Schaeffler expands its Defense division
Schaeffler is making new appointments to the management of its subsidiary STech Defence GmbH. Celia Pelaz will take over the position of CEO "Defence & New Space" on October 1, 2026 and will manage the business of the Munich-based company.
A new benchmark from Fraunhofer IPA is intended to enable the first standardized and neutral analysis of humanoid robots for industrial use based on six key criteria.
Lapp is expanding its digital service portfolio and is the first B2B industrial company to provide its authorized distributors with a verifiable online seal from authorized.by. The company aims to create more transparency and security for buyers and at the same time strengthen trust along the entire supply chain.
Sensors, measurement technology and artificial intelligence are merging to form intelligent systems. From June 9 to 11, 2026, Sensor+Test in Nuremberg will showcase the most important trends in a changing industry.
The analog mix module 'AM 821' from Sigmatek's S-DIAS series has eight analog differential inputs with 16-bit resolution and two analog outputs.
Ionos and Q.ANT want to jointly advance photonic processor technologies for AI and high-performance computers. The aim of the partnership is to build energy-efficient and sovereign AI infrastructures in Europe.
Labor market and infrastructure
According to a study, 73% of employers worldwide cannot find enough qualified engineers. Infrastructure, energy and semiconductor projects are particularly affected. In Europe, demographic developments are exacerbating the situation.
Ledvance, provider of innovative lighting solutions, was named "Winner" in the Excellence in Business to Consumer Lighting category at the German Innovation Awards 2026. With the AI Companion Lighting Robot 'Elix', the company presents an interactive lighting solution that raises the connection between humans and technology to a new, emotional level.
Paderborn University is one of the founding members of the new research unit 'ELLIS Unit NRW'. The European network bundles AI research in North Rhine-Westphalia with a focus on machine learning and explainable AI.
With 'CheckMate', the University of Klagenfurt has developed an AI system that independently creates algorithms for complex combinatorics and optimization problems. The technology is designed to make industrial planning and logistics processes more efficient and outperform existing methods.
New approaches in drive technology
Nabtesco is working on intelligent drive systems for industrial applications. The focus here is on the use of physical AI, the combination of artificial intelligence with real physical systems.
QNX has published the study "Inside the Robot: Architecture Benchmark Report". The results of the global survey of 1000 robotics developers show that software and safety requirements are increasingly becoming the central bottleneck for innovations in robotics. In Germany in particular, safety requirements, certification processes and deterministic system behavior are having a significant impact on the development of modern robotic systems.
Robco, a company for autonomous industrial robotics, is further expanding its management team. As the company's first Chief Operating Officer, Michael Ardelt will assume responsibility for structuring and scaling Robco's growth in operational terms.
Research on data and governance
A research project at FAU Erlangen-Nuremberg is analyzing historical data practices in China over more than 2000 years. The focus is on early administrative and information systems and their significance for today's debates on AI, big data and digital control.
Balluff has opened a technology and innovation center at its production site in Chengdu, China. The aim is to provide even more targeted support to local and international customers with solutions and expertise.
The Wago Group is further expanding its building automation business and has acquired the 'Zaphire' building management system (BMS) from the Scandinavian group Granitor.
Around six months before the start of the trade fair, more than 900 companies have registered for SPS 2026 in Nuremberg. The trade fair focuses on industrial AI, cyber security and digital transformation.
The ZVEI has chosen Rittal as the winner of the Electrifying Ideas Award 2026. With this award, the German electrical and digital industry honors innovations and solutions that use energy efficiently, conserve resources and have an economic and social impact.
In a world filled with smartphones, connected cars, medical devices and smart appliances, supporting optimal electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) and wireless performance to minimize interference between electronic products is critical.
Artificial intelligence is reshaping industrial automation across procurement, production, and cybersecurity. Its relevance lies not in the technology itself, but in its ability to create faster, more resilient, and more efficient operations. Read more in the e-paper of Computer&Automation International.
