Drive and fluid technology - paving the way for the industry of tomorrow

Under the "Motion & Drives" label, the industries will once again showcase their strength and importance as the largest supplier industries in international mechanical engineering. Innovative and smart individual components as well as complete systems will be presented. For the strongly export-oriented drive and fluid technology companies, the Hannover Messe is the ideal platform to drive global business forward due to its high level of internationality.

"In view of the global environment, Hannover Messe has a special role to play this year, because this is where the global course for tomorrow's industrial production will be set," says Dr. Jochen Köckler, Chairman and CEO of Deutsche Messe. "In the areas of automation, digitalization and international cooperation, we offer a central stage where drive and fluid technology companies can present their pioneering concepts and provide decisive impetus for a resilient industry. At the same time, the highly international nature of the trade fair opens up ideal opportunities for export-oriented companies to tap into new markets, acquire potential new customers and sustainably strengthen their position in global competition."

"With the Hannover Messe, we offer exhibitors the opportunity to be embedded in a unique industrial innovation ecosystem in which companies from the mechanical engineering, electrical and digital industries as well as the energy sector present efficient and sustainable solutions for current and future industrial value creation. This mix of research, business, start-ups and politics guarantees great dynamism every year," says Köckler.

"Drive and fluid technology components are key building blocks of machines - they provide power and motion, serve as a data source for digital value-added services and play a decisive role in the performance of customer products. In 2025, the Hannover Messe with its 'Motion & Drives' community will become an innovation driver for mechanical engineering," emphasizes Hartmut Rauen, Deputy Managing Director of the VDMA and responsible for drive and fluid technology at the VDMA.

Drive and fluid technology face challenges

In the German drive and fluid technology sector, a nominal decline in sales of around eight percent is expected for 2024. Incoming orders are also at this level and there is a lack of urgently needed impetus to stimulate the market. Accordingly, the two sectors, which together account for a sales volume of around 30 billion euros, continue to face a difficult economic situation.

This picture is representative of the entire mechanical engineering sector. The industry is under sustained cost and competitive pressure and is reluctant to invest - due to global uncertainties and difficult political conditions in Germany, the EU and the rest of the world. Growth in the export market of China, which plays an important role for drive and fluid technology, is also not showing any momentum.

Forecast for 2025 and the role of Hannover Messe

Neither industry expects a significant recovery in 2025 and anticipate a decline, albeit a more moderate one. This makes it all the more important that Hannover Messe 2025 serves as a platform to demonstrate the performance and innovative strength of drive and fluid technology to the world. The role of politics should not be neglected either: "There is a need to reduce bureaucracy and strengthen entrepreneurship. We need better framework conditions as well as free trade agreements and impetus in the area of innovation. The research allowance is a good approach and we are also focusing on expanding joint industrial research," says Hartmut Rauen.

Young talent and research activities as the key to the future

The members of the drive technology and fluid technology associations are increasingly involved in the areas of securing young talent and the shortage of skilled workers. Through close cooperation with research institutions such as the Research Association for Drive Technology (FVA e. V.), the Fluid Technology Research Fund and the Fluid Technology Education Fund, pioneering research projects are being driven forward and urgently needed graduates are being trained.

Digitalization will continue to be a key topic at the Hannover Messe. The publicly funded research project "Fluid 4.0", which focuses primarily on the Asset Administration Shell (AAS) concept, is opening up new perspectives for the industry. In drive technology, OPC UA specifications are being developed to optimize data exchange. Interfaces to the overarching topic of Manufacturing-X will also be discussed in order to design future data spaces for the industry and make the sector fit for the future.

Canada as partner country of Hannover Messe 2025

Despite moderate growth of 1.1 to 1.3 percent, Canada's economy is looking to the future in 2024. Rising sales expectations and decreasing capacity bottlenecks are making companies optimistic, while the key interest rate cut to 3.75 percent is boosting investment. Opportunities are opening up in mechanical engineering in particular: the construction of battery plants such as that of VW subsidiary PowerCo in Ontario is boosting demand for battery cell production facilities, automation and sustainable technologies.

In addition, government subsidies are driving investment in "green" technologies. Hannover Messe 2025 offers a special platform for picking up on developments and emphasizing Canada's role in mechanical engineering.

Despite its comparatively small market size, Canada offers growth opportunities. The latest data from 2023 shows that Canada offers potential in the areas of electromobility, agriculture and the oil and gas industry in particular. The Canadian government's planned investments in these sectors open up new prospects and opportunities for European industry.