Interview with Dr. Markus Heering, Managing Director of the German Machine Tool Builders’ Association (VDW)
In 2024, the Taiwan Machine Tool & Accessory Builders’ Association (TMBA) collaborated with the German Machine Tool Builders’ Association (VDW) at the Taiwan International Machine Tool Show (TMTS 2024) to present umati, a universal machine technology interface. This marked the debut of umati in Taiwan. We are honored to invite Dr. Markus Heering, Managing Director of VDW, to share insights on the upcoming trends for EMO 2025 and discuss the current state of innovative manufacturing and AI applications in the German machine tool industry.
EMO 2025: Dual Transformation and the Evolution of TMTS 2026
Established in 1975, EMO HANNOVER is the world’s largest machine tool exhibition, leading global innovations in metalworking technology and the maturation of digital applications. Dr. Heering noted that EMO 2025 marks a significant 50th-anniversary milestone. This year’s focus extends beyond metal cutting to center on three core pillars: Automation, Digitalization, and Sustainability. The goal is to address rising costs and skilled labor shortages while achieving a sustainable circular economy.
Interestingly, the theme for TMTS 2026, hosted by TMBA—"AI-Powered Sustainable Manufacturing"—aligns closely with the direction of EMO 2025, serving as a strategic extension of these global exhibition concepts.
The "Magic Triangle" Shaping the Future of the Machine Tool Industry
Dr. Heering describes the relationship between Automation, Digitalization, and Sustainability as a "Magic Triangle." When combined, they form the foundation of advanced manufacturing, enabling smart production while embedding sustainability into the manufacturing process. He emphasized that AI is the natural next step in digital evolution; one cannot discuss digitalization without addressing AI.
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Automation: Creates new business opportunities through "Zero Downtime" operations, reducing labor dependency and helping customers save energy while boosting competitiveness.
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Digitalization: Enables rapid production shifts without constant supervision, making it suitable for high-mix, low-volume production. It enhances manufacturing agility and process scheduling.
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Connectivity: Digitalization is the linchpin of connectivity. For instance, umati facilitates horizontal and vertical communication. All data is managed through a single control system, while underlying equipment achieves seamless connection via OPC UA or other protocols, ensuring smooth data flow, transmission, and analysis.
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Sustainability: By integrating automation and AI to reduce energy consumption, production costs are lowered—a key factor in competitiveness. Furthermore, extending machine life through software upgrades and maintenance, as well as recycling at the end of a machine's lifecycle, has emerged as a new service-oriented business model.
Trends in the German Machine Tool Industry: The Promising Future of AI
The VDW’s core mission is to serve its member companies by providing industrial statistics, monitoring market trends, and actively participating in standardization (such as PCR and ISO) and EU technical regulations, such as the Cyber Resilience Act. As the voice of the German machine tool industry, VDW strengthens domestic networks and fosters global exchange through international cooperation.
Dr. Heering believes AI will not disrupt the industry but rather add significant value. The key lies in identifying viable technologies and implementing them incrementally. He noted:
"Change brings innovation; this is why VDW promotes 'Innovate Manufacturing.' While the future is hard to predict, the industry must focus on the present and move forward steadily."
AI brings innovation but also cybersecurity risks. The EU’s Artificial Intelligence Act (AIA) passed in 2024 provides a framework for safety while setting certain limits. Dr. Heering emphasized that regulations should not stifle technological progress. He anticipates that AI applications in machine tools will follow a "hockey stick" growth curve—progressing slowly at first until a tipping point is reached, followed by a rapid surge in adoption, much like the growth seen with OpenAI over the past year.
Deepening International Cooperation for Global Sustainability
Dr. Heering commended TMBA for its work on the Product Category Rules (PCR) for machining centers completed in 2024. He affirmed that active collaboration between associations facilitates the positive transformation of the global machine tool industry.
Sharing VDW’s perspective, he noted that a machine tool can consist of up to 10,000 components, making individual carbon emission calculations for every part extremely complex. Consequently, VDW’s PCR focuses on additive manufacturing equipment as the primary subject, targeting key components that account for 80% of the carbon footprint and applying correction factors for the rest. This streamlined approach aims for a single, simplified set of PCR standards applicable to all machinery, maintaining flexibility while ensuring accuracy.
