Trend 1: Cobots alleviate labor shortage

In 2022, robotics will finally be suitable for the mass market: Low prices for entry-level models and, above all, increasingly straightforward programming will allow even small and medium-sized companies with limited budgets and without specialized programmers to shift tasks to robots. At the same time, the shortage of skilled workers is becoming increasingly noticeable: Cobots in particular, which are mobile and can be used in close proximity to humans, can relieve workers of repetitive tasks - be it palletizing or material feeding. This frees up human labor for more intellectually demanding tasks.

Trend 2: Additive manufacturing becomes part of the production chain

Many companies have already experimented with additive manufacturing processes, and the technology is already firmly established in areas such as prototype construction. The next step is now to integrate it into the process chain. The number of suppliers offering process-reliable machines and the necessary service in the event of downtime has grown continuously. On the technological side, printing times have been reduced, as has the effort involved in reworking the printed products. New printing machines allow unattended or remotely monitored production, even over several days. This means that additive manufacturing can also exploit its advantages in the production chain for batch size 1 and variants.

Trend 3: Sustainability is turning production upside down

The huge price increases for energy in 2022 came unexpectedly and it is unlikely that they will fall in the foreseeable future. This gives a huge boost to the importance of resource efficiency in production. Investments in energy-saving technology are now paying off much faster. Plant optimization will be a major focus for technical managers in the new year. But sustainability is also becoming a defining factor in other areas: the switch from combustion engines to alternative drive systems is probably irreversible. While valuable technological expertise in engine construction is leaving Germany, new know-how needs to be built up for the construction of electric engines, batteries and hydrogen drives.

In any case, the new year will be no less challenging than 2022. Let's go!