Editorial
Connecting industries
Suppliers to the mechanical engineering industry - that is a broad field to which we devote this special issue. And an equally indispensable one. After all, according to the VDMA, the mechanical engineering sector employs well over 1.3 million people in Germany. In 2017, turnover amounted to more than 220 billion euros. This puts the industry in second place behind vehicle manufacturing and makes it one of the flagships of our economy. The strength of the German mechanical engineering industry worldwide is due not least to a widely ramified and very solid supplier industry, which is characterized by flexibility, reliability and, above all, the high quality of its products.
Products from A to Z, from workwear to cutting tools - suppliers to the mechanical engineering industry come from a wide variety of sectors such as textiles, electronics, IT and metal construction, but also from the service sector, to name just a few. Just recently, at the Hannover Messe, we were able to marvel at how technical progress in all areas of the supplier industry has rapidly gathered pace. This development is also bringing the industry ever closer together, and collaborations are emerging that nobody would have thought of just a few years ago. This benefits the machine manufacturers, who can offer new functionalities and new system solutions through networking, as well as the suppliers themselves, for whose products new applications and markets are opening up. And last but not least, the manufacturer and the end customer benefit from higher productivity, lower prices and shorter delivery times.
So there are many reasons to take a closer look at the suppliers and highlight the many facets of the various sectors without which the global success of German mechanical engineering would not be possible. We report on technical innovations and current developments in areas such as automation, production, assembly and material flow, fastening technology and services.
Speaking of new products - we also have the latest developments: you will no doubt have noticed that SCOPE has been given a new look, as has the special edition. But it's not just about the look. Above all, we want to build even stronger bridges between the different sectors of production, automation, information technology and electronics in the future and link them thematically - as is also done in the industry. What topic would be more suitable than that of the supply industry? You are now holding the special issue in your hands for the first time with a new cover and new layout, and I hope that you will enjoy reading it even more than before.
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