Digitalization & Industry 4.0 - vdma.org

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The Industrial Automation Show (IAS) in Shanghai is one of the most important trade fairs for industrial automation in Asia.

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.

In an interview with the VDMA, Ricardo Aloysio e Silva reports on the state of digitalization and interoperability in Brazil

Since August 2, 2025, the provisions on general-purpose AI models and sanctions of the AI Act, among others, have been applicable. In this article, we explain what this means for companies.

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

The digitalization of industry is facing a fundamental problem: while marketing brochures often talk about greenfield projects, a lot of all digitalization projects are actually brownfield modernizations of existing systems.

In today's industry, interoperability is a decisive factor that promotes efficiency, cost savings and competitiveness.

With the publication of the new OPC UA Companion Specification "OPC 40092-1", the VDMA has set an important milestone for the digitalization of the PUR foam industry.

The VDMA Glass Technology Forum is advancing two important standards that will enhance the safety of hollow glass machinery and strengthen competitiveness across Europe.

The VDMA and Spanish company TRIMEK have been honored with the BAIDATA Excellence Award 2025 in the category "Excellence in the Deployment of Innovative Pilots and Use Cases."

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.

Interview on the road to K 2025 with Timo Horn, Head of Operational Services in Extrusion Technology at Hans Weber Maschinenfabrik GmbH

In an interview with the VDMA, Mauricio Finotti from ABINC talks about the future.

On July 1, 2025, VDMA Austria held an AI practical day at the KEBA Group in Linz, which attracted a great deal of interest with over 70 participants.

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.

September 15 and 16, 2025, Hamburg. Discounted participation for VDMA members.

Are you ready to shape the future of industrial data and digital transformation?

The transformation of the automotive industry is changing the demands placed on machine tools and production technology. Topics such as automation, digitalization and artificial intelligence are shaping developments.

The VDMA welcomes the EU Commission's plan to strengthen the data economy. However, any measures must remain voluntary and must not lead to forced data exchange and further bureaucratic burdens.

The use of publicly accessible telephone numbers for advertising purposes does not fall under the GDPR's authorization to safeguard legitimate interests unless the advertiser has at least presumed consent within the meaning of Section 7 UWG.

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.

The ongoing digital transformation is helping companies to improve existing value propositions and develop new ones.

The Bundesgesellschaft für Endlagerung mbH (BGE) is using a mobile demonstrator on a model scale to bring the advantages and functionality of OPC UA as a framework for industrial interoperability closer to its own operating personnel.

With the "AJCsens", the Fraunhofer IVV presents a smart spray cleaning system for demand-oriented tank cleaning, which offers a forward-looking answer to the constantly increasing pressure on time and resources thanks to its high savings potential.

The oscillating quartz-based sensor technology CoControl-QCM enables reliable inline detection of a wide variety of contaminants, such as product deposits, biofilms and crystalline fouling.

The AI-supported monitoring system makes it possible to predictively detect fouling during the production process. This makes it particularly suitable for the production process of high-protein products such as yoghurt drinks or milk-based mixed drinks.

The adequacy decisions with the United Kingdom have been extended by the EU Commission for a further six months.

Did you miss the last Regul8 of the Materials Handling and Intralogistics Association? No problem, you can watch the presentation and talk on the NIS2 Directive again here.

Risk-based OT security: A practical guide to help plant operators and asset owners get started with risk management and threat evaluation

The VDMA Software and Digitization Association is expanding its offering on the topic of open source software in industry.

VDMA Austria members met to discuss the future of edge computing

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 VDMA regulatory cockpit provides you with a central, practical overview of current and upcoming regulations. It helps you identify relevant information at an early stage, evaluate it strategically, and derive concrete measures.

Twin transformation in mechanical and plant engineering: How digitalization and sustainability together enable new business models and make the industry fit for the future.

The commercial use of space, known as New Space, is opening up new digital business models for the mechanical and plant engineering and software industries - that is the conclusion of the latest episode of the VDMA Industry Podcast.

On 21 May 2025, the EU Commission presented a fourth omnibus package to reduce the annual administrative costs for companies. It also provides for simplifications in the implementation of data protection for certain companies.

With the description of abstract types for components, systems and controllers, the Companion Specification OPC 40700 defines the basis of the OPC UA information models in the surface technology areas.

The 3. Interoperability Summit, sponsored by ECLASS, GS1 Germany, Prostep ivip, and VDMA Machine Information Interoperability, will take place on May, 7, 2026 at the Telekom Conference Center in Bonn.

In a FAQ, the EU Commission has clarified what the AI Regulation (AI Act) means by AI competence and what obligations apply to the operators of AI systems.

The development of the Digital Product Passport (DPP) is progressing rapidly, but the regulatory requirements and practical implementation are still unclear, especially for small and medium-sized companies.

Industrial production is under increasing competitive pressure. In this environment, interoperability - i.e. the ability of different systems to work together smoothly - is becoming a decisive success factor.

The digital transformation in mechanical engineering is also reflected in total IT costs, which have been rising at an average rate of 5% per year faster than sales since 2017.

From May 28 to 31, 2025, the manufacturing world will gather in Istanbul for WIN EURASIA, one of the leading industrial trade fairs in the Eurasian region.

Forwarding of personal employee data by works council member via private email account justifies exclusion from works council

The General Assembly of VDMA Wireless Communications for Machines took place on May 6/7, 2025 in Frankfurt.

Compensation after loss of control of data

Disclosure of health data by employers can lead to compensation.