NEWS

VDMA: Mechanical engineering achieves production record of EUR 199 billion in 2014 ● Mechanical engineering companies anticipate growth of 2% in 2015

VDMA President Dr Reinhold Festge (Image: VDMA/Christan Rösler Photography)
VDMA December 2014 – German machinery and plant manufacturers are confirming the production forecast of 1% for 2014 that they first issued in the summer. “In the first ten months of the year, production of machinery and plants in Germany was up 1.0% year-on-year in real terms. We are therefore very optimistic that we will achieve our forecast,” explained VDMA President Dr Reinhold Festge at the Association’s annual press conference in Frankfurt on Thursday. “All in all, sales of EUR 212 billion and production totalling EUR 199 billion in 2014 mean we exceeded the previous records for both of these figures from 2008 (sales of EUR 208 billion and production of EUR 196 billion),” said Festge.

Employment exceeds the one million mark
“Our employees are the clear winners from this strong overall performance,” emphasised the VDMA President. However, I also see this growth in employment as an important investment in the future.” The number of employees hit the one million mark again in May for the first time since 1993. In October, a total of 1,011,000 people were working in the mechanical engineering industry. That is 1.7% or 16,000 people more than in the same month last year. As reasons for the increase – in light of the moderate production growth – Festge cited primarily the huge challenges (Industry 4.0, pension age of 63, demographic change) that the mechanical engineering industry can surmount only with qualified staff.

Daimler’s Commercial Vehicle Subsidiary Mitsubishi Fuso and Nissan Expand Cooperation ● Contract for Nissan Vans Supply for Export by Mitsubishi Fuso Signed ● FUSO “Canter Van” expands product line-up in the Middle East starting in 2014

Daimler’s Commercial Vehicle Subsidiary Mitsubishi Fuso and Nissan Expand Cooperation: Daimler´s Japanese commercial vehicle subsidiary Fuso introduces the Fuso Canter Van, the latest cooperation product from the collaboration between Daimler and Renault-Nissan (Image: Daimler).

Stuttgart/Kawasaki – Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation (MFTBC), Daimler’s Japanese commercial vehicle subsidiary, and Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. (Nissan) expand their cooperation. The two companies today announced they have signed a contract for supply of completely built up Nissan commercial vans sold under the FUSO brand in export markets.

Dr. Wolfgang Bernhard, Member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG responsible for Daimler Trucks & Buses, said: “The new FUSO Canter Van is an important element for the growth strategy of Daimler Trucks in Asia. It is also another example of our proven cooperation with Nissan in the commercial vehicles sector."

Volkswagen Group starts second half year with rise in deliveries ● 5.78 million vehicles handed over from January to July / +6.0 percent*● Group Board Member for Sales Christian Klingler: "Pleasing start to second half of year. ..."

Made perfect – the journey of the Macan (Image: Porsche)

Wolfsburg, 26. August 2014 - The Volkswagen Group delivered 5.78 (January-July 2013: 5.45; +6.0 percent)* million vehicles from January to July. The company handed over 808,500 (July 2013: 757,500; +6.7 percent)* vehicles to customers in the month of July. "The Volkswagen Group and its brands have made a pleasing start to the second half of the year", Group Board Member for Sales Christian Klingler said in Wolfsburg on Friday, and added: "Nevertheless, uncertainty continues to overshadow economic conditions in the global automotive sector."

Group brands delivered a total of 2.32 (2.16; +7.2 percent) million vehicles on the overall European market in the first seven months of the year, of which 1.21 (1.12; +8.4 percent) million were delivered in Western Europe (excluding Germany). 724,300 (678,900; +6.7 percent) customers in the home market of Germany chose a new car from the Volkswagen Group, while the company delivered 383,300 (365,500; +4.9 percent) vehicles in Central and Eastern Europe. 157,400 (175,000; -10.1 percent) models were handed over to customers in Russia.

ContiTech Opens Research and Development Center in China • Closer proximity to Asian automotive customers  €8-million investment  Development of vehicle engine mounts for the global platform of the Qoros 3, the Chinese compact sedan

On March 6, ContiTech opened a new research and development Center in China. The Changshu center will develop innovative products for vehicle mounting and vibration control technology. (Photo: ContiTech)

Changshu/Hanover, March 6, 2013. It represents a strategic milestone. On March 6, ContiTech opened a new research and development Center in China. The Changshu center will develop innovative products for vehicle mounting and vibration control technology – in close collaboration with customers such as Geely, Great Wall Motor Company, General Motors, Shanghai Volkswagen and Qoros. ContiTech has invested about €8 million in the R&D center, which will employ 30 engineers by the end of this year.

KION Group and Konecranes collaborate in the container handling truck business

Reach Stackers from Linde Material Handling ensure speedy goods handling at Baltic harbours (Image: Linde Material Handling)

Wiesbaden / Helsinki / Aschaffenburg, 18 February 2013 - The KION Group, one of the two leading global manufacturers of industrial trucks, and Konecranes, a world-leading group of Lifting Businesses(TM) today announced that Konecranes has agreed to buy certain assets of the container handling truck business of Linde Material Handling, which is wholly owned by KION Group. The two groups have also signed a long-term supply agreement and will collaborate to further increase the global competitiveness of their respective container handling truck activities. The value of the assets purchased is not disclosed. The transaction is expected to close during the 2nd quarter of 2013.

Both companies will keep reach stackers, empty container handlers and laden container handlers in their offering but after a period of time all manufacturing will take place in Konecranes factories. The assets acquired by Konecranes from Linde Material Handling include the respective product rights. In addition, Konecranes will get access to Linde Material Handling's distribution network. The collaboration improves economies of scale in R&D and manufacturing while enabling both companies to continue to offer container handling trucks to their distribution channels.

"We are happy to work together with Konecranes. This global collaboration with one of the leaders in this segment will significantly improve our container handling offerings to the customers of the Linde brand," said Theodor Maurer, member of the Executive Board of KION Group and CEO of Linde Material Handling. "We will maintain the highest standards in quality, delivery, performance and value - all standards to which our customers are accustomed."

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