Why Hamburgers and their aviation friends love ILA Berlin

The most important airshow in Germany, the ILA Berlin, is once again opening its gates from 25 to 29 April, 2018. Hamburg’s role as the largest aviation location in Germany is clear, with numerous exhibitors from the metropolitan region, including major industry leaders, startups and small businesses. In 2018, Hamburg Aviation is also jointly responsible for the organisation of the International Supplier Center ISC. For the second year running the north German states are demonstrating their solidarity with a shared chalet. There will be a strong political presence on Thursday, 26 April, when representatives of all the northern states, including Senator Frank Horch, Minister for Economic Affairs in Hamburg, go on a tour of the airshow.

Northern Germany well represented

This is the second time that the north German states of Hamburg, Bremen, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Niedersachsen and Schleswig-Holstein are represented in a joint chalet, shared with Bavaria, at the ILA in the Berlin-Schönefeld ExpoCenter (Chalets West, 10-12). Many northern German companies are exhibiting at the ILA, too. In a première for 2018, the Hamburg Aviation cluster has made it possible for small to medium-sized companies to present as sub-exhibitors at the Hamburg Stand (Hall 6/340). Amongst them are the Gurit and Scholz Mechanik companies along with two teams from the ZAL Center for Applied Aeronautical Research: the WinDroVe project, exploring the commercial use of drones in the metropolitan region, and the Synergeticon startup, developing Industry 4.0 solutions for maintenance and production.

Visit from Senator Horch

Overall, new ideas for aviation are more strongly represented this year, in response to the reorientation of the ILA, which is presenting itself in 2018 as a platform for innovation and technological development. Touring the airshow on 26 April, Senator Frank Horch, Hamburg’s Minister for Economic Affairs, was convinced by the focus on innovation. “Innovation means thinking big thoughts and pursuing new paths. Hamburg aims to become a test lab for future trends and innovations. Entrepreneurs, researchers and manufacturing have to network intensively. The city’s aviation industry is already well advanced on this route, as ZAL in Finkenwerder so impressively demonstrates. The state government created the appropriate framework and environment for this. I am pleased to see that Hamburg’s concepts for the aviation industry of tomorrow have a platform here, and that the states are constructively interacting and exchanging knowledge and expertise.” Horch will join secretaries of state and ministers from the four other states at a discussion moderated by Airbus.

ILA highlights from Hamburg

ILA Berlin is, of course, a must for the major aviation corporations from the Hamburg Metropolitan Region. Airbus will be presenting its efficient long-haul A350 XWB airliner, with essential components coming from the metropolitan region, to trade visitors and the general public. The Emirates Airbus A380 will be on display at Berlin-Schönefeld from 25 to 29 April, too, with its prestigious upper deck, fitted out in Hamburg with an on-board Business Class lounge, private First Class suites and spa showers. The Airbus Beluga will show itself to the public on the ILA weekend (28-29 April). Lufthansa Technik (Hall 2/105) and Diehl Aviation (Hall 2/203) will also have stands at the airshow. The German Aerospace Center (DLR) will be presenting its current research projects, including the findings of Hamburg’s Institute of Air Transportation Systems in the field of climate-optimised flight. The Airbus BizLab is also presenting new approaches to aviation on 25 April, with insights into the creative work of the Airbus thinktanks in Ham-burg, Toulouse and Bangalore (ILA Future Lab, Hall 2/204).

SMEs pitch at the International Supplier Center ISC

For 2018, the International Supplier Center ISC (Hall 6), an established feature of the ILA, will once again offer small and medium-sized enterprises the opportunity to present their competencies and products on the trade visitor days. This year, the ISC management has been boosted with a project team from the nationwide Supply Chain Excellence Initiative (SCE). Hamburg Aviation, itself an SCE member, is heavily involved in the organisation of new event formats such as the “SME Hour”, a pitching round for small businesses (25 and 26 April, 2pm-3pm; 27 April, 11am-12pm). On Thurs., 26 April, from 9am to 1pm, ISC will be dedicated to “Work 4.0”. Amongst the presenters will be the Hamburg Centre of Aviation Training Lab(HCAT+ e.V.), looking at the impact of digital transformation on the aviation industry. Hamburg University of Applied Sciences (HAW Hamburg) and the Vocational School for Health, Aviation and Technology will be present at the ILA Career Center on 27 April, providing information on traineeships, apprenticeships and university courses in aerospace.

Hamburg also attending the Hannover Messe

From 23 to 27 April, at the same time as the ILA Berlin, the leading global industry fair is taking place — the Hannover Messe. After 15 years, Hamburg has returned to the event with a joint stand under the auspices of the economic development agency Hamburg Invest (HIW). Exhibitors at the stand (Hall 2/A26) include the ZAL Center for Applied Aeronautical Research and the Hamburg University of Technology (TUHH).