Hannover. Energy, material and resource efficiency are going to be the key themes of O&S 2016. The international trade fair for surface treatments and coatings in Stuttgart reflects the industry's most important issues and provides answers to the challenges faced in surface treatment technology. Electroplating will receive comprehensive coverage from 31 May to 2 June. The "World of Surface Treatment" presented by the German Association of Surface Technology (ZVO) has expanded significantly since the previous event in 2014. And with an approx. 23% rise in the number of exhibiting firms from outside Germany, the show is going to be more international than ever. Other topics featured include environment-friendly pre-treatment and multifunctional, REACh-compliant coatings. For the first time ever, trade visitors will be able to take Guided Tours addressing various topics.

"Once again this year, O&S is living up to its very high standards, and we are looking forward to seeing a host of innovative solutions," said Olaf Daebler, Director of O&S at Deutsche Messe. "We have been particularly successful in enhancing the trade fair's international scope in 2016." With some 300 exhibitors, O&S has almost equaled the excellent turnout of the previous event, while exhibition space - at around 7,300 square meters - matches the 2014 figure. A total of 69 companies from outside Germany will be taking part. The majority of these are from other parts of Europe, but the figure also includes several companies from China, Japan and the USA. The most strongly represented exhibitor nations after Germany are Italy, Switzerland and the Netherlands.

The number and diversity of the companies at the event are, however, only one reason for the success of O&S; having major industry players on board is also a very important factor. Among these market heavyweights are the likes of Dörken, Galvanotechnik Baum, Nof Metal Coatings, Schlötter, Aucos, Linhoff, UF Automation, Benseler, Special Coatings and Harter. Surface treatment and electroplating solutions are presented in Stuttgart alongside the sectors that use these technologies. As a decision-makers' trade fair and business platform, O&S is aimed at managing directors, buyers, developers and operations managers in sectors such as mechanical and plant engineering, the automotive industry and automotive suppliers, the metal industry, electrical engineering and the electronics industry, and medical technology.

O&S covers all areas of surface treatment technology and presents coating processes for metal, plastics, glass and ceramics. In addition to plasma surface treatment and micromaterials processing, one of the most strongly featured topics is electroplating - in fact, O&S is the key event for this sector. Its most important presence in Stuttgart is at the extensive ZVO pavilion running under the tagline "World of Surface Treatment", which has chalked up a new record this year: 77 companies are exhibiting on an area over 3,100 square meters, which means 25% more exhibitors than in 2014 and an approx. 30% increase in exhibition space. The theme of the "World of Surface Treatment" in 2016 is "Electroplating and surface technology: innovation partners in the global supply chain".

A new addition to the program: Guided Tours

This year for the first time, O&S attendees can opt to take Guided Tours. Two daily tours will address the topics of "Surfaces fit for the future - multifunctional, REACh-compliant coatings" and "Plant and equipment for maximizing process reliability and quality". The tours will take visitors to selected stands at O&S, where company representatives will give brief presentations introducing their related technologies and solutions.

Other highlights at the trade fair will include a pavilion dedicated to young and innovative companies, which is being sponsored by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, and the Surface Technologies Process Chain, where specialists will show the versatility and capabilities of surface treatment technology in all its forms.

Valuable orientation and know-how at the O&S Forum

One of the most important locations at O&S has always been the user forum at which specialists for various surface treatment applications address all the key issues. Simultaneous translation into English and German is provided. Topics on the agenda include energy and materials efficiency, lightweight materials and their surface treatment, new electroplating processes, CVD/PVD/thermal spraying/painting, coating applications and properties, Industry 4.0 in surface treatment technology, plant, equipment and processes for surface treatment, quality assurance and process optimization in surface treatment technology, legal regulations (REACh, EEC) and their impact, and funding programs for industry and research.

Parallel events for even more benefit

In parallel with O&S, other trade fairs are scheduled to take place at the Stuttgart exhibition center from 31 May to 2 June 2016. These include parts2clean, the leading international trade fair for industrial parts and surface cleaning, focusing on the upstream cleaning process as required for a wide variety of coating procedures, and LASYS, the international trade fair for laser material processing, which features the entire range of laser technology applications across all industries and materials. Numerous users of surface treatment technology will also be attending the co-located AUTOMOTIVE Expo, an amalgamation of five different automotive trade fairs.