As part of her traditional opening-day tour of the Hannover Messe, German Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel also visited the booth of Verl-based company Beckhoff Automation on 7 April. Among the people accompanying her was Mark Rutte, Prime Minister of the Netherlands, this year's official partner country of the trade show. At the booth Managing Director Hans Beckhoff presented his company and the basic technologies it produces for the Industry 4.0 concept.