Voices
Contributors share their personal viewpoints on global trade, industry policy and corporate challenges.
Brazil’s Opportunity to Global Leadership in AI-Driven Energy Transition
Marco Stefanini, founder and Global CEO of the Stefanini Group, advocates for a new form of industrial partnership with Brazil.
Joachim Ladra: “All the pieces of the hydrogen puzzle are on the table”
Hydrogen technology requires a well-organized industrial ecosystem, according to Joachim Ladra of cellcentric.
DIHK: India and Mercosur – a ray of hope
Shortly before HANNOVER MESSE, the DIHK published the latest results of a survey of 2,400 internationally active German companies. The firms report a record number of trade barriers. The U.S. is perceived as a “brake,” However, India and Mercosur are brightening the mood
Marco Siebert: “Bringing people and companies together, is what drives me personally”
Marco Siebert, who has been coordinating the partner countries for HANNOVER MESSE for many years, about the strategy, perseverance, and passion required for international trade fairs.
APEX: “A simple message: Brazil is ready, Brazil will deliver”
Márcia Nejaim and Alex Figueiredo of APEX outline what visitors can expect from what is likely to be Brazil’s most significant industrial showcase abroad to date.
“Brazil brings innovation energy to Germany”
Carolina de Rezende Vaz da Costa: What Brazilian startups and talent can expect in Germany—and what they can bring to collaborative partnerships.
Johannes Kärcher: “Brazil forces you to see things differently”
Kärcher and Brazil – Internationalisation as result of entrepreneurial spirit: Interview with Johannes Kärcher, shareholder of Alfred Kärcher SE & Co. KG and Honorary Consul of Brazil in Baden-Württemberg. The company operates 170 subsidiaries in 87 countries and employs around 17,000 people worldwide. Johannes Kärcher lived in Brazil for a total of 20 years.
Sabine Scheunert: “Europe’s Industry Needs New Wings”
A conversation on technology acceptance and industrial competitiveness: Sabine Scheunert, President Central Europe at Dassault Systèmes
Michael Schumann: “Climate protection and innovation make cooperation with China indispensable”
Michael Schumann, Chairman of the Federal Association for Economic Development and Foreign Trade (BWA), argues that German companies should not disengage from China’s technological development.
Prof. Dudenhöffer: “Everything is happening at a breathtaking speed”
Prof. Ferdinand Dudenhöffer talks about the competition with China, the current opportunities for the German automotive industry – and his personal motivation to give the industry fresh impetus.
Wei Duan: “Gotion relies on strong partnerships”
Wei DUAN is EMEA Vice President at Gotion High-Tech. The Chinese battery cell manufacturer and Volkswagen partner is transforming itself into a global player and, after investing in the Göttingen plant, is now planning to set up two battery cell factories in Morocco and Slovakia.
Stan Zurkiewicz: “Our journey of internationalisation continues to gain momentum”
DEKRA is tackling sustainability and technical safety – not only for automobiles – as a global task. CEO Stan Zurkiewicz talks about the future of the testing group, which celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2025.
Dr Volker Treier: “Internationalisation makes German industry resilient”
Dr Volker Treier, German Chamber of Industry and Commerce’s (DIHK) head of the foreign trade department and member of the management board, on the German export diversity and the views on China.
Thekla Walker: Roadmap for a sustainable H2 infrastructure
Thekla Walter (MdL), Baden-Württemberg’s Minister for Environment, Climate and Energy, on the role of the hydrogen economy for a climate-neutral and resilient energy supply
Ulf Groos: “Research at the heart of the fuel cell”
Ulf Groos from Fraunhofer ISE on the role of applied research in bringing fuel cells to industrial scale.
Fabian Kapp: “Valuable know-how in H2 manufacturing technology”
Graebener positions itself as a highly specialized and service-oriented partner for production machines and lines of bipolar plates.
Franz Loogen: “Potential for a leading position in the hydrogen economy”
Talking about the role of the hydrogen economy for the Baden-Württemberg: Franz Loogen, the managing director of e-mobil BW GmbH. The wholly owned subsidiary of the state of Baden-Württemberg deals with innovations and new technologies for mobility and automotive.
Joachim Ladra: “Prepared for the fuel cell ramp-up”
The joint venture between Daimler Truck and Volvo Group is positioning itself as a supplier of fuel cell technology – globally and beyond mobility.
Achim Dercks: “We need to become faster and more digital here”
Achim Dercks, Deputy Managing Director of the DIHK on the opportunities for international specialists in Germany
Julia Braune: “Changes have made it easier to promote Germany”
Julia Braune –Chairwoman and CEO of the German government’s international economic promotion agency, Germany Trade & Invest (GTAI) on the diversification.
Ulf Schneider: New Tigers in Central Asia and the South Caucasus
Expert Ulf Schneider on current developments and prospects for German companies in Central Asia.
Innovation as a joint effort
CIIPA-Germany Director Xiao Yun on the opportunities of Chinese-German cooperation in the smart manufacturing industry
Rudolf Scharping: “Differences must not lead to confrontation”
Deutschland und China können einen Beitrag leisten, dass man Gefahren mindert, Risiken beherrscht und Herausforderungen meistert
Hannah Louise Brown: “Automation in the Greenhouse”
We want to continue to grow internationally as a team and bring together very different experiences and backgrounds.
Wolfgang Rosskopf “Good training and practical know-how take time”
Craft enterprises should seek advice on doing business abroad and train urgently needed skilled workers in Germany.
Dr. Stefan Wolf ” Our globalization cannot simply be reversed”
Decoupling from China is unrealistic. It would lead to a global economic crisis on a scale we haven’t witnessed before.
Christian O. Erbe: ” The added value is the ticket to the future “
Erbe Elektromedizin GmbH relies on intensive exchange with researchers, physicians and patients – worldwide.
Frank Stührenberg: “The view of globalization has been shaken”
Frank Stührenberg, Managing Director of Phoenix Contact, about globalization, decoupling strategies and new opportunities in this situation.
Thomas Brugger: “Reliability matters more to customers.”
Rare earths are a strategic element for China’s economy. It’s important for the rest of the world break this quasi-monopol.
Jürgen Widmann: “The right time for industrial production is now”
There is still enormous productivity potential in Europe that can be tapped more quickly with the help of digitization
Andreas Wahsner: “Market entry is not successful without networks”.
Competence and partnerships on site have enabled the Salach-based company Metallart to enter the foreign business.
Mirko Ross: “Cybersecurity is a global task”
Stuttgart-based asvin GmbH is working on the prevention and detection of possible attacksof globally active companies.
Dr. Gunther Kegel: “Innovation needs a growing economy”
There are reasons that we manufacture in many countries! We in Germany has become too expensive to produce competitively.
Volker Treier: Let’s create the industry of tomorrow – together!
The consequences of the Russian war and the renewed production and logistics disruptions in China are shaking up global trade.
Luís Castro Henriques: “Portugal is an important partner”
Luís Castro Henriques, Chairman & CEO AICEP – Portuguese Trade and Investment Agency, about the opportunities of the Portuguese presentation at the HANNOVER MESSE 2022.
Frank Xu: “Measures to lower the barriers for investment”
Frank Xu, director of CiiPa, on the benefits of German-sino cluster cooperation in challenging times.
Domenico Iacovelli: “Local agility is essential for survival”.
Domenico Iacovelli, CEO of the Schuler Group, on internationalization, growth and division of labor even in times of pandemic and war.
Dominic Kurtaz: “Ecosystems mean knowledge exchange”
Dominic Kurtaz, Managing Director EuroCentral of Dassault Systèmes, on the role of digital knowledge platforms.
Oliver Hermes: “Impoverishment of the population is not aim of the sanctions policy”
Statement by Oliver Hermes, Chairman of the Committee on Eastern Europe, on the Russian business of German companies.
Rolant Bent: “Clearing the head of old ways of thinking”.
In demand in times of Corona: Roland Bent, CTO of PHOENIX CONTACT GmbH & Co. KG, talks about the corporate vision of sustainability
Dr. Eberhard Veit: “There is a real new spirit of optimism”
We asked Dr. Eberhard Veit, a member of the supervisory boards of numerous German manufacturers about the situation of industrial companies after Corona.
Dr. Gunther Kegel: “We need a positive idea of the future”
Dr. Gunther Kegel, CEO of Pepperl+Fuchs AG and newly elected President of ZVEI on the effects of Corona, new industrial perspectives and the future of globalization.
Bernd Reitmeier: “New dimension of flexibility and organizational skills”
Bernd Reitmeier talks about China’s industry during and after Corona
Prof. László Palkovics: “We want to be a hub for innovation”
Hungary is positioning itself for the automotive future. Prof. László Palkovics in an interview about the role the country intends to play in international automobile production in the future.
Dieter Kempf: “Protectionism harms everyone”
For Professor Dieter Kempf, the president of the Federation of German Industry (BDI), the critics of the German trade surplus overlook that Germany, as an "import European champion", gives vital impulses for growth to the industries of the EU. There is criticism of...
Peter Köhler: “Think globally and network to coordinate projects worldwide”
The networking of industrial production - this was the task the Weidmüller Group set itself long before Industry 4.0 became the global keyword for it. The CEO Dr. Ing. Peter Köhler explained in 2016 how the company from Detmold is positioning itself on the world...
Ulrich Dietz: “Constantly new challenges are part of everyday life”
Ulrich Dietz is always good for surprises. He has given up the operative leadership of the IT service provider GFT, which he developed into a global player, in order to concentrate more strongly on his startup platform code_n. In the late summer of 2016 we talked to...
Eric Reuting: “Electromobility and digitalisation are changing the automotive industry sustainably”
At the edubiz 2016 conference, Eric Reuting, Chief Human Resources Officer of Volkswagen Slovakia, gave insights into the personnel strategies of the automotive group, for which dual training plays a central role. How do you see the employment situation of the...
Prof. Juray Sinay: “Further education requires cooperation between universities and companies”
Prof. Juraj Sinay is the President of the Slovak Automobile Association ZAPSR. During his many years working as a professor at the Technical University in Kosice and as an honorary doctorate at Wuppertal University, Juraj Sinay made a strong commitment to the...
Rolf Leiber: “I want to have a sparkling clean production here”
Do you know Emmingen from Egg? Have you been to Ruda Slaska? There you could - if you Dr. Visit Rolf Leiber to get a personal impression of how Germany's industrial middle-sized sector works. And how it comes to sustainable production abroad - in this case in Poland....
Olaf Koch: “Digital B2B – that requires warmth and passion”
Digitalising the restaurant and hotel industry via an accessible platform: For METRO CEO Olaf Koch, who himself started out as a digital founder, this is the key to a new partnership with the retail giant's customers: millions of small businesses worldwide. Mr. Koch,...
Eberhard Veit: “China is really upping the pace in Industry 4.0”
Dr. Eberhard Veit recommends companies to push ahead with digitization and focus on growth markets.
Roland Bent: “Sharing knowledge is the new basis everywhere.”
Roland Bent, Chief Technology Officer at Phoenix Contact, talks about the prospects for Industry 4.0 in China.
Mark Rutte: “Building bridges for international cooperations”
Mark Rutte, Prime Minister of the Netherlands: sharing knowledge and expertise to connect the international manufacturing industry
Volker Treier: “Where you find people, you find markets too”
Before HANNOVER MESSE 2018: Dr. Volker Treier from the DIHK talks about the prospects for German exports.
Gunther Kegel: “Global manufacturing networks require free markets”
Dr. Gunther Kegel, CEO of Pepperl+Fuchs, on the subject of current challenges and the role that Asia plays Does a global manufacturing network eliminate any exposure to regional market developments? Our turnover split – 25 percent each in Germany, Europe, the USA and...
Stefan Franzke: “Bringing value into the German market”
Dr. Stefan Franzke, CEO of Berlin Partner for Business and Technology, on the importance of startups for the German economy When you found a startup, it is very important not to be alone so you can reach a diverse environment. Berlin can provide the access to all the...
Friedhelm Loh: “We will face new challenges”
Friedhelm Loh, owner and CEO of Rittal, on HANNOVER MESSE as the launch pad of global success and future challenges Digitisation belongs just as much as development in a targeted programme of research funding – Friedhelm Loh Dr. Loh, how many Hanover Fairs have you...
Per Thöresson: “On the nature of industrial cooperation”
Ambassador Per Thöresson: “Co-Lab” means Partner Country Sweden’s social culture of innovation Our motto Co-Lab is a combination of the terms cooperation (Co) and innovation (Lab) and thus the two most important success factors of Swedish entrepreneurship – Per...
Nicole Hoffmeister-Kraut: “Europe has to become faster and more effective”
Dr. Nicole Hoffmeister-Kraut, on industrial partnership and competition with China