Hannover (29.03.2023). LightCon as a new congress trade show for lightweight construction receives high-ranking support from politics: Robert Habeck, Federal Minister of Economics and Climate Protection, will take over the patronage for the international lightweight construction platform in 2023. Thanks to its energy- and resource-saving properties, lightweight construction is regarded as an important component of German climate protection policy and as a key technology with regard to current challenges. This is also the subject of this year's conference "Lightweight construction. The answer in times of energy and material scarcity" specifically addresses these issues.

Deutsche Messe is organizing the international congress fair on the future topic of lightweight construction for the second time on June 13 and 14, 2023, at the Hannover Exhibition Center. The partner country this year is Poland. The country will be represented by the Polish Ministry of Development and Technology and the Polish Cluster of Composite Technologies (PKTK). "I am convinced that in addition to innovative solutions from Polish industry, we will also present the advantages of Poland as an excellent investment location for these companies," emphasized Grzegorz Piechowiak, Deputy Minister of Development and Technology, who went on to say "The trade fair will be accompanied by a very prestigious conference where we will present the achievements of Polish entrepreneurs and scientists."

Speakers at the opening of LightCon will include Parliamentary State Secretary Michael Kellner of the German Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Protection and Olaf Lies, Minister of Economics of the State of Lower Saxony. "Lightweight construction enjoys enormous political support because it can make a significant contribution to overcoming current challenges such as climate protection. In addition, it offers energy and resource efficiency in times of uncertain supply chains and is capable of creating future-proof jobs. LightCon gives lightweight construction the stage to showcase its outstanding capabilities," said Dr. Gunnar Merz, Chief Executive Officer of founding partner Composites United. Composites United is the world's largest network for fiber-based multi-material lightweight construction.

Due to the design philosophy of weight reduction, lightweight construction is considered the most effective method for reducing CO2 emissions and a key technology for solving global challenges such as resource scarcity, environmental pollution and mobility change. By using lightweight materials such as aluminum, carbon fiber, titanium, magnesium or even plastics, components and structures can be designed to be significantly lighter yet robust and stable. This leads to greater energy efficiency and - in vehicles, for example - to a reduction in fuel consumption, which is of great importance both economically and ecologically. Another advantage of lightweight construction is greater flexibility in the design of components and structures. By using lightweight materials, complex geometries can be realized that would not be possible with conventional materials.

With exhibiting companies from industry, research and development as well as numerous specialist presentations, LightCon offers a comprehensive program. The focus is on materials, manufacturing technologies and applications in lightweight construction. The core element is the conference stage, which will be integrated into the exhibition for the first time. On this stage, speakers will present their lightweight construction innovations and solutions in the topic slots "Sustainable Materials", "Circular Economy", "Efficient Production", and "New Energy Solutions". Keynotes will be delivered by Markus Feiler, Head of Aerostructure R&T at Airbus Aerostructures, Jan Henkel, Vice President at Fassmer Maritime, and Prof. Anna Boczkowska, Dean of the Faculty of Materials Science and Engineering at Warsaw University of Technology, among others.

LightCon is the first international lightweight construction platform to combine the dimensions of material, process, function and design. It is thus the first event to enable a direct comparison of different materials and processes. It also offers numerous networking opportunities to exchange information on current projects and cooperation possibilities. In addition to the exhibiting companies, trade visitors, designers and developers from the user industries of automotive and vehicle construction, mechanical and plant engineering, aerospace, medical technology and the construction industry are expected.

"LightCon makes an important contribution to the further development of the cross-sectional technology of lightweight construction in Germany and beyond. We are looking forward to exciting presentations and innovative products and solutions in the exhibition. The trade fair is the industry meeting place for experts and interested parties and thus the ideal place to make contacts and expand one's own network," said LightCon Project Manager Thomas Pinkowski from Deutsche Messe.