ISAL 2017 was held last week in Darmstadt.
As I said at the opening of the first session, which I chaired: the huge number of attendees, almost 1,000, and the very iremendous innovations described in the lectures and in the expo booths showe the great future of vehicle lighting activity. Discussions amongst lighting companies, automakers and lighting suppliers all of them looking for the needed skills and resources, confirmed very well this very positive expected growth.
Everyone who attends a congress like this wins- whether it be ISAL, VISION, or a DVN workshop-but it’s especially important to look at the benefits for particular type of people:
- Managers attend to better know the technological trends in order to optimize and orient their costly investment.
- Experts attend for the opportunity to be aware of all the developped technologies and to take the opportunity of networking and engaging with their colleagues.
- Newcomers are very proud to attend and exchange with more experienced colleagues. It is a sign of recognition to be there and an opportunity to be involved in automotive lighting technologies and to meet important people. It is an investment for the future.
I am very surprised to see for comparable sized companies among car makers or lighting suppliers the number of attendees ranging from one to more than 20. That’s a concerning difference; it seems to me the less-participating company is at fairly large disadvantage.
Automotive activity has a great future but also needs a lot of new resources mainly in R&D, new skills, and knowledge upkeep, as by attending and participating in congresses. These are crutial to take the best decisions and charting the way forward.
Sincerely yours
DVN President