

Rainer Brehm, who previously served as COO of the automation business and CTO of Digital Industries, was appointed president of the new unit.

The largest manufacturing trade show in the Western Hemisphere is bringing together 1,788 exhibitors this year, including about 400 companies participating for the first time.

About 500 exhibiting companies—about two-thirds of which are from abroad and about 30 percent of which are first-time exhibitors—are showcasing their products at the trade show.

The association has issued a statement in response to the recent attempted attacks on substations in Brandenburg and North Rhine-Westphalia and warns of the consequences for Germany's energy security.

According to the VDMA Machine Vision department, sales are expected to increase by around 3%, following a decline of 2% in 2025.