More than just selling products, but providing all parts of success for the daily procurement of technical requirements: This is exactly why the Conrad Sourcing Platform was launched in 2020 and has been dynamically expanded ever since. More than 10 million product offers and numerous services and solutions are now available on the platform for business customers. With the acquisition of the Electronic Direct Group, special procurement is now being taken to a new level.

Stipo Nad, Head of Business Development Production at Aachen-based optimization specialist Inform, comments on the current situation and explains how machine manufacturers can use these challenging times as an opportunity.

Automation will continue to gain in importance in the coming years. Major goals such as climate protection, sustainability and the challenges posed by the increasing shortage of skilled workers can only be achieved with the help of automation technology and innovative approaches.

Hexagon's Forming Suite technology is now integrated into Tset's software. Customers of the two technology companies can now simulate the sheet metal forming process as well as the associated costs and_{CO2 emissions} in one system.

On March 5 and 6, 2024, Bluhm Systeme will be presenting the latest marking systems with labels, ink and lasers especially for industrial automation at all about automation. The exhibits can be seen in Hall B2, Stand 112 at the Friedrichshafen Exhibition Center.

Half of the workforce at precision engineering specialist Hailtec in the Swabian Alb is now made up of women. One of the reasons for this is the flexible working hours, says Sabine Blach. She manages the manual department with manual bending and hydraulic presses.

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The global stock of industrial robots has reached a new record of around 3.9 million units. The strong demand is being driven by a number of exciting technological innovations. The International Federation of Robotics reports on the key trends that will shape robotics and automation in 2024.

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The energy industry is the key driver for the industrial transformation towards climate neutrality. The focus here is on the expansion of renewable energies, the decarbonization of heating, the conversion to smart grids, sector coupling with other industries and mobility. The transformation will be driven by artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things. At Hannover Messe 2024, visitors will find out what challenges and opportunities these developments entail.

Microsoft has announced the largest investment in its 40-year history in Germany to accelerate the possibilities and benefits of artificial intelligence (AI) in the country.

Leuze is presenting solutions for greater efficiency in intralogistics at Logimat in Stuttgart. The trade fair package includes the most compact intralogistics positioning system, a safety barcode positioning system and a safety solution for access guarding at AGV transfer stations.

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Endress+Hauser intends to take over the operations of the Swiss supplier Angenstein Estech, including its production plant in Cernay, France, Estech Industries Angenstein, succursale de Cernay. Representatives of both companies have signed a letter of intent to this effect. All jobs at the metalworking company are to be retained.

Thomson Industries has added a high speed option to its range of heavy duty ball screws. With a diameter of 50 mm and an exceptionally high lead of 100 mm, the new ball screw supports high travel speeds in applications requiring a dynamic load capacity of up to 202.4 kN.

Matuschek Messtechnik has completed the LK-601 Power Analyzer with a modular expansion card for evaluating mechanical signals from electric motors and other drive components in higher power classes.

Dr. Daniel Rieser has been Managing Director for Sales and Marketing at Schwäbische Werkzeugmaschinen since October 2023. Rieser focuses on the development of international sales strategies.

Universal Robots (UR), the Danish manufacturer of collaborative robots (cobots), is once again organizing its "Robots on Tour" event series in 2024. At 16 locations in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, interested parties will have the opportunity to find out more about how collaborative robotics works and its areas of application. The tour started on February 1 and ends on October 24.

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The manufacturer of active DC energy management systems and safe braking resistors, Michael Koch, is now part of the ODCA (Open Direct Current Alliance) working group of the ZVEI, which was founded in 2022 as a continuation of the DC-Industrie2 research project.

Although the EU Supply Chain Directive pursues a correct and important goal, it is simply not feasible in practice for European companies. Eight business organizations, including VDMA and ZVEI, are calling for a new draft.

Additive manufacturing has experienced an impressive technological boost: new metallic and non-metallic substrates are expanding the range of possibilities, while new concepts and increased reliability are making it possible to use them in the industrial production chain. Our table gives you an overview of important technology providers.

Zahoransky has sold the production site for injection molds to management as part of the group's future-oriented development. As part of a management buy-out, Monty Tepper, the long-standing managing director and toolmaking expert, is taking over entrepreneurial responsibility.

BASF is divesting its shares in the two joint venture companies in Xinjiang, China. On the one hand, this is for economic reasons, and on the other hand, BASF's investments in China have been criticized for possible human rights violations.