I
n 2005, the German Power Transmission Engineering
sector (excluding drive systems for cars and commercial vehicles) had
a workforce of 76,000 and generated a turnover of EUR 11.6 billion (up
10 per cent compared to 2004), making it one of the biggest suppliers
in the German mechanical and plant engineering industry on the whole.
In the same year, the turnover of the German Fluid Power engineering
sector exceeded the EUR 5 billion mark for the first time, an increase
of a good eight per cent over the 2004 figures. Hydraulics accounted
for EUR 3.5 billion (+11.2 per cent) of the total, Pneumatics for the
remaining EUR 1.53 billion (+2.6 per cent). The German fluid power industry
has a workforce of around 27,000. These figures once again confirm Germany’s
solid status as the world’s leading supplier in this sector. In
2005, export volume rose to EUR 8.3 billion in the Power Transmission
Engineering sector and EUR 1.9 billion in the Fluid Power sector. The
exports to sales ratio also remained at a high level: (2004: 71 per
cent) and around 51 per cent for fluid power systems (2004: approx 50
per cent).
These figures clearly document the continuing
international technological competitiveness of both industries. Around
two-thirds of the industry’s output is exported directly.Most of
the remaining third, which is sold in Germany, is purchased by the mechanical
engineering industry, which also exports around two-thirds of its production.
Thus, the real domestic consumption
is only around 10 per cent. In addition to this, around 38 per cent
of the power transmission engineering and fluid power firms also have
production facilities abroad among other things so that they can serve
local demands. German power transmission engineering and fluid power
manufacturers are the world leaders and they make a very valuable contribution
to the competitiveness of their customers.
Business prospects: Grounds for optimism
Since performance is already so high, moderate growth of two per cent
is expected for the power transmission engineering in 2006–07.
The fluid power engineering sector is expected to continue its growth
with a rate of at least three per cent.Mechanical engineering, the main
customer industry of both sectors also expects to achieve growth of
three per cent in 2006–07. As in the past, innovative high-performance
products are going to guarantee German manufacturers in both these sectors
a leading position on the markets of the world.
Trends in power transmission engineering
and fluid power As in the past, the industry’s engineers are continuing
to work on delivering more and more performance in ever-smaller packages.
Other current trends include mechatronics, condition monitoring, e-procurement
and new services.Modern manufacturing methods and technologies, new
materials and electronics are all being used to further enhance existing
products and develop new applications. The key strengths of German firms
here include their great innovativeness, their integrated interdisciplinary
approach and new solutions making use of advanced mechatronics technologies.
Companies in the industry are continuing
to streamline and optimise their business processes with new electronic
tools like e-procurement, which makes information available to customers
quickly and directly. The usefulness of these systems is clearly reflected
in the growing popularity of companies’ electronic product catalogues
and Internet portals like www.VDMA-e-market.com.
Germany’s power transmission engineering
and fluid power companies have now responded to this growing demand
with additional websites within the German/English e-market
....CONTD
