The year is off to a fast start for companies and is already bringing with it all kinds of collaborations and changes at this early stage. Developments in the field of robotics and control technology are not standing still either, as our top articles of January show.
The German machine tool industry expects a decline in production of just under 3% to a nominal EUR 14.8 billion in 2024. Domestic demand in particular has fallen sharply.
Current TOP 5
Expansion of the Sensor Portfolio
VDMA economic survey 3rd quarter 2025
International Federation of Robotics
SVS-Vistek founder and CEO Walter Denk has retired from operational business at the end of 2023. Robert Franz took over as CEO on January 1.
Machine learning holds great potential for cyber security - but there is a lot to consider when implementing it in a corporate context. Experts from Palo Alto Networks provide an overview.
In Germany, robot density in the manufacturing industry is in third place behind South Korea and Singapore, according to the latest results of the World Robotics Report by the International Federation of Robotics.
Nothing stands in the way of Germany approving the EU law on the use of AI. Federal Digital Minister Volker Wissing (FDP) said in Berlin on Tuesday that the struggle over Germany's position on the so-called "AI Act" had come to an end with a "workable compromise".
The mechanical engineering industry is confronted with acute problems as well as long-term trends: increasing requirements and smaller batch sizes. One promising strategy for overcoming these challenges is modular production.
The RFID read/write devices 'IQH3-FP-V1' and 'IQT3-FP-IO-V1' from Pepperl+Fuchs perform identification tasks based on high-frequency RFID technology (13.56 MHz) standardized in accordance with ISO 15693.
checked up on! - with Dieter Hess
Until now, Codesys has sold its Soft PLC with a device-based license model. Now the company is switching to an application-based payment model. Managing Director Dieter Hess explains the background to the license changeover.
Within the 'Dias-Drive 2000' series from Sigmatek for controlling servomotors, further safety functions are integrated in the MDD 2000 servodrives.
The 'Motor Control Platform (MCP)' from Dunkermotoren is a platform for controlling the company's BG motors. A new size complements it.
In focus: Artificial intelligence
ChatGPT has given artificial intelligence a huge boost over the past year - especially in terms of public perception. In this issue, we want to take a closer look at AI and categorize it in more detail for potential industrial users.
Digitalization, electrification and automation are megatrends and the electrical industry is benefiting from them. Nevertheless, the ZVEI expects a dip in production. At the press conference, the association warned against too much EU bureaucracy and took a clear stance against the right.
Farmers are often the drivers of technical developments. Robotics, digitalization and artificial intelligence have long been part of "Agriculture 4.0" in many barns and fields. Researchers in Rostock are exploring the potential for the future.
b-plus has been dealing with the topic of "ISOBUS" for over 10 years. Especially with the increasing demand for technical applications in agricultural engineering, the future lies in the integration of the data bus system.
Up to five generations are currently working together within a company - this holds enormous potential for development opportunities and broadening perspectives, as well as the risk of friction. The Slack Intergenerational Collaboration Survey has analyzed this.
Human-robot collaboration / cobots
In collaboration with numerous international partners, robotics experts at the Fraunhofer IFF have developed a new ISO standard that shows how contact forces and pressures on cobots will be measured in a standardized way in the future. The ISO standard has now been published.
More competition and more obstacles: German companies need to arm themselves against the competition in China. However, the Chamber of Commerce believes that companies are facing a number of problems.
Trend Micro has examined the IT security of decentralized energy supply systems. In particular, the network gateways of solar systems were scrutinized. The study reveals security gaps and provides recommendations for action.
The VDMA Executive Committee and the VDMA Executive Board comment on the economic policy ideas of the AfD and other extremist parties: "The economic policy of the AfD and other extremist parties would ruin Germany as a business location".
