Hypermotion – the fair for the future challenges of transportation

The so-called “mobility transition” requires the connection of mobility concepts and technologies. The Hypermotion fair and congress, which took place at the Frankfurt/ Main fair grounds from 26 to 28 November 2019, gave many answers to the mobility challenges of the future. Around 3,000 participants from 27 countries networked and learned on the latest mobility topics. Over 100 suppliers and 40 start-ups show-cased their latest developments and innovations in the fields of Connectivity, Monitoring & Transparency, Data Analytics & Security, Hypermodality, Sustainability, Synchronized & urban Logistics und Smart & digital Regions. This year marked the first time that the German Mobility Congress (DMK) and the STUVA Conference, an event devoted to the tunnel industry, also took part in the event.

Hypermotion did not only provide innovative content, but also its set-up was rather modern. The fair layout was designed in a “lounge-style” with many meeting points, open-space presentation areas and cozy sofas. When strolling over the fair-ground, visitors were able to give their answers via interactive questionnaires to mobility-related questions such as the “opinion cord”.

“The mobility transition is here”

Detlef Braun, Member of the Executive Board of Messe Frankfurt, is very satisfied: “The mobility transition is here. Now we have to develop market-ready solutions for the future – and Hypermotion is the ideal platform for these efforts with its central location in the Frankfurt mobility hub. For the past three days, countless users and providers have gathered here with a shared goal: to find new business models for tomorrow’s traffic, transport, infrastructure, mobility and logistics.” Visitors in Hall 1.2 were able to experience numerous innovative technologies and services live – for multiple modes of transport. Ride-sharing, mobility-on-demand, new vehicle concepts, alternative drive systems, cargo bikes, drones, hyperloops, digital solutions, supply chains and the last mile were all represented here. Participants from 27 countries came to the mobility fair, including a high-ranking delegation from Dubai. That is where Messe Frankfurt will be launching the next Hypermotion event alongside the World Expo 2020. The next Hypermotion will take place from 10 to 12 November 2020.

Mobility in cities and conurbations

At this year’s German Mobility Congress, the focus was on mobility in cities and conurbations. Participants took advantage of the opportunities offered by the exhibition and presentations at Hypermotion to engage in dialogue with pioneers in the fields of logistics and mobility. Prof. Knut Ringat, CEO and Spokesperson of the Board of Management of the Rhein-Main-Verkehrsverbund: “We made the right move when we decided to hold the German Mobility Congress at Hypermotion. It is only by bringing the industry together at a single event that we can create the valuable synergies that benefit everyone involved. As one of Germany’s most important transport hubs, Frankfurt is an outstanding location for these efforts.” One example of local-grown mobility development is the “HOLM”, standing for House of Logistics and Mobility. The house is located nearby Frankfurt’s airport and offers a co-location of firms, start-ups and stakeholders of the mobility sector such as Deutsche Bahn, DHL, IVU and others. HOLM offers workshops, cooperations and funding for innovation.

New perspectives were also offered by the STUVA Conference and Expo, the tunnel industry event held alongside Hypermotion in Hall 5.1 which drew some 3,300 visitors.

40 Start-Ups

A total of 40 start-ups were given an open space to present themselves and network. A pitch among the start-ups was organised with the winner being „Vive La Car“, a start-up from southern Germany, offering an optimised car rental concept. According to “Vive La Car”, the concept can be understood as the “Air B’nB” of the car industry. Synfioo, a start-up from Potsdam, Germany, won the second prize. Synfioo is a software platform for the monitoring of transport chains in real time. Synfioo users receive precise arrival time forecasts and early malfunction warnings – and thus optimize their transportation and communication with customers and partners. The variety of the exhibiting start-ups was very large: From innovation platforms on which business partners can meet each other (Innoloft) to automatised cargo tunnels to transport palletized goods in large cities and metropolitan areas quickly, economically, reliably and in an environmentally friendly manner using underground pipelines (Smart City Loop). UTM will report on these startups.

The variety of the exhibiting start-ups was very large: There were different solutions, from innovation platforms on which business partners can meet each other (Innoloft) to automatised cargo tunnels to transport palletized goods in large cities and metropolitan areas quickly, economically, reliably and in an environmentally friendly manner using underground pipelines (Smart City Loop). UTM will report on these startups.

BMVI launches new digital networking platform for clean air

With its new ‘National Competence Network for Sustainable Urban Mobility’ online platform, also known as ‘NaKoMo’, launched in mid 2019, the BMVI (Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure) is promoting networking between cities and municipalities in order to support the ‘Immediate Clean Air Programme for 2017-2020’. The German government took advantage of the platform offered by Hypermotion to create numerous opportunities for personal interaction at the ‘Green City Marketplace’. Everyone involved has a common goal: to align the realm of public traffic and transport to the changing mix of individual and public transport, including logistics transport. Making sure that environmentally-friendly means of transport are given the necessary space is another shared aim.

In his ‘Cities for People’ presentation, Jan Gehl, a municipal planner and architect from Copenhagen, was very clear about the fact that cities will have to focus more on people in their future urban development. The Urban Mobility Lab is centred on cities of the future – on what makes them liveable, and on the roles that new technologies such as connectivity and digitalisation should play here.

Safely and reliably measuring and controlling traffic flows

New technologies make it possible to analyse environmental and traffic data in real time, something that aids the recording, monitoring and optimisation of traffic flows. The most important issue here: safety. Companies including Siemens Mobility, FLIR, INRIX and PSI Logistics presented innovative ideas and concepts at Hypermotion that can help create an intelligent and comprehensive transport system for the future.

Best practice solutions for supply chains

At the two-day international EXCHAiNGE supply chain summit involving seven sessions and two live pitches, a panel of experts selected two winners: the Supply Chain Management Award went to Continental, while the Smart Solution Award was given to parcelLab. The finalists included Lufthansa Technik Logistik Services, Magazino, Metrilus, Nokia, Robert Bosch and shipcloud. Prizes were presented during EXCHAiNGE Award Night on 27 November. Event participants were also able to cast their votes live on 26 November for inclusion in the panel’s selection process.

A big opportunity for small vehicles

Micro-mobility is becoming increasingly important in metropolitan areas. For the first and last miles in particular, small (primarily electric) vehicles such as cargo bikes and scooters are seeing increasing use. Cargo bikes can already be used for 50 percent of all commercial transports. Traffic capacities, especially in cities and urban areas, need to be redistributed to account for these new realities. There were no restrictions on mobility for visitors at the Micro Mobility Course, however, where e-scooters and cargo bikes were subjected to extensive testing.