Exhibitors at the Hanover Fair expressed cautious optimism about a recovery in automation markets despite economic challenges. Several suppliers showed innovative real-time Ethernet products that proved it is ready for factory floors. Real-time Ethernet and motion control dominated the event. Solutions from Profibus, EtherNet/IP, EtherCAT, and others aim to provide sub-millisecond cycle times for hundreds of axes on Ethernet networks. Major suppliers like Cisco and Phoenix Contact also exhibited new industrial Ethernet infrastructure products.