While at Hannover Messe 2019 a couple of weeks ago, I was struck by how much the event has changed since nine years ago. Back then, the halls were dominated by components and controls. It was about five years ago that Industry 4.0 emerged, with many dismissing it as some combination of hype and pipe dream. This year, however, it was crystal clear that manufacturers and their vendors are gearing up to make Industry 4.0 real. Companies are ready and willing