The SPS/IPC/DRIVES automation fair opened in Nuremberg on the 27th of Novemeber. 1321 exhibitors, 1053 from Germany, showed their products and and capabilities on 87.900m². A total of 32 countries are represented at the fair. 51 exhibitors come from Italy, 38 companies from Switzerland (2006: 32), and 29 Austrian companies (2006: 39), were among the exhibitors at the fair. In the previous year the number of visitors totalled 43,891 of whom 85.5% were from Germany.