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How can the mechanical engineering industry in North Rhine-Westphalia remain competitive? The 2026 General Meeting of VDMA NRW provided new perspectives, clear momentum, and a newly elected board—for an industry on the rise.
Under the motto “Mechanical Engineering in NRW – A New Beginning and Expanding the Scope of Action,” the member companies of the VDMA North Rhine-Westphalia gathered on October 7, 2026, at the Maritim Hotel Düsseldorf for the Annual General Meeting and an industry gathering. The focus was on the election of the new Executive Board and the question of how North Rhine-Westphalia’s mechanical and plant engineering sector can secure its competitiveness in a challenging economic and industrial policy environment and tap into new opportunities.
Dr. Timo Berger, Chief Technology Officer of the Weidmüller Group, and VDMA Vice President Verena Thies opened the event. Under the heading “Mechanical Engineering in North Rhine-Westphalia—Strong Together!”, the Executive Board and management looked back on the regional association’s work during the previous term. The annual report highlighted the broad range of topics addressed by VDMA NRW: from advocating for economic policy interests, markets, and the business cycle, to digitalization, Industry 4.0, and innovation, all the way to sustainability, securing a skilled workforce, standards, and new business models.
Prof. Dr. Thomas Bergs, director of the Manufacturing Technology Institute at RWTH Aachen University and a member of the executive board of the Fraunhofer Institute for Production Technology IPT, offered a technological outlook for the future. In his keynote address, “Production 2030—A Future Perspective on Manufacturing Technology,” he focused on the future development of industrial production. Mona Neubaur, Minister for Economic Affairs, Industry, Climate Protection, and Energy, as well as Deputy Minister-President of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, then provided insights into economic and industrial policy.
The panel discussion “Transformation or Loss of Competitiveness? Future Prospects for Mechanical Engineering in North Rhine-Westphalia” highlighted just how urgently new perspectives are needed for the region. Dr. Timo Berger, Prof. Dr. Thomas Bergs, Mona Neubaur, and Verena Thies discussed necessary changes, the future viability of small and medium-sized enterprises, and the framework conditions for a successful industrial transformation in North Rhine-Westphalia. The audience was able to contribute their own key points and thus participate directly in the discussion.
The general meeting also focused on the scheduled election of the Executive Board. The members elected 15 representatives from companies in the North Rhine-Westphalian mechanical and plant engineering sector to the board. In the subsequent constituent meeting, Dr. Timo Berger was re-elected as chairman of VDMA NRW. The election of the two vice chairs will take place at the next regular Executive Board meeting.
The newly elected Executive Board of VDMA NRW
- Dr. Karl-Peter Becker, Arnz FLOTT GmbH Machine Tools
- Dr. Timo Berger (Chair), Weidmüller-Holding AG & Co. KG
- Naemi Denz, Sutco RecyclingTechnik GmbH
- Dr. Fabian Festge, HAVER & BOECKER OHG
- Charlotte Finger, Maschinenfabrik Mönninghoff GmbH & Co. KG
- Jens Fuhrmann, GSR Ventiltechnik GmbH & Co. KG
- Michael Hess, Carl KRAFFT & Söhne GmbH & Co. KG
- Christian Köbke, Claas Self-Propelled Harvesters GmbH
- Nicola Lemken, LEMKEN GmbH & Co. KG
- Benjamin Reiners, Reiners Fürst GmbH & Co. KG
- Martin Sieringhaus, G. Siempelkamp GmbH & Co. KG
- Dr. Björn Six, BOGE KOMPRESSOREN Otto Boge GmbH & Co. KG
- Hans-Dieter Tenhaef, MIT – Modern Industrial Technology GmbH & Co. KG
- Matthias Urban, VOSS Fluid GmbH
- Dr. Stephan Witt, Trützschler Group SE
All 15 candidates were elected.
“The mechanical and plant engineering sector in North Rhine-Westphalia faces major challenges, but also significant opportunities. Together, we will help shape the framework conditions for our industry and strengthen our sector’s voice in the face of politics, business, and society,” said Dr. Timo Berger following his election. The newly elected Executive Board will actively address key issues such as competitiveness, transformation, securing a skilled workforce, digitalization, cybersecurity, and sustainable production, while seeking close collaboration with policymakers, the business community, academia, and other partner organizations.
In the afternoon, the theme of expanded scope for action took shape in three parallel sessions. The session “New Markets – We’re Broadening Horizons,” featuring Dr. Johannes Gernandt from the VDMA and Nicolas van Kevelaer from Weidmüller, was moderated by Dr. Björn Six of BOGE KOMPRESSOREN. In “New Technologies – We Shape the Change,” Anna Küster from the VDMA and Kai Schmitz from igus participated in a discussion moderated by Dr. Fabian Festge of HAVER & BOECKER. The session “New Business Models & Collaborative Ecosystems – We Create Value Through Networking” was led by Dr. Sebastian Beck from CLAAS and Max Stein from the VDMA; Hans-Dieter Tenhaef from MIT served as moderator.
The supporting program offered ample opportunity for networking and professional exchange. Participants took advantage of networking opportunities right from the start, as well as during breaks and at the closing reception. An accompanying exhibition featuring companies, networks, funding institutions, and VDMA offerings showcased practical solutions and support services, including topics such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, resource efficiency, skills development, internationalization, and new cooperation models.
In this way, the General Assembly combined the association’s policy direction with technological and economic policy impulses as well as concrete approaches for business practice. The intensive exchange during the plenary sessions, workshops, and exhibition underscored that new opportunities for action arise where companies, research institutions, policymakers, and the association’s network share knowledge, strengthen collaborations, and shape change together.
VDMA NRW serves as the point of contact for more than 800 member companies in the mechanical and plant engineering sector in the state. It represents their interests at the state level, connects companies and partners, and supports the industry with information, advice, and practical event formats.