding fair to include new material combinations
Besides addressing plastic and metal composites, hybridica 2010 will also address the latest plastic-plastic, ceramic-metal and ceramic-plastic hybrids. "Regardless of the composites, manufacturers are all pursuing the same objective: to take advantage of the respective benefits, reduce material consumption and weight and integrate more functions or new ones by coming up with intelligent combinations", says Thomas Rehbein, Deputy Director of the Business Unit for New Technologies at Messe München GmbH, referring to hybridica's expanded scope. Rehbein explains further: "During our preparations, we discussed these new topics with several companies that manufacture hybrid components and feel that ceramic hybrids and plastic-plastic composites have a great deal of potential to offer. For us, that was a sign that we were on the right track."
 
Manufacturers of plants and machines also profit from the new material capabilities. After all, they use the same solutions for metal and ceramic injection molding as they do for plastic, i.e. precision injection-molding machines, hot runner systems, tool and die manufacturing, production automation, etc. At hybridica, they find buyers for products that make it possible to add even more value using these complex manufacturing techniques.
 
Platform for new target groups
hybridica 2010 will be rounded out by an extensive program of related events. The program that accompanied the premiere in 2008 met with a great deal of interest. Among other things, the "hybridica Forum", which is devoted to the transfer of knowledge from the scientific and commercial sectors, features events and presentations that focus on the latest trends in production integration and the latest projects of research organizations and universities. "Highlight Avenue" will showcase hybrid studies and new material combinations to give manufacturers and consumers in various branches of industry a better look at the "big picture" and promoting dialog. Finally, a special show called "Transparent Manufacturing" will allow trade visitors to experience the automated production of a hybrid component live and in person.
 
Rehbein is convinced that expanding the range of topics at hybridica will further strengthen the fair's role as an information and business platform for the industry. "The exhibitors and visitors at the first hybridica helped us to create a very solid foundation, and now we want to expand it even further. hybridica sees itself as a trade show, an innovation hub and a business platform for networking these metals, plastics and ceramics experts with customers in the industrial sector." They predominantly come from the electronics, electrical-engineering and automotive industries and appreciate the fact that hybridica is held at the same time as electronica. However, because of its expanded focus, hybridica 2010 will do more to address other sectors such as the IT and communications industry, manufacturers of white and brown goods, medical technology, power engineering as well as building services and sanitary engineering, the consumer-goods industry and the solar-energy industry. hybridica 2010 is being held in Hall C1 at the New Munich Trade Fair Centre from November 9 – 12, 2010, i.e. at the same time as the international trade fair electronica.
 
Change in management
Effective January 1, 2010, Norbert Bargmann assumes responsibility for the New Technologies Business Unit and, therefore, for hybridica. He succeeds Klaus Dittrich, who was appointed Chairman & CEO of Messe München at the same time. Bargmann has been a member of the Management Board at Messe München since October 2001 and was appointed Deputy Chairman of the Management Board effective January 1, 2010.

Press contact:
Kathrin Hagel
Press office hybridica
Messe München GmbH
Phone: +49 (0) 89 / 949-20651
email:: kathrin.hagel@messe-muenchen.de

Sven Linge
teamtosse GmbH
Phone: +49 (0)89 /459 1158-30
emaill: hybridica@teamtosse.de