The keynote presentations focused on standardization, security and testbeds. Practical applications of Industrie 4.0 components were presented by Christian Decker, CEO of DESMA Schuhmaschinen GmbH, a shoe production company. When referring to his company’s production line, he discussed the topics “autonomous transport” and “service robotic”. He vividly described the advantages of Industrie 4.0 for the shoe production sector, and how the transition contributes to the individualization of products for clients.

Testbeds and exhibits were also presented alongside the event to display the most recent developments in the context of Industrie 4.0. The highlight was an exhibit that brought 3D content to life. Geometric models are transferred from the computer to holographic devices, providing a "mixed reality" experience that can be used in a variety of industrial contexts. Another exciting insight was made possible by various testbeds which, among other things, enabled the reproduction of a factory environment. This visualization helped to optimize processes.

On 7th December 2017, representatives of the Plattform Industrie 4.0 and interested enterprises visited the companies Cisco and Jabil in the Silicon Valley. The German American Chamber of Commerce (GACC) also organized a workshop at the SAP App-House in Palo Alto which provided insights on the topics of Artificial Intelligence and the Industrial Internet of Things.