IndustriALS

Technological backbone of the European economy

The broad field of industrial goods and production technology forms the backbone of the European economy and, with its high export share, is often the basis for the production of key products such as semiconductors, (basic) chemicals, but also foodstuffs. For example, 30% of global rice production is processed on equipment from a Swiss manufacturer. In modern semiconductor manufacturing with structures smaller than 7 nm, a Dutch company has the world monopoly, there is no modern smartphone without its equipment. But even with supposedly simple industrial goods such as valves for chemical process plants, high technical requirements can lead to a medium-sized German company being the world market leader in this niche.

Identify market opportunities

The market environment is developing as diversely as the segment itself. Players from the Asian region, who have received little attention to date, are increasingly developing into serious competitors, often with equal quality standards. The days when the Asian region was purely a production location are long gone. European companies need to remain quality/technology leaders in their fields and at the same time compensate for disadvantages in personnel costs through constant process automation in order to maintain their position.

But start-ups – although often with low sales – also need to be kept in mind. Especially in the field of batteries, the race/marathon to find the next marketable technology is in full swing.

Supply chain – technology leadership – higher software competence challenge companies

Innovation leadership, efficiency and flexibility (lot-size-one) in production, supply chain security, but also often geographic and technological expansion play a central role in achieving long-term success. In addition, it is necessary for very many companies to massively expand their software competence – both in production and in the product – in order not to lose out. Whereas cars used to be engines in design dress, today they are computers that drive.