Management & Business Strategies - vdma.eu

Defence.Tech.NRW opens up new opportunities: apply now for funding for high-tech and dual-use innovations and benefit from the strong research environment in NRW.

Germany sees itself as a nation of technology. Innovation, engineering and strong SMEs have long been the foundation of our prosperity. Yet technology has so far played only a minor role in the education System.

How can generative AI create real value in industrial environments? Festo and Zeta Alpha share how a focused collaboration turned a proof of concept into a productive solution - and what startups and corporates can learn from it. An interview.

The QM Corner impressively demonstrated how process mining makes real process data visible - enabling companies to optimize faster and make smarter decisions.

Three interesting events are waiting for you in March. In addition to our online introduction to the new Five-Year Plan, we will also focus on competition strategy and employment restructuring.

A look at the data on innovation activities from the ZEW and the VDMA shows: overall, the proportion of investment in innovation and research and development is declining, but the proportion of sales generated by genuine market innovations remains stable.

ASEAN’s manufacturing sector finished 2025 on a high, recording its strongest quarter in four years. While growth moderated slightly, resilient demand, rising hiring and improved confidence point to solid momentum entering 2026.

Are you planning a visit to the Hannover Messe? Then we have good news for you: As a special service, the VDMA is providing you with free admission tickets - exclusively for our members and partners.

Mechanical engineering is gaining speed and precision with artificial intelligence. This innovative strength is also reflected in the theses submitted by graduates for the "Digitalization in Mechanical Engineering" prize for young talent.

Highlights from the showcase area of AG AM in the VDMA at Formnext 2026 in Frankfurt.

Two VDMA online events in early 2026 will focus on the practical implementation of pay transparency in small and medium-sized enterprises, with specific practical examples from a management and HR perspective.

The VDMA Foreign Trade team keeps an eye on business opportunities in Western Europe/EU and Southeast Europe. Newsletter in English.

The working group networks marketing and trade fair experts from the VDMA power transmission engineering and fluid power sector and offers a platform for jointly promoting current challenges, innovative concepts and forward-looking solutions.

As part of the VDMA event series "The Dragon in the Room", representatives from member companies met in Berlin at the beginning of December to discuss how to deal with China and the resulting strategic activities.

The world's leading industrial trade fair will open its doors from 20 to 24 April 2026. VDMA Software and Digitalisation is once again offering its member companies the opportunity to present themselves at a joint stand.

10.12.2025 - The "SiMon" 2025 security monitor was conducted jointly by VDMA, Messe Essen and VdS Schadenverhütung GmbH.

In our theme publications, you will find facts, figures and data related to vocational training, engineering courses, skilled workers, mechanical engineers and women in machinery and equipment manufacturing.

VDMA’s Industry Insight Tours 2025 brought 180+ members up close to China’s fast-moving manufacturing hubs, offering exclusive access, networking and fresh perspective.

Growth expectations rise to 6%, yet overall sentiment stays subdued. Discover key trends across sectors and what’s driving the market outlook.

VDMA Austria and VDMA Bavaria

This year's edition of the popular Lean Management event series of VDMA Austria took place on November 4, 2025 at Lenze Austria in Asten near Linz.

How FEM and CFD simulations accelerate development processes, reduce costs and ensure quality - insights from the field.

The trade association continuously reports on new standards or draft standards that may be of importance to valve manufacturers.

On the Wednesday of the fair, the VDMA's Transport Department organized its traditional tour of the fair with the participants of the Automotive Technology Committee.

VDMA assessment of cost development and cost trends in 2026.

Monthly tracking of the market development of valve-relevant raw materials with a focus on non-ferrous metals

The mechanical and plant engineering industry is facing new challenges: Legislative changes, political decisions and recent court rulings are changing the employment law framework and presenting companies with new challenges.

How can digital services in glass machinery manufacturing be successfully monetized? This was the central question addressed by the Forum Glass Technology on 21 October 2025 at HEGLA GmbH & Co. KG in Beverungen.

From idea to impact: How the Adobe Kickbox and the 10 commandments of innovation promote courage, speed and a culture of learning.

Celebrations should be celebrated as they fall. That's why the quality managers from the industrial valves sector met for an intensive two-day event in Fulda to mark their 100th meeting.

For the first time, the VDMA is collecting key figures on the performance of supply chains in mechanical and plant engineering. This study creates a database that enables member companies to objectively classify their planning, procurement and logistics processes.

Despite persistently high levels of sick leave in the mechanical and plant engineering sector, the event analyzed current developments and discussed possible courses of action.

Current: What can automation technology contribute to sustainability? | Preparation of questionnaire: Market study Ind. Com. 2025 | “Material Hub” Environmental Material Research | Technology in Dialogue “Machine Data” Working Group Wind Industry

The web seminar “Lean in Practice” used a digital tour of ITA's smart factory to show how lean methods can measurably improve production processes and help to avoid waste in the long term.

Manufacturers of safety-related automation components and manufacturers of calculation tools in the field of functional safety are particularly affected by the contents of VDMA Specification 66413.

Machine manufacturers use the VDMA 66413 characteristic value libraries provided by device manufacturers to perform evaluations and calculations in the area of functional safety using the safety-relevant device data.

Manufacturer list of software tools for specification VDMA 66413 „Functional Safety – Universal data format"

Benchmarking is more than just a comparison - it is a strategic tool for continuous improvement and incredibly valuable, especially in difficult times when efficiency, quality and customer satisfaction are even more important.

In 2025, the VDMA and the ZVEI are once again organizing the "Technology Stage powered by VDMA/ZVEI" forum at SPS - with exciting presentations and lively panel discussions.

The building valves industry saw only modest growth in the first half of 2025. Neither the government change nor the “construction turbo” spurred lasting recovery. For 2025, VDMA forecasts just 3 percent revenue growth.

On September 22, 2025, the VDMA is offering a full-day face-to-face event in Frankfurt for members who want to sharpen their ASEAN strategy. Also present: Chambers of Commerce Abroad (AHKs) and regional business development agencies.

VDMA Textile Machinery provides the results of the Industrial Collective Research (IGF) of the Textile Research Board (FKT).

The committee's internal revision of ISO 9001 has been completed and the draft standard will be made available to the public for comment at the end of August with the DIS.

Interview with Mr. Shi Tao, General Manager, KOCKS Beijing Metallurgical Equipment

Keep up to date with the latest news from Southeast Asia with the new VDMA newsletter. Subscribe now to receive relevant regional updates every two months — exclusively for VDMA members.

Monthly tracking of the market development of raw materials relevant to valves with a focus on steel and cast iron.

The EU textile machinery industry is calling on EU authorities and Member States to take market surveillance for textile machinery seriously across Europe and to implement targeted market surveillance measures.

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.

The QM Corner showed how companies can become more successful with systematic opportunity and risk management in accordance with ISO 9001.

In 2026, global machinery and equipment turnover is expected to grow by 2% on a price-adjusted basis. Growth in Asia will remain above average. Stagnation looms in the EU-27.