Event reports
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Joint event on the Pay Transparency Directive
On 5 February 2026, a web-ERFA on the Pay Transparency Directive took place, organized by ProduktionNRW and VDMA Nord. The high level of participation showed the extent to which transparency and equal treatment in remuneration are currently occupying companies.
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Artificial intelligence in mechanical engineering – practical and forward-looking
How AI is advancing mechanical engineering: Specific examples show how intelligent data analysis increases quality, speeds up processes and opens up new efficiency potential.
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QM Corner: Focus on process mining
The QM Corner impressively demonstrated how process mining makes real process data visible – enabling companies to optimize faster and make smarter decisions.
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Dialogue on the future prospects of the NRW mechanical and plant engineering industry
The future now: How AI, climate protection and new work are changing mechanical engineering in NRW – and strengthening competitiveness.
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Follow-up to the Clean Industrial Deal and omnibus exemptionsEuropean policy, sustainability, corporate governance
The EU Commission wants to simplify ESG requirements with the Omnibus Regulation. This update shows the current status and possible relief for companies.
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Simulation as the key to faster product development
How FEM and CFD simulations accelerate development processes, reduce costs and ensure quality – insights from the field.
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New case law, new obligations: Employment law at a glance
The mechanical and plant engineering industry is facing new challenges: Legislative changes, political decisions and recent court rulings are changing the employment law framework and presenting companies with new challenges.
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Focus on research funding
The event highlighted central funding programs at federal level and showed how companies can receive targeted support for innovation projects.
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Lean in practice
The web seminar “Lean in Practice” used a digital tour of ITA’s smart factory to show how lean methods can measurably improve production processes and help to avoid waste in the long term.
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High sickness rate in mechanical and plant engineering
Despite persistently high levels of sick leave in the mechanical and plant engineering sector, the event analyzed current developments and discussed possible courses of action.
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QM-Corner: Product liability in transition
The QM Corner showed how companies can minimize liability risks under the new EU Product Liability Directive and make processes future-proof.
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One year under the EU Battery Regulation – key requirements
Since August 2025, the EU Battery Regulation has brought with it new obligations in the context of extended producer responsibility. The new requirements were highlighted and discussed.
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AI in the company
In the exchange of experiences, the topic of AI in the company was discussed from safe application to strategic implementation.
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QM-Corner: Manage risks and seize opportunities with ISO 9001
The QM Corner showed how companies can become more successful with systematic opportunity and risk management in accordance with ISO 9001.
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Packaging with responsibility: Mechanical engineering faces new EU requirements
The new EU packaging regulation (PPWR) brings with it far-reaching requirements for mechanical and plant engineering.
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Shaping the future: Twin Transformation in mechanical and plant engineering
Twin transformation in mechanical and plant engineering: How digitalization and sustainability together enable new business models and make the industry fit for the future.
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Calculating complex development projects
Arriving at a meaningful overall cost picture at an early stage is a challenge for the company departments involved.
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Short-time work in mechanical and plant engineering: Current information
Short-time work helps companies to avoid layoffs and secure skilled workers – the event focused on the legal framework and the application process.
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Employment law and labor market policy 2025: What companies can expect
Current labor law and political decisions present companies with new challenges – an overview of the most important changes and practical recommendations for implementation.
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QM Corner: Focus on AI and data protection
AI in quality management: exploiting opportunities, recognizing risks – at the QM Corner, experts discussed data protection, security and the responsible use of AI.
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Dealing with challenging trainees
Young people in transition are an often overlooked but potentially valuable target group – also for the mechanical and plant engineering sector.
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EU omnibus proposal on the Green Deal
With the omnibus proposal, the EU Commission plans to simplify ESG regulations, reduce bureaucracy and optimize sustainability reporting – we analyze the latest developments.
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Targeted job advertisements through AI
Job advertisements remain a key element of successful recruitment. Artificial intelligence (AI) can be used to make job advertisements more target group-oriented and effective.
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Innovation in service: From reactive to proactive service
The digitalization of the service business as the basis for future viability in mechanical and plant engineering. “Service Digitalization 4.0 – From reactive to proactive service” – this was the headline of the Web-Erfa “Innovation in Service”, which focused on the digitalization of the service business. In the age of Industry 4.0, service digitalization is… Read More »Innovation in service: From reactive to proactive service
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Frugal innovation in mechanical and plant engineering
Not “cheap”, but precisely high-quality and therefore “inexpensive”. This offers the mechanical and plant engineering industry opportunities not only for new markets, but also for established ones.
