"The topic of Industry 4.0 is currently driving massive growth for German automation companies," Roland Bent is certain. At SPS IPC Drives 2017, the CEO of the ZVEI's Automation Association was jubilant: "We didn't expect such a sharp rise in incoming orders of 10.4%." In other words, the German automation scene is gleefully feasting on the advance laurels of the Industry 4.0 hype - delivered ...

... from now on, if Siemens CEO Klaus Helmrich has his way: "We have created the technological prerequisites for Industry 4.0!" Now it is a matter of "creating an expanded model of respectful, partnership-based cooperation: Large companies supply platforms and components, medium-sized companies develop their own solutions and business models based on them and end customers integrate these into their digital value chain."

From Siemens' perspective, the social component may indeed be at the forefront of the establishment of Industry 4.0. The global market leader aligned itself to the digital transformation years ago, positioned itself comfortably with targeted acquisitions and did the necessary homework - building trust with customers and competitors and counteracting feelings of dependency may now be the order of the day for the leader. But what about the rest of the industry? The automation companies in the second tier, such as Beckhoff and B&R, are still feverishly positioning themselves technologically and becoming solution providers with new technologies such as linear motor-based transport systems - with the digital twin and cloud solution in their luggage, of course. But what are the players in the third row doing? All those who shy away from such enormous investments or simply cannot afford them?

And finally, one important technological question remains: how can the industry achieve a standardized communication backbone in the factories, which many Industry 4.0 popes believe is indispensable? A uniform OPC UA plus TSN solution - from the sensor to the cloud - is still the subject of fierce debate. The industry is longing for a clear signal from the market leader on this point. One visitor to the 'Automation 4.0 Summit' accompanying the trade fair put it in a nutshell by asking the representative of the OPC Foundation employed by Siemens: "We have missed a standardized solution twice so far - once for fieldbuses, the other time for Ethernet-based solutions - do we want to miss it a third time now?" Unfortunately, the interviewee fails to provide a clear answer; he would have urgently needed mental support from his boss. - Because what is needed now is indeed an "extended model of respectful, partnership-based cooperation". Mr. Helmrich, give yourself a jolt: surprise the industry with your social competence!