Share Experiences, Extend Cooperation

German and American key actors working on the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT)/Industrie 4.0 are using the Hannover Messe to get to know each other better. The goal of the meeting was to discuss opportunities and topics for closer cooperation. Plattform Industrie 4.0 and the German Standardization Council presented their work to their colleagues from across the pond, while the network Manufacturing USA and the Manufacturing Leadership Council took the opportunity to network with German experts and to update them on their own activities. The Industrial Internet Consortium (IIC),which has already been in close partnership with the Plattform Industrie 4.0 for three years, participated alongside the National Institut of Standards and Technology (NIST).

Focus on Standards

Standardization requirements in industrial manufacturing were the focus of a number of workshops and panels RAMI 4.0 IIRA, the reference architectures of Plattform Industrie 4.0 and IIC, as well as the Plattform’s concept of the “administration shell" were discussed in detail. Resulting ideas on common activities will be developed into concrete collaboration in the coming months.

Industrie 4.0 in Germany and IIoT in the USA

In the USA, Industrie 4.0 belongs to the world of corporations. In 2017, the Information Technology Innovation Foundation surveyed US SMEs on Industrie 4.0. The results showed that 77 percent of SMEs have no plans to systematically transform their production processes into digital manufacturing. The rest are moving forward to implement digital processes, albeit reluctantly. This situation looks better in Germany, at least as far as the key industries are concerned. In the electrical engineering and electrical industries, 80 percent of companies are engaging in Industrie 4.0 activities, while 20 percent have implemented real solutions (source: ZVEI). In the machinery and plant engineering sector, 61 percent of companies had already implemented a 4.0 strategy by 2016 (source: VDMA). German companies therefore have great opportunities to offer 4.0 equipment and services in the US market, which happens to be the birthplace of the internet. Hannover Messe USA 2018, which attracted more than 500 exhibitors, is also the first time the trade fair has staged an event overseas. On September 10th to 15th, the fair and the International International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS) presented further Industrie 4.0 solutions at the McCormick Place in Chicago.