Once again this year, Baden-Württemberg International will be operating a joint presentation at electronica. During the fair, which alternates annually with the Productronica expo, the agency for the promotion of industry and the economy will be joining forces with up-and-coming Baden-Württemberg companies such as Engeser GmbH, Hans Gerd Jahr GmbH, Hoffmann GmbH, Keller Elektronik GmbH, Michael Koch GmbH, Optocomponents GmbH, Roland Häfele Leiterplattentechnik eK, Rommel Präzisionsteile GmbH, Siegfried Beck GmbH and the Swiss company Art of Technology AG to demonstrate the state's leading position in the area of electronics and electrical engineering on booth 157 in hall B4.

As a cross-sectional industry, the electronics and electrical engineering sector plays a significant role as a classical supplier of components and parts for industrial applications. Baden-Württemberg companies from the automotive, mechanical-engineering, medical and production-technology areas use large quantities of electronic and electrical components in the products they manufacture. As a supplier of the branches of industry referred to, the electronic and electrical engineering companies located in the south-west have profited from the strong economy and expansion of production in the target sectors of industry in the last few months. These positive effects are reflected in the figures of various economic indices. In relation to June last year, the electronic and electrical engineering companies in Baden-Württemberg increased their production by 9.9 per cent in June 2008 according to the state office of statistics. In relation to the preceding month, this was even more, namely 11 per cent. This increase in production was accompanied by considerable increases in turnover. With regard to the turnover of electronic and electrical engineering companies, the state office of statistics reported a plus of 8.4 per cent in June 2008 compared to the same month last year. Here as well, the increase over the preceding month, May, was even greater, amounting to 16.4 per cent in total. Such successes are a boost for the electronic and electrical engineering sector in the south-west and encourage companies to make use of research and innovations to steer industrial development in a similarly successful direction.

At electronica 2008, current developments such as the increase in energy prices and the search for alternative ways of powering automobiles are being taken into account with special forums to this effect. In the forum entitled "Technological Trends in Power Supply", for example, the latest innovations for alternative forms of power supply are presented. Solar power collection – an area in which Baden-Württemberg companies can boast of pioneering innovations and economic successes – is right at the top of the scale. With regard to alternative methods of powering automobiles, one of the giants in the industry from the south-west of Germany has announced a première for 2009. Daimler AG wants to equip its luxury limousine, the S400, with a hybrid drive and mass-produce it. The electric motor of this drive model is to be operated with a powerful, fuel-saving lithium-ion battery, which is already being used for telecommunications and entertainment electronics because of its extremely high energy-storage capacity.

"In classical electrical engineering as well as in respect of current developments such as the exploration of alternative methods of obtaining energy and increasing energy efficiency, Baden-Württemberg companies are performing exceedingly well, while being exceptionally innovative and successful at the same time. At electronica 2008, the experts from Baden-Württemberg International will be talking to interested companies from Germany and aboard about opportunities for investment and cooperation in the state. They will also be illustrating the advantages of Baden-Württemberg as a location for electronic and electrical engineering," said Dr. Michael Hagenmeyer, CEO of Baden-Württemberg International.

Baden-Württemberg International arranges participations in the following international trade fairs in Germany: Lasys, CeBIT, Hannover trade fair, IFAT, Achema, Intersolar, TopClinica, InnoTrans, Motek, Expo Real, K, electronica / productronica and Medica. If you are also
interested in taking part in any of these, please contact

Baden-Württemberg International
Birgit Seese

Tel.: 0711-22787-32
Fax: 0711-22787-22
birgit.seese@bw-i.de