In the final report about participation in Electronica 2018 event, organizers proudly announced strong growth in both exhibitors and visitors. The final show report announced growth to more than 3,100 exhibitors from more than 50 countries. In terms of the number of exhibitors, the leading country was Germany, followed by China, Taiwan, the U.S., and Great Britain (in that order). Some 80,000 trade visitors from over 80 countries came to Munich.
In terms of the number of visitors, the top countries were Germany followed by Italy, Austria, Great Britain and Northern Ireland, France, Switzerland, the U.S., the Russian Federation, China, and Poland (in that order). It is not surprising that European countries dominate the ranks of top participants. However, the show has become increasingly global in its complexion over the years.
Exhibitor Profiles and Focus
Analyzing the exhibitor directory for Electronica is instructive in identifying areas of greatest presence and emphasis at the show. The directory provides a wealth of information where companies can select multiple categories that represent the products, services, and applications they are demonstrating. The number of “Products/Services” categories published in the show directory is overwhelming, with 1,942 categories and subcategories listed. However, just the top-level data for the number of exhibitors in each category is valuable to analyze in terms of the show.
Of course, this is just one metric. The show is a mix of large exhibitors with multistory meeting spaces and large show floor exhibits, along with a host of small-booth exhibitors. Also, self-categorization leaves variability in the way companies choose to represent themselves and their products. For example, there are 29 companies listed under “Distributors” in the “Services” category. However, at least 35 distributors can be identified in the overall show directory.
Figures 1 and 2 present the number of exhibitors by “Application” area and by “Product/Services.” Since companies can select more than one category, the numbers add to more than the total number of exhibitors. For those interested in a more granular view, the Table presents one more level of detail in categories for the “Product/Services” area.
Given the European location of the show, it is expected that industrial and automotive exhibitions would be positioned in a leading position. However, the extremely large number of exhibitors in these two categories compared to the other 18 is still somewhat surprising. On the other hand, areas that dominate the general press coverage in electronics had a relatively smaller group of exhibitors: Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity/Security & Safety, Smart Grids/Smart Energy, and Wearables/Healthcare. Medical Electronics, IoT and Smart Homes/Smart Cities had a solid presence at the show and captured many of the headlines. On the component side, Electromechanics/System Peripherals and Passive Components represented a large share of exhibitors.
Figure 1: Number of Electronica 2018 Exhibitors by Application
Figure 2: Number of Electronica 2018 Exhibitors by Product / Service
Number of Electronica 2018 Exhibitors by Product / Service
Note- Other SEMICON Europa categories include: associations, photovoltaic device manufacturing, flat panel display equipment, nanotechnology materials, distribution and logistics, support products, electronic applications, mask making materials, substrates, gases, HVAC/temperature/humidity/contamination control, educational and research institutions, and PV services. These categories each had one to five exhibitors.
