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100 experts met on 28.06.2024 at the VDMA Summit on "Digital Product Passport: IT solutions for the textile industry". Organized by the Textile Machinery Association with Global Textile Scheme.

The trade association started the development of Companion Specifications in the field of textile machinery in 2019. As the first project, the Compainon Specfication "OPC UA for Fibre & Yarn Testing Devices" has now been published as a Release Candidate.

Together with experts, the Textile Research Board has analysed how the textile industry could develop up to the year 2035. The "Perspectives 2035" show future trends in six subject areas.

At ITMA ASIA 2024, VDMA Textile Machinery examined offers and exhibits from Chinese exhibitors on the topics of recycling, automation and intelligent manufacturing / Industry 4.0.

The VDMA, together with the ZVEI, the German Pharmaceutical Industry Association, and the German Chemical Industry Association (VCI), has sent an open letter to Digital Minister Dr. Karsten Wildberger.

Updated policy briefing on China’s Personal Information Protection Regulation (PIPL)

Jan Fischer has been on board as an expert for data rooms and Manufacturing-X at the VDMA since July. He strengthens the Manufacturing-X Forum headed by Dr.-Ing. Marc Hüske with his expertise.

In the exchange of experiences, the topic of AI in the company was discussed from safe application to strategic implementation.

What SMEs need to consider in the context of digital transformation in order to establish and ensure the operational technology security (OT security) of their machines and systems.b

How to introduce AI-based planning systems: from identifying suitable use cases and creating digital foundations to designing agile and human-centered innovation processes.

The EU Commission wants to reduce bureaucracy for small-mid caps (SMCs) - for example in the GDPR, the F-Gas Regulation and the Battery Regulation. Larger companies should also benefit - for example through the digitalization of documentation obligations.

As part of the online event "Usability and user experience (UX) in mechanical and plant engineering", a survey was conducted among the participants on June 2, 2025 to obtain an up-to-date picture of the current mood.

The Mechanical Engineering Summit in Berlin is the "place to be" for young entrepreneurs

The EU's action plan emphasizes the opportunities offered by artificial intelligence. There is a lot of potential for AI, especially in industrial applications. Small-scale regulations must not stand in the way of this.

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.

The machinery industry is calling for a thorough state reform in Germany to increase industrial competitiveness. The EU, too, must get the economic development in Europe back on track.

The digitalization of the service business as the basis for future viability in mechanical and plant engineering.

Not "cheap", but precisely high-quality and therefore "inexpensive". This offers the mechanical and plant engineering industry opportunities not only for new markets, but also for established ones.

Data Spaces enable secure data exchange and unlock untapped potential. Hannover Messe 2025 offers the ideal platform to present the current state of the industry.

The VDMA has addressed extensive demands to politicians. What do the parties think? Our overview shows the extent to which the mechanical and plant engineering industry is taken into account in the programs for the federal election on February 23, 2025.

The VDMA is calling for reliable framework conditions for growth and competitiveness in Germany in 2025. Together we can master the challenges of the future. You can find the details in the economic policy positions for 2025.

Hannover Messe will be a showcase for the digital data economy. In the Manufacturing-X forum, the VDMA will present trustworthy data rooms and innovative X projects from various industrial sectors.

The expansion of digital, energy, and transport infrastructure is crucial for maintaining competitiveness. The VDMA calls for better coordination between the federal and state governments to accelerate this process.

Study by the IMPULS Foundation for Engineering Education for Industry 4.0 develops the first target profile for engineers in industry 4.0 Appeal to universities: Making teaching more interdisciplinary New competencies: Computer Science, Data Science and Data Security

What are the challenges for mechanical engineering due to generational change? What concrete methods and techniques are available for companies to combat the loss of knowledge? What does AI do for us?

Efficient assembly and significantly minimized project risks: is this just wishful thinking? No! Standardized, digitalized processes help your company to achieve exactly that!

AMT was founded as a new working group within the VDMA in November 2024. Its Managing Director Daniel Erdmann explains the background in an interview.

VDMA AMT - Advanced Maritime Technology Platform is the new network for automation and digitalization in maritime shipping.

In order to prepare SMEs in NRW for the challenges of cyber security and to sustainably improve the IT security landscape, the state of NRW has created a NIS2 contact point that NRW companies can use.

The IMPULS study "Tokenization in mechanical engineering" published today analyses Web3 technologies that promise the industry efficiency gains, new financing models and innovative monetization opportunities.

Focus on the data economy: the launch of the SCALE-MX transfer project aims to disseminate the results of the Manufacturing-X projects across industry.

Questioning the status quo, deliberately "producing accidents", deliberately turning existing conventions on their head - finding innovative solutions with new methods.

Take advantage of our seminar series "Cybersecurity according to IEC 62443", developed in cooperation with ISA Europe and Fraunhofer IOSB, to acquire your personal ISA certificate as an ISA/IEC 62443 Cybersecurity Expert.

The circular economy is one of the key areas of transformation with opportunities as an enabler for mechanical and plant engineering. The kick-off event presented selected business models.

Information on the current publication of selected standards/drafts, in particular of "NA 003-01-14 AA Pipes and components for the food, chemical and pharmaceutical industries".

What undiscovered opportunities are hidden behind technical documentation and how can valuable business models be created from it? An interview with Volker Granacher (tecteam GmbH) and Lars Kothes (kothes GmbH).

The Industrial Security working group makes the complete Supply Chain Security document series freely available

Overview of events on innovation

What is behind the X in Manufacturing-X? A groundbreaking concept that goes far beyond the exchange of data between companies. It is the key to collaboration within and between industries.

The EU Data Act regulates data traffic between companies with far-reaching consequences. With the new Quick Guide, the VDMA focuses on technical requirements using the example of the OPC UA standard with Companion Specifications.

Industry 4.0 has given German and European industry a leading role in automation. Now it's all about the world of digital business models and secure data exchange. The concept is called "Manufacturing-X".

OPC UA for Mining – External Standards – Part 1: IREDES

The EU Data Regulation came into force on January 11, 2024. A VDMA FAQ document has been compiled and updated to provide non-binding guidance.

AI is playing an increasingly important role for companies in the mechanical and plant engineering sector. VDMA Software and Digitalization is therefore once again offering an interesting range of formats on the topic for all VDMA members.

The EU Data Act aims to put data traffic on a new footing, including between companies. This could shift the center of power in the economy. For industrial SMEs, this law is both an opportunity and a risk.

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.

As part of the "X-Forge BW" project led by Fraunhofer IPA, a guideline for the use of machine data was created together with well-known companies. This is available for download free of charge.

OPC UA for Cranes and Hoists – Part 1: Base Model Motion Devices System

Discover startup contacts and trends for mechanical engineering worldwide? The digital startup search platform helps you get started with startup scouting and find suitable partners.

The fact that OPC UA enables interoperable and secure access to data and services from machines and plants in networked production is now an accepted fact. But beyond this well-known benefit, what can be offered to specific user groups? This new guide lists stakeholders in machine and plant engineering for whom the use of OPC UA with Companion Specifications creates concrete added value.

Europe is to become the first climate-neutral continent by 2050: One initiative to achieve this is the digital product passport (DPP) and this is intended to map more transparency on sustainability information.

Platform-based products have long since arrived in mechanical and plant engineering. What has not yet succeeded to the extent hoped for is evident on the revenue side: where are the revenues that cover the expenses incurred?

Erleben Sie die Zukunft des Maschinen- und Anlagenbaus! Besuchen Sie den Gemeinschaftsstand in Halle 15 F28 auf der Hannover Messe und entdecken Sie, wie digitale Softwarelösungen die produzierende Industrie revolutionieren!

Connectivity is a key component for the successful technological and economic development of economies, and thus for social prosperity.

The publication provides industrial SMEs with practical guidance for the successful development of an individual strategy and roadmap for holistic digitization.

Increasing geopolitical conflicts, trade wars, as well as massively disrupted supply chains since the beginning of the Corona pandemic: these are the main drivers of the calls for technological sovereignty in Germany and Europe that have become louder in recent years. But what is this actually?

The VDMA NRW has summarized the expectations of mechanical and plant engineering companies for a future state government in six key demands.

On November 1, 2021, the Personal Information Processing and Protection Law (PIP Law) came into force in China. For this purpose, VDMA together with Sinolytics has prepared a policy briefing with the view of the mechanical engineering industry.

The project "Porting the Weihenstephan Standards to an OPC UA Companion Specification" was successfully completed with a publication of the OPC UA WS Specification.

The new newsletter will inform interested parties about the latest results and information on OPC UA from the VDMA community from January 2022.

In future, the digital product passport is to include all important environmental and material data of a product along its entire life cycle. VDMA sees opportunities and challenges in this concept and calls for the involvement of the industry.

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.

The digital event series "Connect2Discover@VDMA" invites you to get to know your association better. It offers you a regular insight into our wide range of services and shows you how you can best use your association for your tasks.

Interoperability is a key pillar of efficient digital transformation and the long-term positioning of every company in the global market. Stay up to date with our newsletter.

All the content of the VDMA Future Business Trend Radar is available digitally on our platform. This makes them more easily accessible for research, presentation and customization, including a variety of features. Try it out now!

The working group "Research I40 and AI" aims to initiate cross-industry research projects on Industry 4.0 and AI. Interested member companies can participate in the topics.

Do you actually know all the services of our association that are important to you? Whether online, in writing or in person: Our range of services is as diverse as our industry - here you will find an overview.

The guide "Self-learning Production Processes - Implementation Strategy for Reinforcement Learning in Industrial Practice" introduces the topic of Machine Learning and shows step by step how an implementation of industrial Reinforcement Learning can be carried out in one's own company. Application examples illustrate the procedure.

The "Intelligent and self-learning production processes" project investigated how machines can teach themselves optimal processes independently and through interaction with the environment using little data. The ML method "reinforcement learning" was used for this and tested on two applications.

The VDMA coordinates the activities of around 40 working groups that define a common, cross-industry language between machines and systems in the form of "OPC UA Companion Specifications". Here is an overview.

An important basis for the successful introduction of Industry 4.0 is the manufacturer-independent exchange of data in production. The open interface standard OPC UA is increasingly established for this purpose. The VDMA guideline shows how companies can successfully introduce industry 4.0 communication with OPC UA.

New VDMA guideline now available

Startups are also playing an increasingly important role in mechanical and plant engineering. Many companies are looking for partnerships to jointly conquer new fields of technology. The VDMA's new Startup Radar helps navigate the global startup scene - and lists more than 3,000 startups with relevance for mechanical engineering.

Here you will find your contact person for the topics of the computer science department.

Merging Industrie 4.0 and Lean Management offers great potential for successfully developing companies. The VDMA Guideline is intended to support companies.

The VDMA is building a bridge between mechanical engineering and start-ups and has introduced a new event format for this purpose: the hackathon.

With the Packaging Forum, three VDMA trade associations created a joint platform for member companies.