Munich, Germany—electronica 2004, the world’s leading trade show for components, assemblies and high-growth applications, signalled increased momentum in the global electronics industry as international visitors and exhibitors once again flocked to the New Munich Trade Fair Centre.

More than 3,000 exhibitors from 48 countries and 75,000 international visitors crowded the 14 exhibit halls from November 9-12 to get the latest information on trends and innovations in the electronics field.

Feedback from the show was positive; 85 percent of exhibitors and attendees surveyed assessed the market’s future as “excellent to good,” compared to only half of those surveyed in 2002. Also, electronica’s sharpened focus on applications was very well received, as both exhibitors and visitors alike noted positively that all electronic industries – and their latest products and developments – were covered under one roof.

The percentage of attendees from outside of Germany rose to 42 percent, an increase of 10 percent from 2002, including a 10 percent increase in U.S. visitors. Exhibitors took note of the high calibre of visitors, as 86 percent of attendees were identified as decision-makers for their companies.

“electronica is a great venue to meet with decision-makers from around the world and have serious business discussions. This show also provides us with a great opportunity to meet with our existing clients here in Germany,” said Janet Berkman, Director of Marketing Communications for Cypress Semiconductors, a San Jose, California-based semiconductor manufacturer.

Many exhibitors noted the relaxed atmosphere of the show was beneficial for conducting business with customers from around the world. Exhibitors also were pleased with the amount of time potential clients spent in their booths.

“We spent quality time with customers in a relaxed atmosphere here at our booth,” said Alden Chauvin, Vice President of Worldwide Sales for Intersil, a Milpitas, California-based manufacturer of high performance analog solutions. “We’ve had meeting after meeting and business has been great, which is no surprise at electronica.”

Two BMW M1s located in the entry halls showed car enthusiasts the way to “Automotive Innovation.” In fact, the “Automotive Electronics” user forum recorded significantly higher attendance than in 2002. In this user forum, leading companies such as Freescale Semiconductor, Tyco Electronics, Hella, Vishay Electronic and Matsushita Electric Works gathered to showcase how electronic systems are replacing mechanics and hydraulics, and how innovative electronics bring higher performance in the areas of environmental friendliness, power output, safety and convenience.

More than 160 technical lectures and panel discussions were held throughout the four days of the show, featuring experts such as Chris Rexer from Fairchild Semiconductor and Mark Bowles of Staccato Communications. Several industry-leading companies including Texas Instruments and Freescale Semiconductor also presented the latest trends and issues facing the electronics sector in press conferences and discussions.

Among the many highlights of this year’s show was the “Embedded in Munich” area. This exhibit area was dedicated to embedded technologies, and delivered strong attendance and lively discussions. The three-day “Embedded in Munich” congress held in conjunction with the “Embedded Systems Conference, Munich” rounded out the offering of exhibits and presentations with additional opportunities to gain training and information.

The “Wireless Communications” user forum gave attendees the opportunity to view the latest applications in this rapidly growing sector. The inaugural “Wireless Congress 2004: Systems & Applications” event was held in the International Congress Centre, Munich in conjunction with the trade show and was well-received from the start.

Overall, high attendance and positive reviews of the user forums, congresses and special events reinforced the value of electronica 2004, which focuses on applications and bringing to life companies’ innovative solutions for global audiences.

The next electronica will take place November 14-17, 2006 at the New Munich Trade Fair Centre in Munich, Germany. Mark your calendars now to ensure you are available for the world’s leading electronics industry trade show.

For more information on electronica 2004 or electronica 2006, please contact Joe McGehee at 312-850-8201 or at jmcgehee@yourthoughtpartner.com. Digital photos from electronica 2004 are available online at http://media.messe-muenchen.de/electronica_2004_e/.