Mechanical Engineering
VDMA Appoints Philip Harting to the Executive Board
The German Engineering Federation (VDMA) has appointed Philip Harting to its Executive Board. As Chairman of the Board and CEO of the Harting Technology Group, he will help represent the interests of the machinery and plant engineering industry.
“Mechanical engineering is an important target market for our company,” says Harting. “So, to me, it only makes sense to be involved in the mechanical and plant engineering sector in Germany and Europe and to represent the industry’s interests.”
Mechanical Engineering Under Significant Pressure to Change
Harting is taking on the role at a time when the industry is facing significant pressure to change. In June, the VDMA lowered its forecast for 2026 to zero growth. At the same time, the association points to persistently high international demand for innovative machinery and equipment.
“The mechanical engineering industry in Germany faces major challenges,” said Harting. “Protectionist geopolitics and supply chains that continue to be disrupted by wars and conflicts are having a major impact on the industry’s order book and delivery capacity. The pace at which this tradition-oriented German industry must transform is enormous. I look forward to actively helping shape this transformation, not only within the Harting Technology Group but also on the VDMA Executive Board.”
The VDMA represents approximately 3,500 companies in the German and European machinery and plant engineering sectors. In the 27 member states of the European Union, the industry is the largest industrial employer, with 3.1 million employees. In 2025, machinery exports reached a volume of approximately 593 billion euros, more than a third of which came from Germany.
The association’s key areas of focus include research, innovation, and technology, as well as digitalization and sustainability. “These topics will shape the transformation of the industry and play a decisive role in the future success of Europe as a business hub,” Harting summarizes.
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