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The EU Commission has presented its proposals for a free trade agreement with the USA. Thilo Brodtmann, Executive Director of VDMA, calls for a comprehensive agreement.
The British House of Commons has rejected this agreement for an orderly withdrawal from the EU. VDMA President Carl Martin Welcker criticises this decision.
Industry 4.0 is a Chancenthema for mechanical and plant engineering. The digital vision is increasingly becoming industrial reality in production, products and services. New qualifications and skills are needed among engineers. For the IMPULS Foundation, there was nothing more obvious than to question those who are directly affected. Thus, for the first time, the "new" becomes concrete: with a "target profile engineers 4.0" from the perspective of the mechanical engineering industry.
The VDMA supports the solution approaches of BDI policy paper, but demands that Chinese investments must become more transparent. Companies must adapt to profound changes in the Chinese market.
In November 2018, incoming orders for the German mechanical engineering industry were at previous year's level (+/- 0 percent in real terms).
Economy and prosperity rest on the shoulders of the industrial middle class. And it is also small and medium-sized enterprises that drive technological change with their innovations, even though they are constantly burdened with new burdens and new international risks arise.
News
18.01.2019
VDMA chief economist Dr. Ralph Wiechers sees sufficient financial scope for comprehensive tax relief.
11.01.2019
Also the EU Parliament is intensively discussing how the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) should be politically addressed. On 14th January, the European Parliament's Industry Committee will vote on a report in which MEPs set out their views on the future of AI.
21.12.2018
The EU Parliament, Member States and the European Commission have agreed on the so-called "Cybersecurity Act".
19.12.2018
After years of ideologically coloured debates, the VDMA believes that the planned Immigration of Skilled Workers Act is an important step in the right direction.
14.12.2018
The Collective Energy Act was passed today by the Federal Council. A comment:
13.12.2018
If the Federal Council does not approve the constitutional amendment to relax the ban on cooperation, the VDMA fears considerable disadvantages for Germany as an industrial location.
12.12.2018
The EU Free Trade Agreement with Japan is an important signal against protectionism and opens up new export opportunities for European industry.
11.12.2018
The energy revolution and climate protection needs Power-to-X. The conversion of green electricity into storable gas or synthetic fuel is a key element in achiev-ing Germany's and Europe's energy policy goals.
10.12.2018
The EU-Commission convincingly underpins its ambition to coordinate efforts in Europe with the “Coordinated plan for Artificial Intelligence”. However, the VDMA demands a clearer focus on industrial applications.
26.11.2018
VDMA welcomes the decision of the Federal Network Agency to allocate local frequencies - Complete coverage mandatory for industrial applications - Coverage of 98 percent of households is insufficient
23.11.2018
The single European market needs a single piece of legislation to ensure the secure exchange of company and product data. The planned Cybersecurity Act is the wrong approach because it continues the fragmented regime of the Member States.
21.11.2018
With the new research framework programme from 2021 to 2027, funding might be distributed according to the watering can principle. However, a targeted programme for key technologies would be important.
15.11.2018
Slow procedures affect important supply chains - Significantly more funds needed to rehabilitate dilapidated bridges - First improvements achieved in Hesse and other states
15.11.2018
Thilo Brodtmann, VDMA`s Executive Director, takes further responsibility to strengthen the interests of industry at European level.
15.11.2018
VDMA Managing Director Thilo Brodtmann has made a clear commitment to collective bargaining autonomy. "It is evidence that employers and employees in general can largely regulate their relationship on their own." At best, the state should set a loose labour law framework, according to Brodtmann.
14.11.2018
In the view of VDMA, latest progress made in the negotiations on the UK's withdrawal from the EU are positive. However, it is too early to give the all-clear sign.
08.11.2018
Thilo Brodtmann, Managing Director of the VDMA, has sharply criticised the pension package passed in the Bundestag with the votes of the CDU/CSU and SPD: "Basically, the money of our great-grandchildren is already being spent today".
07.11.2018
The economy is cooling down. Moreover, the uncertainties surrounding the election results in the USA are not diminishing. VDMA chief economist Dr. Ralph Wiechers calls on the federal government to finally prove its willingness and ability to act.
31.10.2018
The coalition parties have agreed on the cornerstones of the energy collection law.
31.10.2018
Ten printing and paper machinery manufacturers present themselves together in Shanghai under the label “Made in Germany” - Joint presentation at the fair receives good feedback - Increased numbers of visitors and exhibitors underline the importance of the All in Print China as supra-regional leading trade fair
30.10.2018
The latest labour market figures of the Federal Employment Agency show a rampant shortage of skilled workers. According to Thilo Brodtmann, Managing Director of the VDMA, the Federal Government is jointly responsible for this.
19.10.2018
The German Federal Network Agency (BNetzA) today published the results of the fourth and final round of tenders for onshore wind energy in 2018. The tender for 670 megawatts (MW) was clearly under-subscribed with bids of 363 MW and the average award value was 6.26 ct/kWh.
18.10.2018
Mechanical engineering is the most important employer of engineers. With its key technologies of intelligent production, our industry is the German innovation machine. Despite all the joy about the top position that Germany occupies according to a current analysis of the World Economic Forum, the following applies: Our innovation system must become even better.
17.10.2018
An award for entrepreneurs "with great technological vision and a lot of heart and soul", is how the jury describes the German Mechanical Engineering Award. Ten outstanding corporate leaders have already received it, now it has been awarded to a woman for the first time at the evening reception of the mechanical engineering summit.
17.10.2018
Industry expects sales growth of 4 percent this year. German technology suppliers score with superior production solutions.
Must Reads
05.12.2018
Approximately 7,100 companies are currently being contacted by the Federal Government and informed about the National Action Plan for Business and Human Rights (NAP), with which they are to exercise human rights due diligence along their supply chain.
04.12.2018
The German delegation visiting SWS (Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipyard)
29.11.2018
Despite (still) rising student numbers in computer science, the high drop-out rates are a cause for concern. In order to meet the demand for IT specialists in industry 4.0, the quality of teaching must be further improved. The VDMA nacelle initiative is committed to this and will include the field of computer science in the next project phase.
10.10.2018
The regulations of the Basic Data Protection Regulation (DSGVO) to be observed since 25.05.2018 have caused the members of the VDMA some effort in the implementation of the requirements.
10.10.2018
In view of the challenges posed by digitisation, the VDMA calls for the urgently overdue reform of the Working Hours Act.
27.09.2018
The USA is the most important export market and investment location for the German mechanical and plant engineering industry. At the same time, German companies with capital goods enable the development and modernization of American industry. In politically tense times of transatlantic relations, the EU and the US should strive for a lean free trade agreement and, at the same time, a reform of the World Trade Organization (WTO). With 164 members, the WTO is the best platform for creating competition and free trade.
The aim of the strategic partnership between Labs Network 4.0 and InsurTech Hub Munich is to develop innovations, technologies and business models at the interface between industry 4.0 and the insurance industry.
15.08.2018
Future Business prepares the next complex trend topic with possible far-reaching effects for the entire mechanical and plant engineering sector. It does not only concern the currently much-discussed future of the plastics industry and waste and recycling technology, but all branches of industry with a connection to materials. Find out how you can contribute!
02.07.2018
Foreign direct investments in Germany as well as German direct investments abroad ensure the success of the German mechanical and plant engineering industry. Unlike in the EU, some economic areas restrict foreign investment for economic and political reasons. This is problematic if investors from these countries who are both state-controlled and financially strong become active in our company at the same time. The commandment is called "reciprocity", equal conditions for common benefit. The political objective must be to achieve the same investment conditions everywhere as in Europe.
04.06.2018
The export-oriented German mechanical engineering industry has benefited more than almost any other sector from economic and political integration and having the euro as the single currency. However, the result of the British referendum in favor of Brexit has shaken the EU to its core. Even two years on it is still not completely clear how the EU and the United Kingdom will work together in the future, but the UK must not be granted a special status. The mechanical engineering sector believes that the cohesion of the EU takes priority and demands equal competitive conditions in the EU27 and the UK.
29.05.2018
Frankfurt am Main, 28 May 2018. – Making a visit to the fair simpler, faster and better: this is the goal pursued by the Club of Metalworking, which the VDW launched a few days ago. Membership is free of charge, and offers attractive services for international metalworking experts.
29.03.2018
Frankfurt am Main, 29 March 2018. – The dates for the next METAV have been finalised. The International trade fair for metalworking technologies will be held in Düsseldorf from Tuesday to Friday 10 to 13 March 2020.
28.03.2018
Mobility is changing. A global driver for this will be the implementation of the Paris climate resolutions. With its efficient solutions, German mechanical and plant engineering makes an important contribution to change and thus secures employment and prosperity.
13.03.2018
The VDMA Software and Digitisation Association has added new features to its app, which are now available free of charge in the app stores.
06.09.2017
The update of the ITRPV will be presented and released on September 6th, 2017 in Shanghai. The information on the technology maturity is now implemented for selected parameters.
10.02.2015
VDMA’s fears that a common European Sales Law would increase transaction costs and legal uncertainty, and would therefore not be a true added-value for companies, have been recognised by decision makers in Brussels.
Now online: VDMAimpulse, issue 05-2018 (November 28, 2018)
Humans – Machines – Progress – The film
Machines improve our lives – on a large and small scale. Whether for our health, food or the many means of transportation that we use; whether we are looking at the ground deep below the sea or from high above – we need machines and people who utilize their skills to make the world a better place to live. That is the aim of mechanical and plant engineering. Humans – Machines – Progress.
7. and 8. February 2019: Congress "Mechanical Engineering ahead of schedule".
