Component bottlenecks
The high order intake is burdened by component availability bottlenecks. In plant engineering, for example, electronic components for machine controls are in short supply. Also affected are seals, for example for paint application equipment. In order to maintain the ability to deliver, stock levels have been increased. There are also bottlenecks on the customer side, for example in the completion of construction projects. Delays in completion and thus project postponements are a result.
The challenge for machine and plant manufacturers is to meet high demand in a market with considerably increasing prices, material shortages and high logistics costs.
Interoperability in surface technology
With Industry 4.0 and digitisation, mechanical and plant engineering primarily associates networked production with a high level of automation. This requires interoperability between machines, components and systems – means the ability to work together as seamlessly as possible – as well as the provision of all relevant data.
OPC UA technology is used as the universal interface in mechanical and plant engineering. In cooperation with the OPC Foundation, VDMA is developing the global production language through interface standardisation. In VDMA, around 600 companies in more than 35 working groups are developing these interface standards, so-called OPC UA Companion Specifications.
Together with the OPC Foundation, VDMA Surface Technology is organising the development of OPC UA interface standards for surface technology. Various project groups are working on common interface definitions for paint application technology, shot blasting technology and plasma surface technology. A further project group for cleaning and pre-treatment technology is in preparation.
The Air Handling Technology Association comprises the departments Air Conditioning and Ventilation Technology (Process air as well as Ventilation and air conditioning), Refrigeration and Heat Pump Technology, Air Pollution Control (Process air), Surface Technology and Drying Technology.
The VDMA represents more than 3,400 German and European companies of the mechanical engineering industry. The industry stands for innovation, export orientation and medium-sized businesses. The companies employ around four million people in Europe, more than one million of them in Germany. Mechanical and plant engineering represents a European turnover volume of around 800 billion euros. With a net value added of around 270 billion euros, it contributes the highest share of the entire manufacturing sector to the European gross domestic product.
VDMA, Verband Deutscher Maschinen- und Anlagenbau e.V.
Lyoner Str. 18
60528 Frankfurt
Telefon: +49 (69) 6603-0
Telefax: +49 (69) 6603-1511
http://www.vdma.org/
VDMA Surface Technology
Telefon: +49 (69) 6603-1290
E-Mail: martin.riester@vdma.org
Telefon: +49 (69) 660312-88
Fax: +49 (69) 660322-88
E-Mail: astrid.thieme-medinger@vdma.org
