AI is profoundly changing jobs, but at the same time it is making human skills indispensable. The new Skills Economy Report 2026 from SkyHive by Cornerstone shows that roles in the future will require both technical skills and soft skills.

Dr. Helga Linnartz will take over as Managing Director of Endress+Hauser Level+Pressure on February 1, 2026, succeeding Dr. Dirk Mörmann, who died in an accident in 2025. The physicist brings many years of experience to the company.

The mechanical engineering industry wants to keep production in Germany and Europe. However, better location conditions are urgently needed to prevent research, production and therefore innovation from migrating, it was stated at the association's annual press conference on December 9, 2025.

More and more large-scale factories for the production of batteries are getting on in years and need to be modernized. These brownfield investments also offer significant new business opportunities for the European mechanical and plant engineering industry - the study "Battery Manufacturing 2030+: From Hype to Hard Truths" by VDMA and Porsche Consulting shows which ones.

At the "Digitalization in Mechanical Engineering" research day, the VDMA awarded prizes to four final theses from the fields of engineering and computer science. The award-winning projects show applications of AI in test processes, production quality, analysis of solar wafers and project management.

The 'KeTop T150/T155 Safe Wireless' mobile handheld control units from Keba are suitable for mobile machine and robot operation.

As a partner in the 'Next Level Mittelstand' initiative, Bosch Rexroth is committed to the digital transformation of German SMEs. The current six shareholders and 23 members of the initiative, including SMEs, start-ups, IT experts and consortia, want to jointly drive forward digitalization in SMEs and provide practical guidance for its implementation.

For use on Modbus systems, Display Visions offers displays from the 'EA HMI' series in four sizes from 2.8 to 10 inches.

KEB Automation is expanding its drive portfolio for turboblowers, compressors and other high-speed applications: In addition to liquid-cooled high-speed drives, an air-cooled version will also be available in future.

The Proalpha Group, provider of ERP and business applications for SMEs, is taking its portfolio in the field of digital store floor solutions to a new level with the merger of its group companies Böhme & Weihs and Enit.

With the 'DV3xxx' series stack lights, ifm is launching signal lights that are easy to see even in direct sunlight thanks to their very bright LED lights.

With around 56,000 visitors and a clear increase on the previous year, SPS 2025 presented itself as a well-used platform for smart automation.

India, the world's fastest-growing economy, is establishing a legal framework for machine safety - with implications for machine manufacturers and exporters, some of which will take effect as early as November 2025.

Fritz Kübler aims to evolve from a pure component supplier into a provider of holistic IIoT solutions. To achieve this, the company offers a solution for analyzing collected data to monitor systems and machinery, as well as for predictive-maintenance evaluations.

From AC drives to cobots, Inovance showcases a complete automation solution at SPS 2025. 'INO AIR', the new wireless servo system, enables precise, real-time motion control without complex wiring. An Interview with David Bedford Guaus.

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Virtual controllers complement traditional PLC systems rather than replacing them. Phoenix Contact explains where virtualization makes sense and how it is reshaping automation.

According to the ZVEI, Industrial AI opens up new potential for efficiency and productivity in automation. At SPS, the association is calling for bold structural reforms and better framework conditions. Despite global uncertainties, the industry expects slight growth in 2026.

In the 'Connection Zone' on stand 200 in hall 7, Bihl+Wiedemann will be demonstrating how users can use ASi-5, ASi-3 and IO-Link (Safety) to make automation processes flexible, future-proof and cost-efficient.

'Gear ProSelect' from WEG is aimed at all those who are regularly involved in the selection and design of gearboxes and geared motors in mechanical and plant engineering, including design engineers, technical purchasers and OEMs.

The compact switching power supplies 'PFA10-T' from E-T-A have been specially developed for demanding industrial environments, both for 24 V(DC) and 48 V(DC) applications.