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With the revision of the industrial policy model, the state government is providing impetus for the further development of North Rhine-Westphalia as an industrial location - with the active involvement of VDMA NRW.

Strengthen the resilience of your company. Our series of events shows ways through difficult economic times - compact, practical and future-orientated.

AI in quality management: exploiting opportunities, recognizing risks - at the QM Corner, experts discussed data protection, security and the responsible use of AI.

Job advertisements remain a key element of successful recruitment. Artificial intelligence (AI) can be used to make job advertisements more target group-oriented and effective.

The VDMA NRW Board of Directors meeting focused on setting the political course: together with VDMA President Bertram Kawlath, the focal points of political lobbying and regional support were discussed.

Efficient process management in mechanical and plant engineering is the basis for successful operation, competitiveness and innovative strength.

At the 23rd Financing Day of the mechanical and plant engineering industry in NRW, VDMA NRW focused on the data economy and corporate financing in challenging times.

China's mechanical engineering industry continues to catch up, products from the Far East are getting better and are almost always cheaper. China is not only striving for technological supremacy locally, but also internationally.

On September 12, 2024, the Executive Board of VDMA NRW met at LEMKEN GmbH & Co. KG. The agenda included the political representation of interests and the current economic situation in the mechanical engineering sector.

The QM Corner stands for one topic, one hour and one virtual event. The third session of the established format dealt with the current status of the revision of ISO 9001.

The meeting of the assistants and office professionals working group focused on best practices in internal corporate communication, among other topics.

Salaries continue to play a central role in personnel development - the new VDMA Salary Study 2023/2024 presents salaries in 160 positions tailored to the mechanical engineering sector.

The strategic integration of sustainability reporting obligations in companies is becoming increasingly important, as the increasing transparency requirements will affect a large proportion of SMEs in the future.

QM Corner stands for one topic, one hour and virtual. In the second session, the established format dealt with the topic of handling confidential documents and the role of quality management.

What's new in the area of export controls? What do you currently have to be prepared for in practice? The event addressed the most important developments.

Among other things, the event covered changes in the areas of ATLAS exports, carbon offset tax (CBAM) and customs clearance in third countries.

QM Corner stands for one topic, one hour and virtual. The established format will be continued in 2024. The first session dealt with the topic of sustainability and management systems.

The "Recommendations for camera monitor systems for vehicles with a restricted field of vision due to overhang of more than 3.5 m", which have been available as a proposal for some time, have been published and are immediately applicable.

Joint press release by VDMA Firefighting Equipment and the German Firefighters' Association (DFV).

For the orientation of VDMA member companies, the German Engineering Federation has created a new data sheet on foreign trade in machinery with Brazil.

Incoming orders and sales in the process engineering sector develop negatively in March Incoming orders: slightly down / turnover: very clearly down on the same month last year.

Mental health is a strategic success factor: investing in leadership, team spirit and culture reduces absenteeism and boosts motivation, innovation and employee loyalty.

Exclusive information and networking event for VDMA members and exhibitors of the trade fairs automatica, LASER World of PHOTONICS, and World of QUANTUM – June 26, 2025, 10:30 AM at automatica 2025.

The introduction of new US tariffs poses challenges for exporting companies. These trade policy measures can have a significant impact on cost calculation and risk distribution in international supply contracts.

With an update every two months, which is exclusively available for download to VDMA member companies, we provide you with up-to-date information on German exports of water and wastewater technology.

In economically difficult times, the VDMA supports its members with valuable information and personal advice. Together we will find the right course and strengthen the resilience of the companies.

"We need to technically upgrade fire departments and civil protection as quickly as possible"

The last General Assembly was very well attended - a total of 29 members were present at the VDMA in Frankfurt.

Working capital management is of particular importance when focusing on liquidity. Here you will find the updated data for the guide.

AUMA has published a guideline for the uniform calculation of greenhouse gases when organizing trade fairs.

AUMA has completely revised and revised its publication "Successful trade fair participation - from initial planning to lasting impact".

No recovery at the start of the year - order intake continues to decline, sales develop positively.

The latest VDMA marketing survey 2025 in mechanical engineering offers comprehensive insights into the current marketing landscape. Compared to the previous period, the number of participants has increased by 42%.

In mechanical and plant engineering, a comprehensive analysis of your own service offering is of crucial importance. This allows potential to be identified and utilized for the entire company.

Companies in the mechanical and plant engineering sector face various challenges: Supply chain problems, material shortages, rising costs and uncertain markets are making operations more difficult.

Crisis management in mechanical engineering: The practical guide from VDMA and Ebner Stolz shows how to future-proof your company by optimising your portfolio, purchasing and inventory management.

Customer requirements and their implementation are no longer defined only within one's own company, but must be developed in a joint value chain with cross-company teams, so that a holistic, resource-efficient value cycle is created.

Global supply chains are prone to disruption - from freight space shortages to geopolitical crises. Choosing the right Incoterms can help minimize risks, control costs and ensure delivery capability.

Managers face particular challenges in economically difficult times. They have to convey stability while experiencing uncertainty themselves.

Strengthening flexibility and resilience is essential for companies in the mechanical and plant engineering sector to successfully overcome crises and remain competitive in the long term.

The QM Corner stands for one topic, one hour and virtual. The session presented the possible applications of artificial intelligence (AI) in quality management.

In economically challenging times, companies face the difficult task of communicating restructuring, short-time work or even job cuts.

Despite strong international business in December - the year 2024 closes with a minus, as feared

An industry expert from the Africa Business Network in South Africa identifies specific business opportunities for German suppliers for a circular economy. One focus is also on projects in the water industry.

The Incoterms define rules for the national and international movement of goods. The Incoterms 2020 are the latest version of these rules, which are updated every ten years by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC).

Proposal to amend two delegated regulations (brakes and functional safety) submitted to the responsible "Technical Committee for Agricultural Vehicles (TC-AV)" for comment.

On December 20, 2024, the Federal Council approved an amendment to the General Administrative Regulation on Road Traffic Regulations (VwV StVO).

Stagnation at a low level: The September phenomenon did not bring the hoped-for turnaround.

The motto of Interschutz 2026 is "Safeguarding Tomorrow". In September 2024, the Advisory Board met in presence with the organizers of DMAG.

For the orientation of VDMA member companies, the Association of Process Engineering Machinery and Equipment has created a new data sheet on foreign trade in machinery with Poland.

In October 2024, orders in the process engineering sector were significantly lower than in the previous year. Turnover, on the other hand, exceeded the previous year's figure.

A new industry expert from the Africa Business Network in Côte d'Ivoire has been identifying specific business opportunities for German providers of environmental technologies since November 2024. One focus is on projects in the water sector.

From 2027, the Digital Product Passport (DPP) will be mandatory for the first products.

The revision of ISO 9001 (2015 edition) has stalled. Publication is not expected until the end of 2026.

On 13 November 2024, the ‘Best Toolmaker of the Year’ award was presented at Aachen City Hall. Congratulations to the overall winner and the winners in the four categories!

By efficiently bundling personal contacts, trade fairs make an important contribution to climate protection and sustainability because additional travel is avoided.

Again and again in September: very significant swings - resulting from large-scale plant business - have had an impact on the year-to-date order intake and turnover in the process engineering sector.

The workshop of the working group has set itself the goal of examining and proposing a system of key performance indicators broken down by company divisions.

Martin Zaindl starts his third term in office as Chairman of the VDMA Firefighting Technology Industry Association.

The new project to support the further development of OECD Tractor Codes began in mid-September.

Professional and personalised application management still has plenty of room for improvement in many cases. Low-threshold application processes (such as via WhatsApp) are an interesting new development.

The situation remains tense, even though incoming orders increased in August compared to the (weak) same month last year. However, turnover fell by the same amount compared to August 2023.

The venue and date for the next General Assembly of the VDMA Firefighting Equipment were set at the last meeting in October 2024.

Anthony van der Ley is starting his second term as chairman of the VDMA Agricultural Machinery Association with strong support.

The agricultural technology industry is an important enabler of the agribusiness of the future. This is because it makes it possible to harmonize economy and ecology. Our latest annual report traces the developments of the last four years.

AUMA has now published the annual publication AUMA Trends 2024/2025 in English.

Companies from Germany will be supported with an expanded program at trade fairs abroad.

The different reporting obligations in the EU member states present companies with considerable bureaucratic challenges when it comes to work assignments. How can companies deal with this?

In view of the ongoing housing crisis, the VDMA Building Technology Forum supports all efforts to create affordable housing and promote refurbishment work.

The situation remains critical: in July, orders in the Process Engineering sector were once again significantly lower than in the same month last year. Turnover increased slightly compared to June 2023.

Since the beginning of the year, companies with a certified management system have had to ask themselves what impact their management system has on climate change.

The results report of the "Managing Sustainable Innovations" project provides a compact overview of the framework conditions and approaches that can be used to create more sustainable products.

Job adverts are the first point of contact with potential applicants. What you should pay particular attention to with service technicians.

From product and project management to construction site and service management to contract and purchasing management: the certificate courses offered by the Mechanical Engineering Institute will help you advance your career as a specialist and manager!

What solutions do SMEs find to deal with the high salary expectations of young professionals? Practical report from a VDMA Erfa.

That hurts: in May, orders in the process engineering sector were also significantly lower than in the same month last year. Only the increase in turnover compared to May 2023 is positive.

Come to Mainz on November 5, 2024 and find out how you can reach your target groups even better and increase your sales success through innovative sales platforms and the integration of analog and digital sales.

Basics, design and documentation: With the "Transfer Pricing" seminar series, the Maschinenbau-Institut offers you practical tools to successfully complete your transfer pricing project.

"Celebration of Modern Agriculture on the National Mall", or "Ag on the Mall" for short, presents modern agricultural technology in Washington DC.

A Forsa survey provides surprising insights into the priorities of German employees. The 4-day week is far behind in terms of importance.

QTK - quality, time, cost: this triangle of customer benefit dimensions has defined the economy for generations. Sustainability now adds another corner - the square QTKN.

Promoting and challenging players in sales, new AI tools, resource efficiency in volatile markets, online marketing, etc. - many aspects currently need to be considered in sales strategy and organization.

Overview of events on innovation

The VDMA salary survey provides a detailed overview of the status quo regarding the salaries of a good 160 typical positions in our industry.

Hiding and searching for colorful eggs and chocolate at Easter is great fun for young and old. But when important information is hard to find, the fun in the company stops. A good flow of information is what counts.

In January 2024, incoming orders for the process engineering sector were down on the same month of the previous year, while sales recorded a very significant increase.

Tools are helpful if they are suitable for the task and have been tried and tested in use. Unsuitable tools or their improper use often cause damage - both at the workbench and in organizations.

For the month of December 2023, the process engineering sector recorded an increase in incoming orders and a sharp drop in turnover compared to the same month of the previous year.

Skeptical outlook for the first half of 2024

On 8 November 2023, the VDMA Startup-Machine and Production presented the Startup Award to Ucaneo. The startup impressed with its innovative approach of opening up new paths for the future of production through the biologisation of industry.

Addressing price-sensitive customers and markets with tailor-made quality products. This is the subject of the new study "Frugal innovations in mechanical and plant engineering" by the IMPULS Foundation of the VDMA.

Data is the blood of the complex organism of product development. The results report "Digital Product Development" by the WZL of RWTH Aachen University and the VDMA compactly shows how the many pieces of information can be effectively linked.

The economic reports for 2024 on important foreign markets in the food and packaging industry, compiled exclusively for the VDMA by gtai, are now available in German and English.

Digitalization and Industry 4.0 make many things seem easier and better, including improving processes in production. But this only becomes successful when viewed through the classic lens of lean management.

The VDMA Salary Study is ready! As planned, the printed results report will be available at the end of March, so we will be sending it out to study participants in the first week of April. Non-participants can order from the store from the beginning of April.

What is behind the much-heard terms incubator and accelerator? Using the example of Kärcher, Carina Traa and Andrea Veerkamp-Walz try to clarify the situation.