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.
When used correctly, AI systems in mechanical and plant engineering increase efficiency and quality and open up prospects for new business models. Achenbach shows what is important here.
Vaillant, heating specialist based in the German town of Remscheid, is putting its core expertise to good use for social causes. The collaboration with SOS Children's Villages was initiated and developed by the company's employees.
Despite bureaucracy and competition, Italy remains an attractive market for machinery. The government is unusually stable and business-friendly and is promoting itself with tax breaks worth billions. But they are not easy to obtain.
Neither parental advice nor guidance from the employment office is the best way to find out who is suited to a technical profession. Materials Engineer Sandra Kofink advises those interested to ask themselves one very simple question.
More vehicles, more customers, more deployments: The Mobile Services of hydraulic specialist Hansa-Flex are growing. They provide emergency support - quickly and reliably. For Mobile Services Directo Lelio Arlt, this strategy is the key to success.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
