Symas and Maintenance: technologies for production continuity

Time has a price in every factory. A failure of a single device can stop an entire production line, a leaking installation can cause raw material losses, and an inadequately protected process can lead to a hazardous incident. Participants at the Symas and Maintenance trade fairs, held on 14–15 October at Expo Kraków, sought answers to questions concerning risk reduction, keeping machinery in good condition and improving production efficiency.

Over two days, solutions used at various stages of production were presented, from raw material transport and storage to equipment diagnostics, inspection planning and explosion protection. This year's 17th edition of both events brought together nearly 160 exhibitors. The programme also included technology demonstrations at exhibition stands, industrial dust explosion demonstrations and the "360° Safety in Industry" conference.

Technology demonstrations at exhibition stands

Technical parameters and catalogue materials do not always make it possible to assess equipment operation under industrial conditions. For this reason, Symas and Maintenance exhibitors organised presentations directly at their stands. Visitors could see, among other solutions, dust-free material loading, industrial parts washing, product marking and identification technologies, and equipment monitoring systems.

Solutions using RFID and artificial intelligence were also presented, together with compressed air equipment and technologies supporting diagnostics and maintenance. During the demonstrations, participants could ask questions, examine how the equipment worked and compare solutions from different manufacturers.

Hazards associated with industrial dust

Demonstrations by Grupa Wolff included controlled explosions of industrial dust. Participants could observe the behaviour of a dust-air mixture and the importance of correctly selected protective measures. Experts explained the conditions under which explosions occur and the solutions that can limit their effects.

The hazard concerns many sectors where bulk materials are transported, transferred, ground or stored. The demonstrations indicated that installation safety should be considered as early as the process design stage, rather than only after a failure occurs.

Safety in the new industrial environment

Cyberattacks, artificial intelligence used in industrial machinery and changing legislation are among the challenges faced by manufacturing companies. These issues were discussed during the two-day "360° Safety in Industry" conference organised by Akademia IHAS.

Experts presented, among other topics, the most common mistakes made when implementing ATEX requirements and the Machinery Directive, the importance of dust extraction and ventilation, and practical aspects of process safety. A separate part of the programme covered cybersecurity and new regulations. Discussions addressed requirements arising from the AI Act, the NIS 2 Directive and the new Machinery Regulation, as well as the safety of machinery using artificial intelligence.

Machine monitoring and bulk material handling

A failure may be preceded by temperature changes, vibrations or abnormal equipment operating parameters. At Maintenance, exhibitors presented systems for monitoring machine condition, planning service work and managing maintenance. The solutions included data collection and analysis tools, digital inspection management systems and technologies using artificial intelligence.

At Symas, equipment for the processing, storage and transport of bulk materials was presented. Discussions covered solutions for reducing dust, improving raw material flow and increasing control over technological processes.

In many plants, the two areas are closely connected. An efficient process installation requires reliable equipment, while a maintenance system cannot replace correctly designed production technology.

Discussions on modernisation and new projects

Discussions at the trade fairs concerned, among other topics, installations requiring modernisation, equipment that must be adapted to existing production lines, and technical problems occurring in plants. For exhibitors, the profile of event visitors was important.

"We once considered whether to participate in Symas as an exhibitor. We had previously attended as visitors and saw that it was an event for professionals. We can now confirm this. Every year, we are visited by people who come with prepared projects, ideas and genuine interest. The trade fair is strongly focused on the sector, and we appreciate this very much," says Andrzej Kowalski, Sales Manager East Europe at Sweco and CEO of Piomar Industrial Systems Sp. z o.o., who participated in Symas as an exhibitor for the fourth time.

For companies delivering specialist projects, meetings with existing partners are also important. This includes Project Steel, a company specialising in heavy-duty conveyors.

"Participation in the trade fair is very valuable to us. We can present what we do, establish new contacts and renew relationships with companies with which we already cooperate. We specialise in heavy-duty conveyors, which is a relatively narrow sector. Meetings with potential customers and business partners are therefore particularly valuable to us. They create opportunities for further cooperation and new projects," emphasises Wojciech Rudnicki, Business Development Manager at Project Steel.

For specialist installations, several months may pass between the first meeting and the signing of a contract. The process requires technical arrangements, analyses and often cooperation between several companies. For this reason, some of the discussions initiated at Expo Kraków will continue after the trade fairs.

Next edition in 2027

During the 17th Symas and Maintenance trade fairs, participants could observe technologies in operation, speak with their manufacturers and examine solutions addressing specific problems in industrial plants. Some of the discussions initiated at the event may lead to new investments and projects in Polish plants. The next edition is scheduled for 13–14 October 2027.