Digitalization & Industry 4.0 - vdma.org

The new VDMA Software and Digitalization publication "Added Value through Software" is available since April 2021.

With the model-based online tool "Investment Calculator 4.0" and the accompanying guide, the VDMA is setting new standards in the economic evaluation of digitization projects.

Are you interested in news, events and trend topics relating to digitization in mechanical and plant engineering? Stay up to date with our app "VDMA Software & Digitalization".

The guide "Data Protection & Industry 4.0" provides an introduction to the topic of data protection in Industry 4.0 and shows approaches and further information options for minimizing risks.

The EU-Commission has launched a consultation on the Data Act. This law, which is to be passed this year, aims among other things to facilitate access to company data.

New network of industrial excellence - AI supports solution-oriented access to automation - Strengthening the competitiveness of SMEs

International study on digitalisation and automation in manufacturing companies, Fraunhofer IML/TU Dortmund

The VDMA working group Wireless Communication for Machines (WCM), founded in March, started its technical work on June 1.

State Association Day: OPC UA - Tackling and Implementing

At the beginning of June 2021, the board members of the VDMA East drew up an issues paper with concrete demands for the VDMA and politicians. And: One comrade-in-arms has left the board.

Climate, free trade and digital transformation are three major topics for the VDMA. But eastern German companies are still struggling with completely different problems, as the conversation with the VDMA President showed.

Mechanical engineering sees the EU expert group's guidelines for the use of AI as a fundamentally important contribution to the public debate, but warns against drawing red lines prematurely.

Big Data, Smart Factory, Communication, Individualization, Remote Technologies, Virtualization, Industrial Security, Smart Service - Here we explain what you always wanted to know about the Internet of Things.

Digital customer training will be in demand for a long time. Companies must therefore address new requirements for trainers and training materials as well as willingness to pay.

Information for your manufacturing from the machine to tool clamping and machining tools to manufacturing strategies for the future.

The VDMA East working groups provide important impulses for your daily work. They show best practice examples, provide valuable suggestions and promote contacts among members - currently also in web meetings.

OPC UA for Woodworking Machines – Part 1: Vertical Interface

Interview with Dr Thomas Schräder and Dr Hugo Blaum

Presentations and workshops at the virtual trade fair Achema Pulse, June 15 and 16, 2021

The EU telecommunications ministers are discussing the digital future of the European Union. The EU's ambitious plans for platforms, artificial intelligence and data are good in principle. However, they must not be at the expense of small and medium-sized enterprises.

OPC UA interfaces for plastics and rubber machinery – Peripheral devices – Part 3: LSR Dosing Systems

OPC UA interfaces for plastics and rubber machinery – Peripheral devices – Part 2: Hot runner devices

Standardized data exchange for hot runner equipment and liquid silicone dispensing

OPC UA for Plastics and Rubber Machinery – General Type Definitions

Here will you find an overview of the VDMA contact persons for OPC UA.

Overview of the structure and the units of the Working Group Wireless Communications for Machines

OPC UA for Tightening Systems - Part 1: Asset Management, Results and Basic Events

Legal and technical introduction to the use of drones in indoor areas

The virtual event of the series "Startup Solutions for Mechanical Engineering" on March 23, 2021 was dedicated to the topic "Digitalization in Production".

Changes in the world of work as a result of digitalization are summarized under the buzzword "New Work". Associated with this is the topic of "agility".

Artificial intelligence is on everyone's lips - also in production. In addition to networking, the decisive success factor in such projects is also the structured processing of data. However, innovative technologies such as AI also require modern methods in development and implementation.

Members of the committee elect Christian Niederhagemann as new chairman.

On May 20, 2021, the Industrial Printing Working Group met virtually to discuss "Anti-Counterfeiting, Brand Protection - Solutions for Packaging and Label Printing".

The VDMA and other associations are urging the German government and the European Commission to quickly ensure legal certainty and find long-term political solutions.

In today's very fast-paced world, individual departments or entire companies are increasingly under pressure to move. In order to remain competitive accordingly, no company should hide from digitalization. The topic around Low Coding is about the approach to design programs and applications based on visual elements and model-based development methods. The intended goal is to speed up application development by reducing the amount of code that needs to be written, and to make this option available to people without programming skills of their own.

The EU Commission has published a proposal for a regulation to regulate artificial intelligence (AI). AI in machines may also be affected as "high risk AI", for example when it comes to safety components.

EU Bubble Talks 03 June 8:30 to 9:00am

New guideline supports mechanical and plant engineering in security in operating processes and resilience of products against cyber attacks and other IT-induced damage in the company.

Digitalization is also advancing rapidly in warehousing. Drones make it possible to record inventory in the warehouse even in hard-to-reach places with relatively little effort.

The VDA 5050 communication interface has a special role to play in the "Flow-Pro" research project: as part of a transaction platform, it is intended to help the ground- and air-bound transport units of the logistics network organize themselves.

Cooperation within Europe on digital policy must improve. The industry needs efficient political structures and competent contacts. And it needs a common, interoperable cloud and data infrastructure.

The Industrie 4.0 Platform provides members of the VDMA with a "Sample contract Industrie 4.0 platforms"

For many years, VDMA and other associations have been campaigning for the legal acceptance of digital operating instructions in the EU.

WGP develops assistance for more resilient production. The term resilience has been on everyone's lips since the pandemic at the latest - especially with regard to the future design of industry.

The goal is the continuous support of production processes in order to assist workers with detailed instructions and to increase quality and productivity.

In order to be able to exploit the enormous possibilities offered by hydrogen, the Federal Government has developed the national hydrogen strategy. It is flanked by research projects supported by for example the Federal Ministry of Education and Research. Under the direction of Prof. Dr.-Ing. Michael Sterner of the East Bavarian Technical University Regensburg, the Hydrogen Atlas of Germany is being developed in cooperation with the VDMA.

The regional associations of the VDMA offer information events on OPC UA in June.

The Mechanical Engineering Institute of the VDMA offers a seminar on 5G technology, use cases and basic information on requirements, performance indicators and system aspects on 8 June 2021.

Join us and present your expertise on 19 and 20 May 2022 in Berlin.

Experts discussed the intelligent production of the future at the Hannover Messe Digital Edition.