Germany - vdma.eu
Competitiveness for Europe and Germany
World-class location through freedom and a market economy
Let's challenge challenges: Many medium-sized mechanical engineering companies are strongly rooted in their home region and highly competitive worldwide. To ensure that this remains the case, good location conditions and a supportive industrial policy are necessary. The VDMA emphasises that the state and the EU should interfere as little as possible in the day-to-day business of companies. Instead, they should create good framework conditions that promote competition. In the VDMA's political communication, we sum this up under the motto Let's challenge challenges.
A central goal, especially in the current geopolitical situation, is technological sovereignty. This means that Europe must be in a position to either develop critical technologies itself or source them from other regions of the world without becoming dependent. However, it is not about complete technological independence, but about remaining flexible and promoting innovative strength.
We need an ‘autumn of action’
Trade wars, bureaucracy, soaring costs – the mechanical and plant engineering industry is under pressure. Production is falling and the mood is shifting. But instead of an ‘autumn of reforms’, the VDMA is calling for an ‘autumn of action’.
President Bertram Kawlath sums it up: Now is the time for clear decisions, bold steps and a political agenda that strengthens Germany and Europe as a business location. Our video shows why lip service is not enough – and what is at stake.
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AZO has built a new logistics hall for shipping plant products. The specialist in the automation of raw materials and processes has invested around 9 million euros in this project.
Werma is expanding its factory in the Dillgarten Ost industrial estate. The new building marks the ninth construction phase in the company's history, as well as the most comprehensive investment in the Rietheim-Weilheim site to date.
Machine tool manufacturer OSG has built a new production building in Göppingen's Stauferpark for 5 million euros. The floor space of the building is 2500 square meters. The new building was opened at the end of June.
Ystral is investing around 1.8 million euros in a new test center at its headquarters in Ballrechten-Dottingen. The company is thus expanding its testing capacities and enabling users to follow the tests via livestream.
Measurement technology manufacturer Mahr is investing almost 20 million euros in various projects, including a logistics center at its headquarters in Göttingen and an assembly and production hall in Wörth am Main.
The Kion Group has built a new, highly automated spare parts distribution center at its Kahl am Main site. The company has invested around 90 million in the project.
The family-owned company Kärcher has put a new, fully automated high-bay warehouse into operation at its Bühlertal production plant. The total investment for the new building amounts to 16 million euros.
ZF Friedrichshafen is investing 14.3 million euros in its new logistics center in Plant 1 at the Friedrichshafen location. The aim of the investment is to optimize the local material flow and make the infrastructure more efficient.
The machine tool manufacturer DMG MORI is building its European headquarters and technology center in Munich. The company is renting a building near the Olympic Park with a floor area of 10,000 square meters.
Gerabronn, Öhringen and Criesbach: Bürkert Fluid Control Systems, manufacturer of measurement and control systems for liquids and gases, will invest around 70 million euros in these three locations from 2023.
The manufacturer of precision gearboxes and drive systems, Neugart GmbH, has opened its new Plant 3 in Kippenheim. The plant and the associated increase in capacity will enable orders to be processed faster and more efficiently.
The machine and plant manufacturer Gea is investing 80 million euros in a new pharmaceutical technology center in Elsdorf in the Rhineland. Completion and opening is planned for the second half of 2025.
The family-owned company is investing in the expansion and modernization of its Ludwigsburg logistics center. The plan is to develop it into the hub of Lapp logistics throughout Europe.
Weidmüller is expanding its headquarters in Detmold with a new production building. The new building in Ohmstraße will be used for the production of electronic components, among other things. The plant is currently in the production ramp-up phase.
Samson is pressing ahead with the largest innovation project in its more than 100-year history and is relocating its company headquarters and largest production facility to Offenbach am Main by 2027. Investment sum: around 400 million euros.
In autumn 2024, Multivac put a new competence center for slicing solutions into operation in Buchenau (Dautphetal). Around 15 million euros were invested.
The ebm-papst Group opened a new high-speed technical center in December 2024. Here, 70 employees work on the interdisciplinary development and production of compact and energy-efficient turbo compressors.
In order to remain competitive at the Frankenthal site in the future, KSB is comprehensively renewing the established Eta production facility by 2029 in line with the latest technological and energy standards.
The technology group is building the new headquarters of Körber Technologies GmbH in Hamburg for more than 200 million euros. The building complex is being constructed in the future Bergedorf Innovation Park and covers 50,000 square meters.
From training centers and technology hubs to production plants: investments are also being made in the mechanical and plant engineering sector in Germany. We show exciting examples.
Key questions
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Understanding technological sovereignty: What does it mean for Europe's competitiveness?
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Europe's dependence on raw materials: a threat to technological sovereignty?
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The future of industry: Europe's strategy for technological sovereignty
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Communication technologies as a cornerstone: Europe's quest for digital sovereignty
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