Wetzlar, February 06, 2025 – In March 2025, the W3+ Fair will return to Wetzlar. A central theme: artificial intelligence (AI). On March 19 + 20, innovative solutions and state-of-the-art applications in the field of AI will be presented alongside the latest technological developments in the optics, photonics, electronics and mechanics sectors. Many competence partners from the region will use the W3+ Fair as a platform to illustrate the benefits of the technology through presentations and accompanying events and to make it easier to get started. The fair offers companies and specialists a good opportunity to keep their finger on the pulse of rapid progress and to find tools and contacts for an easy start.
Focus on innovative AI solutions: experts present know-how and best practices at the trade fair
At the W3+ Fair, numerous AI solutions and easily adaptable best practice examples with AI for many areas of the company will be presented: Whether increasing productivity and quality, the use of collaborative robotics, AI in purchasing or an overview of large language models – the topic of artificial intelligence will be examined from various perspectives. Visitors to the trade fair will have the opportunity to obtain comprehensive information about the potential applications and future prospects of this disruptive technology.
AI basics for all interested companies
IHK Lahn-Dill is once again taking advantage of the W3+ Fair’s interesting specialist meeting to organize a conference on the topic of “AI in the company – how it works” on the first day of the fair. Dr. Gernot Horst, Head of Technology and Innovation at IHK Lahn-Dill, explains: “Dealing with artificial intelligence is of strategic importance for companies: it is the key to greater efficiency, cost reduction and innovation. With the conference, we want to make it easier to get started with the technology and show interested parties where to go with our AI competence centers.”
AI for all areas of the company
On the second day of the trade fair, March 20, the VDI, VDE and IHK Gießen-Friedberg have joined forces to offer an all-day symposium on the topic of “Collaborative robotics – AI you can touch”. You can exchange ideas with like-minded people at the VDI trade fair stand.
Parallel to the VDI event on the second day, the company efec is offering a comprehensive one-day workshop on AI with many best practice examples. Participants will be introduced to the topic step by step.
The topic of AI is also strongly represented at the accompanying conference en-tech.talks: “AI in purchasing”, ‘Industrial image processing with AI’, ‘AI in optical devices’, ‘AI as a supporter in transformation’ – the short presentations offer many suggestions for your own use of the technology.
At the joint area of IHK Hessen innovativ – in cooperation with various IHKs from the region – you will find the “Future Center for AI Hessen (ZuKiPro)” and the “KOMPAKI – Competence Center for Work and Artificial Intelligence”, various contacts on the topic.
The W3+ Fair will take place in Wetzlar for the 11th time in 2025. The fair is a key platform for cutting-edge technologies, knowledge and talent. The focus on interdisciplinary exchange at the high-tech locations of Wetzlar/ Central Hesse and Jena/ Central Germany offers experts, companies and research institutions a unique opportunity to present their products, services and findings to an interested, interdisciplinary audience.
More information and images at w3-fair.de
Image material on the W3+ Fair press page under Downloads
We cordially invite all media representatives to visit the W3+ Fair Wetzlar 2025. Please apply for accreditation here.
45 hrs: Official opening | en-tech.Stage with our guests:
Umut Sönmez, State Secretary | Dr. Christoph Ullrich, RP Gießen | Manfred Wagner, Mayor Wetzlar | Dr. Felix Heusler, President IHK Lahn-Dill | Dr. Carsten Ott, AbtL HTAI | Dr. Manfred Viertelhausen, BGM Wetzlar | Ralf Niggemann, MD Wetzlar Network
10:30 – 11.15 a.m.: Business and press tour
W3+ Fair Wetzlar 2025 at a glance:
Event: W3+ Fair Wetzlar, high-tech trade fair and accompanying conference for enabling technologies
When: March 19 + 20, 2025
Where: Buderus Arena Wetzlar
Opening hours: 9.30 am – 5.00 pm
Tickets: 25 Euro day ticket, 40 Euro two-day ticket
About the W3+ Fair
The event is the result of an industry initiative in Wetzlar/ Central Hesse, which aims to promote networking between the four sectors of optics, photonics, electronics and mechanics. The aim is to launch pioneering technologies through new networks. The trade fair was held in Wetzlar for the first time in February 2014. The W3+ Fair is organized by the Hamburg-based trade fair organizer Fleet Events (fleet-events.de). In 2023, the organizer expanded its portfolio to include the W3+ Fair in Jena. Since 2024, the W3+ Fair has also been represented as part of a joint appearance at the Asia Photonics Expo in Singapore.