In the past, a lot of effort had to be made to enable machines to talk to each other. Today, one standard language is enough: OPC UA. Lenze has integrated this into control systems, visualizations and engineering tools.
ABP has its German headquarters in the port of Dortmund, from where goods are shipped worldwide. Since introducing its first induction furnace in 1903, it has been one of the technology leaders. ABP is also well positioned in de-risking.
A new cell from Schunk automates monotonous production processes, works intuitively and without a cloud connection and learns continuously, thanks to artificial intelligence. Today, it is building a bridge to the world of automation for others.
Interoperability is much more than just technology
As a platform-independent standard, OPC UA enables end-to-end data usage - for flexible factories, efficient supply chains and automated services. Facts and figures show how the OPC UA Companion Specifications work in practice.
Supply chains, reporting and safety requirements: Regulations are increasing - and the industry is looking for guidance. Three members report on how they are finding their way through the regulatory jungle with the new VDMA cockpit.
Sustainability measures are effective when they follow a strategy - and when there is someone to coordinate them. Timo Floßbach has been performing this task at Voss Fluid GmbH in Wipperfürth for over a year now.
After around 25 years, the VDMA has relaunched its brand. The new "look & feel" emphasizes the VDMA's stronger European orientation and is intended to make the traditional brand even more present.
Regulatory requirements such as the Digital Product Passport pose new challenges for mechanical engineering. Open data spaces and standards such as OPC UA provide the basis for digitally linking production, supply chains and customer processes.
Carbon dioxide is both a blessing and a curse. Industry produces large quantities of it, which enter the atmosphere and accelerate climate change. Carbon is an important raw material. The solution: a CO2 cycle. Linde Engineering is working on this.
Machinery and plant engineering companies are increasingly publishing sustainability reports on a voluntary basis. Three VDMA members explain the role these reports play in customer orders, recruiting and the optimization of internal processes.
US trade tariffs and the trade dispute between the US and China are weighing on the mechanical engineering industry. Official figures on de-risking are lacking, but the international positioning and trends in mechanical engineering are representable.
