The 12th VDMA Mechanical Engineering Summit, held in Bangalore, India, showcased the country’s dynamic manufacturing sector and its close ties with Germany. Distinguished speakers and industry experts highlighted India’s achievements in space policy, green energy, and the importance of digitalization. The event featured discussions on mergers and acquisitions, economic growth, and the impact of evolving technologies. Awards recognized companies for their contributions to sustainability and workplace safety. The summit concluded with a vision of India’s economic growth and a call for positivity and purpose in advancing the nation.
The 12th VDMA Mechanical Engineering Summit, organized by VDMA India, took place at The Taj Yeshwanthpur, Bangalore, on October 13, 2023. The event welcomed over 320 participants from 21 cities across India and Germany, including esteemed government officials, business leaders, and industry experts. The summit commenced with the ceremonial “Lighting of the Lamp” by distinguished Special Guests, including M.B Patil, Minister for Large & Medium Industries and Infrastructure, Government of Karnataka; Achim Burkart, Consul General, Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany, Bangalore; Dr. S. Selvakumar, Principal Secretary, Industry & Commerce and Public Works, Government of Karnataka; and Karl Haeusgen, President of VDMA, alongside Rajesh Nath, Managing Director of VDMA India.
Rajesh Nath, in his welcoming address, highlighted India’s significant achievements in the realm of New Space and the government’s vision to promote private enterprise engagement in space activities. He also stressed India’s aggressive targets for Electric Vehicles (EV) sales penetration and its commitment to zero-emission by 2070. Nath expressed his optimism about India’s continued economic growth and emphasized the strong ties between Bangalore and Germany. He concluded with a quote from legendary footballer Pele, emphasizing that success is the result of hard work, perseverance, sacrifice, and a love for what one does.
Following Nath’s address, M.B. Patil, Minister for Large and Medium Industries, Government of Karnataka, highlighted Karnataka’s pivotal role as an industrial hub and a top state for investment. He emphasized the strong Indo-German relationship and the benefits of the New Industrial Policy, aimed at boosting the state’s industry and strengthening Indo-German trade.
From left to right: Rajesh Nath, Achim Burkart, Dr. S. Selvakumar, M.B Patil, & Karl Haeusgen
The release of the Summit Special issue was a momentous occasion, and it was followed by a special address from Achim Burkart, Consul General of the Federal Republic of Germany, Bangalore. Burkart spoke about the robust Indo-German relations and the significant bilateral trade between the two nations. He emphasized the advantages of India’s current economic scenario and why it attracts German companies as a corporate destination. Burkart reaffirmed VDMA’s role in enhancing German businesses in India and Karnataka.
Dr. S. Selvakumar, Principal Secretary, Government of Karnataka, also gave a special address, focusing on the progress of the manufacturing sector in Karnataka. He highlighted the government’s efforts to improve the business environment with fiscal and policy incentives under the Karnataka Industrial Policy 2020-25. Dr. Selvakumar stressed the strong trade relations between India and Germany and collaboration on various initiatives, such as the partnership in the production of solar panels.
Karl Haeusgen, President of VDMA, spoke on “Geopolitical Impact on the Mechanical Engineering Industry”, shedding light on the evolving global landscape. He discussed various factors at the intersection of geopolitics and mechanical industries, such as EU free trade and the implications of upcoming general elections in the U.S., India, and the EU. Haeusgen also highlighted India’s economic growth and the improved trade relations between India and Germany. He emphasized the opportunities created by diversifying trade, benefiting both countries.
The release of the Knowledge Paper and presentation on “India Moving Forward to achieve 50% Non-fossil Fuel by 2030” followed, which was presented by Rahul Bhandurge, Vice President – Business Development, BDB India Private Limited. He discussed India’s transition in global positioning, global economic trends, and the shift from Internal Combustion Engines to Electric Vehicles. Bhandurge also emphasized the growing Green Hydrogen field and the opportunities it presents.
In Technical Session I, Rahul Oza and Anand Khetan from Roedl & Partner Consulting Private Limited presented on “Ready – Steady – GROW,” discussing India’s economic growth and the potential for Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) in the country. They explored the key drivers and challenges in M&A, focusing on mid-sized companies as a growth opportunity.
Saugata Bhattacharya, Executive Vice President and Chief Economist, AXIS Bank Limited, gave insights into India’s path toward becoming a USD 10 Trillion economy and compared India and China’s economic growth and per capita income. He also highlighted the significance of government spending in the U.S. and Europe and the implications for the Indian economy.
Venkatesh VR from Bosch Global Software Technologies discussed “Reimagining Manufacturing Operations: Digital Technologies Enabling Remote Machine Monitoring and Lights–factory.” He emphasized the importance of Industry 4.0 and its impact on manufacturing, including the benefits of data-driven decision-making and connectivity.
R. Pradeep, Associate Vice President, Guidance, presented on “Manufacturing Eco-system and Investment Potential for Tamil Nadu,” highlighting Tamil Nadu’s strengths as an attractive destination for capital goods manufacturing and its strong ecosystem in engineering and R&D.The second half of the summit included the release of a report on “The future of organizations: How Shopfloors and Offices are changing in India.” Ms. Deepmala Dutta, HR Consultant for Maier + Vidorno, discussed key aspects of the report, such as prioritizing value-added services, sustainable manufacturing, modernizing shop floors, and the importance of specialized skills in data and process optimization.
Technical Session 2, focusing on “Evolving Technologies in the Indian Manufacturing Sector,” featured presentations from top companies like FESTO, SIEMENS, and LAPP. Tapan Upadhyay from FESTO discussed “Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning with Pneumatics Automation.” He highlighted the critical role of artificial intelligence in intelligent automation.
Subramanya from Siemens Technology & Services Private Limited spoke about “Tech Catalysts for Industry 4.0 in India” and how technology advancements have reshaped manufacturing processes within the framework of Industry 4.0. Gary Bateman, Managing Director of LAPP India, discussed “The Importance of Environmental Awareness to Sustainable Manufacturing,” emphasizing the benefits of sustainable manufacturing practices.
The summit concluded with the release of a report on the IPR Landscape by Vikrant Rana, Managing Partner, SS RANA & Co. He emphasized the importance of intellectual property rights and their role in protecting creative efforts and innovation. The event also featured a panel discussion on “Leveraging the 3 Ds (Demography, Demand & Digitalization) for Growth of the Manufacturing Sector” with esteemed panelists from Siemens, SAP Labs India, Daimler India Commercial Vehicles, Continental India, and VDMA Germany.
VDMA’s 6th Manufacturing Excellence Awards recognized companies for their outstanding contributions in areas such as Corporate Social Responsibility, Energy Efficiency and Conservation, and Work conditions and Work Safety. The summit concluded with an enlightening presentation by Mudit Dobhal from IndoSpace, discussing the organization’s role in empowering the manufacturing sector in India. Rajesh Nath expressed his gratitude to all partners, participating companies, and delegates for their contribution to the summit’s success. He encouraged everyone to march forward with positivity, purpose, and passion. The event ended with an inspiring quote from Dr. Harivansh Rai Bachchan, symbolizing
