The ZVEI traditionally uses SPS IPC Drives in Nuremberg as an opportunity to review the economic development of the past few months. According to the report, automation in Germany achieved a turnover of 39.9 billion euros from January to September - which corresponds to growth of 7.2%. Incoming orders rose by 10.4%, compared to just 1.5% in the same period last year. "Not even we ourselves expected such a sharp rise at the beginning of 2017," commented Roland Bent, member of the board of the ZVEI Automation Association, on the figures. In the same breath, however, the Managing Director at Phoenix Contact adds: "This very good economic situation presents us with 'luxury problems' on the procurement side in the areas of raw materials, preliminary services and also skilled workers."

The development of automation in Germany from January to September 2017

© Destatis/ZVEI

Despite this, the ZVEI is firmly convinced that 2018 will also be a good year for the industry with growth rates in the upper single-digit range. And the boom is not expected to end any time soon. In any case, Bent is convinced that the success story is far from over, because: "We haven't even tapped 15% of the Industry 4.0 potential in factory automation that can be seen today."

The Industry 4.0 management group within the ZVEI itself will start next year with its 3i strategy for the years 2018 to 2020. Specifically, this involves bundling the following goals Further implementation of previous work results with the partners in the Industry 4.0 platform, including RAMI 4.0, the Industry 4.0 component concept and the administration shell.

Further internationalization and thus the global marketing and implementation of Industrie 4.0 together with the Plattform Industrie 4.0, the Labs Network Industrie 4.0 and the Standardization Council Industrie 4.0.

Strengthening the innovation policy goals of the electrical industry in Industrie 4.0. On the one hand, this means greater synchronization of positions. On the other hand, it means actively shaping the framework conditions for the digitalization of industry from the perspective of the electrical industry, including in the areas of research, standardization and infrastructure.

Making 5G ready for industry!

Another topic that the ZVEI is currently addressing is the future 5G generation of mobile communications. Bent: "For Industry 4.0 to work, we need an infrastructure that is suitable for industrial applications. 5G technology will make it possible to introduce completely new system approaches and solutions in factories."

In order to be able to tap into the available potential, it is essential that the industry gets to grips with the topic in good time and incorporates its requirements into 5G standardization now. To this end, the ZVEI established the '5G Task Force' at the beginning of 2017, which is currently being expanded into the '5G Alliance for Connected Industries and Automation' (5G-ACIA). With 5G-ACIA, the association wants the interests of both the manufacturing and process industries to be taken into account in the standardization process.

Bent concludes: "With Industry 4.0, we have created a brand that is now understood all over the world. Now we are filling the brand bit by bit with further services."