Why Attend Hannover Messe? Digital Transformation of Course!

Every year, at the start of spring, thousands of attendees pour into Hannover Messe Convention Center in search of the latest innovations and smart technologies. And this year was no different. Techies and enthusiasts from around the world crowded around for a sneak peek of the latest product releases and live demonstrations.

This year, Canada assumed the esteemed position of Partner Country, under the theme "The future’s here." Over 200 Canadian companies, including our own, proudly showcased their innovations across sectors such as automation, energy, digital transformation, and green technology.

As one of the featured exhibitors at HANNOVER MESSE 2025, we were honored to represent Canada’s commitment to industrial innovation and technological advancement. The country’s diverse representation highlighted the strength of its manufacturing sector and its leadership in driving global industrial trends.

And while the hype around adding intelligence and AI to everything is not new, this year’s Hannover Messe demonstrated that the hype is quickly becoming a reality. From robust manufacturing entities to connected products, to health and smart automation, and beyond, it’s nearly impossible to imagine an activity that wasn’t somehow addressed at this year’s Hannover Messe.

Why Attend Hannover Messe?

Hannover Messe 2025 is the world's leading tradeshow for industrial technology. For those who journeyed through its dynamic aisles, it was a powerful demonstration of human ingenuity, a testament to the relentless drive for progress, and a tangible glimpse into the intelligent, efficient, and sustainable industries of tomorrow. Speaking of which, be sure to check out this year's Top 10 Global Manufacturing Trends!

Attending this event offered numerous compelling benefits for businesses and individuals involved in the industrial sector. The following list offers a window into the technologies that were actively demonstrated and discussed at this global event.

1. Digital Ecosystems and AI Integration

The fair highlighted the importance of digital ecosystems, enabling companies to collaborate across platforms, securely share data, and drive innovation collectively. Exhibitors showcased how AI is revolutionizing manufacturing value chains, enhancing competitiveness, and optimizing production processes.

2. Industrial Applications of AI and Robotics

The event featured practical applications of AI and robotics across various industries. Several large manufacturing companies demonstrated robotics solutions like laser welding optimization and sustainable battery production, providing insights into faster, more precise, and resource-efficient manufacturing processes.

3. Emphasis on Digital Twins and Additive Manufacturing

Digital twins, virtual models connected to physical counterparts, were showcased for their role in simulating and optimizing production processes, boosting efficiency, and reducing costs.

Additive manufacturing was also highlighted for its flexibility, efficiency, and ability to facilitate customized and innovative products.

4. Innovation around Worker Guidance Systems

Worker guidance systems have evolved a lot in recent years, especially with Industry 4.0 and digital transformation trends. Worker guidance systems are becoming central to increasing efficiency, quality, and flexibility, especially as factories deal with more customization, smaller batch sizes, and workforce skill gaps. Different innovations transforming worker guidance in manufacturing are stemming from Smart workstations, AI-powered process adaptation, augmented reality for assembly & inspection, as well as digital work instructions.

As one of the standout exhibitors at Hannover Messe, we at VKS were proud to showcase the real-world impact of our visual work instruction software.

Our platform enables manufacturers to create, manage, and distribute interactive, multimedia-rich work instructions, ensuring consistency and quality across production lines. By integrating seamlessly with existing MES and ERP systems, we help teams enhance real-time communication, reduce errors, and improve overall operational efficiency.

Exhibiting The VKS Work Instruction Software at Hannover Messe

At the event, we demonstrated how the VKS platform supports workforce training, quality management, and maintenance procedures. Attendees were particularly impressed by our platform's intuitive interface and its ability to streamline complex manufacturing processes. The feedback we received emphasized our role in bridging knowledge gaps and supporting lean manufacturing initiatives.

The response to our technology was overwhelmingly positive. Manufacturers across various sectors — including aerospace, automotive, and electronics — recognized the value of VKS in enhancing workforce productivity and ensuring compliance with industry standards.

Our seamless integration into digital ecosystems aligns with the broader trend toward data-driven decision-making and operational transparency.

Our New Technology: VKS IO Connect

For us at VKS, one of the top highlights of the event was unveiling our latest advancement in connected worker technology: IO Connect.

IO is one of our powerful new add-ons that intelligently connects digital work instructions with machines, devices, sensors, and PLCs—creating integrated workflows between people and their environments. With user-defined workflows, manufacturers can now both activate and monitor their production environment directly from within their digital work instructions.

Throughout the week at Hannover Messe, we showcased a variety of integration capabilities made possible with IO Connect, sparking strong interest and insightful conversations with industry leaders.

IO Connect Use Case 1: Pick to Light System

Our Pick to Light sensors demonstration showed manufacturers how they can guide their operators through the right procedures while ensuring the correct parts are selected and material usage is accurately tracked.

Here’s what visitors experienced at Hannover Messe during the pick-to-light integration demo:

• We illuminated a light to show the operator which bin to retrieve a part from.
• A flashing light above the bin confirmed that the correct part had been picked.
• Our system then automatically advanced to the next instruction or annotation.

This integration showcased how we can enhance assembly processes with greater automation, accuracy, consistency, and control.

Several engineers told us they could clearly see the impact this would have on boosting automation and improving consistency in their own operations.

IO Connect Use Case 2: Vision Inspection System

Another exciting IO Connect integration we demonstrated was the vision inspection system integration. To give visitors a realistic experience, our team showcased VKS from the operator’s point of view by replicating a typical, real-world manufacturing environment.

Here’s what visitors of the Hannover Messeshow experienced:

• Visitors placed an assembled component in the inspection area for the camera to automatically perform the required inspection process.
• With IO Connect, if the unit passes the inspection, a green light appears and automatically advances to the next step. If the unit fails, VKS notifies the operator and even goes so far as to automatically open an NCR report.
• VKS logs the inspection outcome (pass/fail) and relevant serial numbers within the system for quality control and assurance.

Engineers, product team leads, and continuous improvement teams thought that this level of integration was crucial to help maintain the most accurate quality and process information for validation and final inspection of products.

Digital Technology is at the Forefront of the Industry at Hannover Messe

Hannover Messe 2025 reaffirmed what we at VKS have long believed — that digital transformation is not just the future of manufacturing, it’s happening now. As pioneers in visual work instruction software, we’re proud to be driving this shift toward smarter, more connected, and more efficient production environments.

We’re excited to continue empowering manufacturers with the tools they need to boost efficiency, enhance sustainability, and stay competitive in an increasingly digital world.