EMO 2025 starts with high expectations

Welcker promised plenty of inspiration for companies as well as strong impetus for the manufacturing industry and the future of metalworking. He also took the opportunity to call on politicians to create better framework conditions for companies that support rather than hinder industrial production. This could significantly increase the willingness to invest and create jobs worldwide.

According to the EMO General Commissioner, expectations for EMO Hannover 2025 are high, especially as the economic and political conditions are currently putting a damper on business ambitions. The industry continues to struggle with many uncertainties in view of the global political climate. US tariff policy is just another factor that is keeping companies on their toes, "although we don't want to hide the fact," Welcker emphasized, "that the uncertainty in the tariff area - most recently with additional tariffs on metal components in our machines - has exceeded any tolerable level.

In these difficult times, the EMO is more than just a showcase for technical innovations. It shows ways for the industry to become active itself, build bridges, find solutions and invest in future technologies. "Companies must now do everything they can to improve their global positioning and competitiveness in order to be optimally prepared when the economic engine starts up again," said Welcker.

EMO has also announced a partner country for the first time. Under the title Alliance Country Canada@EMO2025, Canadian manufacturers will be exhibiting in Hall 12, demonstrating, according to Welcker, the close alliance with partners who are also interested in rules-based global trade in the future.

Automation and artificial intelligence are key topics

According to Welcker, the EMO identifies the most important topics in the midst of a comprehensive transformation process. Competition is intensifying, imperialism and isolationism are destroying value chains and the international division of labor, he said, describing the current situation. Rising costs and a shortage of skilled workers were challenging companies. At the same time, the demand for sustainable products is growing. The VDW in Hanover sees the megatrends of automation, sustainability, digitalization and AI as the main focus topics. However, the current hype surrounding AI should not obscure the fact that most visitors are focusing on other, simpler solutions to problems.

According to the EMO General Commissioner, the main focus of interest is likely to be on automation solutions that increase efficiency and quality in the manufacturing process. They are seen as the main drivers of innovation. The exhibitors offer a wide range of solutions, from simple panel changers and handling systems to the use of robots and autonomous factories.

Development of AI expertise required

Prof. Christian Brecher, holder of the Chair of Machine Tools at the WZL at RWTH Aachen University and spokesperson for the ProKI initiative, outlined the significance that AI has for production technology and could have in the future. He sees generative AI and chatbots such as ChatGPT merely as a visible breakthrough for the general public. Brecher is certain that investors and researchers, on the other hand, will focus on industry-related use cases. He expects a major impact from agent systems that can perform tasks in production autonomously, make decisions and optimize manufacturing processes. Europe in particular offers good conditions for AI developments and has the opportunity to become the global market leader for industrial AI. "We have a breadth and depth of industrial data like no other region," says the scientist. Strong AI research lays important foundations for the future.

Brecher sees "encouraging" developments in Germany in the Federal Ministry of Education and Research's high-tech agenda, which declares AI and AI robotics as key topics. The transfer to industry and talent training should therefore be strengthened. Major investments in AI gigafactories, such as the one in Jülich, have laid the infrastructural foundations. Brecher called on industry to form networks, open up data spaces and participate in ecosystems. According to the AI expert, data is a product that can be used to earn money. He called for a greater willingness to take risks when investing and the development of AI expertise through talent and AI projects. Brecher called on politicians to further strengthen research, expand computing power made in Europe and make it available at low cost. Low-bureaucracy regulation could motivate people to open up industrial data spaces and invest more in AI.