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Mechanical engineering 2026: Between crisis and comeback

2026 marks a turning point in mechanical engineering: Between stagnant economy and disruptive innovation, new rules are forming for the industry.

Stefan Weinzierl

China's exports rise despite global hurdles

China's economy defies global challenges: Foreign trade shows a sudden turnaround, with exports exceeding all forecasts - but not all figures are optimistic.

Stefan Weinzierl

German industry relies on China cooperation

Despite price pressure and geopolitical tensions: German companies invest in partnerships with Chinese players - and focus on innovation instead of retreat.

Anja Ringel

How a startup plans to revolutionize quality assurance

Resoniks wins at the mechanical engineering summit

With acoustic AI and an automated tapping process, Resoniks detects defects in metal components faster than any CT scan - starting from the incoming goods inspection. A system that lets machines listen - and rethinks industrial processes.

Daniela Hoffmann

Editor's Pick View all

Insolvencies 2025: Highest level in ten years

Corporate insolvencies on record course

Germany's economy staggers: The number of corporate insolvencies rises in 2025 according to Creditreform to the highest level in over a decade - with massive consequences for employees, creditors, and industries.

Stefan Weinzierl

Cloud, AI & co: Europe wants to break free from dependence

Europe plans digital independence

US corporations dominate cloud and AI, but Europe plans a counterattack: at the summit in Berlin, sovereignty and key technologies take center stage.

Stefan Weinzierl

OPC UA becomes key technology in mechanical engineering

VDMA study

OPC UA leaves the pilot phase and becomes industrial reality - driven by customer demands and strategic efficiency pressure. This is shown by a recent VDMA study.

Stefan Weinzierl

MetaverseView all

Transition to an 'AI-first company'

Pitfalls where AI strategies fail

90 percent of companies plan to increase their spending on AI tools next year. As of today, only six percent of respondents have not yet used artificial intelligence in some form.

Redaktion Produktion

21 October 2025

Physical artificial intelligence

Nvidia expert explains: What AI brings to mechanical engineering

Digital twins, AI, and physics simulations merge into a game changer for industrial processes. What the term physical AI means - and what is already possible.

Julia Dusold

10 October 2025

AutomationView all

Digitalization, series production, transformation

Factory of the year: These companies are setting new standards

How does one become factory of the year? The current competition shows how digitalization, automation, and culture enable top production. These plants are being awarded.

Maximilian Festus

3 December 2025

Onekey IoT & OT Cybersecurity Report 2025

Industry with room for improvement in cybersecurity standards

The industry is preparing for the end of the transition period of the EU Cyber Resilience Act (CRA) in 2026/27, but should gain momentum in meeting the associated technical standards.

Redaktion Produktion

13 November 2025

New Work View all

Re- and upskilling

What the future costs

The major automotive players are investing significant amounts in re- and upskilling their people. With increasing AI usage, career paths are changing, and the right further education becomes even more crucial. Especially for medium-sized companies, this is a challenge.

Daniela Hoffmann

13 October 2025

Professionals in the automotive industry

These skills secure developers and engineers their jobs

The automotive industry is in crisis. Development engineers are also noticing this. Should they be worried about the cuts at OEMs and suppliers? Not if they have special skills.

Chris Löwer

9 October 2025

Frank Mantwill, Helmut-Schmidt-University Hamburg

Creativity remains the domain of humans

The manufacturing of vehicles is fundamentally changing - and with it, the role of humans in the factory. Professor Frank Mantwill explains which skills are necessary and where humans will remain indispensable in the future.

Pascal Nagel

8 October 2025

MarketsView all

Digital corporate management

SAP trends 2026: These topics will dominate

The SAP cosmos is changing rapidly - cloud, AI, and sustainability are reshaping business models. Those who want to be ahead in 2026 need foresight now.

Roman Freidel

8 December 2025

Tariffs burden German exports

Despite Trump's tariffs: USA remains the most important export market

Trump's aggressive tariff policy puts Germany's export industry under pressure. Yet the most important sales market remains - despite declines - the USA.