German mechanical engineers in need: offensive against China's competition!

German mechanical engineers in need: offensive against China's competition!

Deutschland - German mechanical engineering sees itself in an increasingly difficult location. In recent years, a passive attitude towards the competition from China has been taken, while the market size of China has been weighted higher than the unequal competitive conditions. According to FAZ , the German companies had to face up to higher market start-ups and an aggressive Price policy of Chinese competitors, but these problems were accepted for a long time.

In response to the growing threat from China, the industry has now developed a position paper and a new strategy that provides for a more offensive approach. However, this change brings with it: the previous regulatory attitude is contrasting to the now discussed possibility of protective tariffs and export bans. Medium -sized companies with 100 to 200 employees are particularly affected by this Situation, since they are particularly susceptible to Chinese competition who enjoy the advantages on the European market that are denied German manufacturers in China.

product piracy and their effects

Another critical aspect with which mechanical engineering is fighting is the product piracy. According to a study by the VDMA, to which Industrialanzeiger have proven progress in the fight against product piracy. The annual damage amount dropped from over 7 billion euros from 2010 to 2020 to 6.4 billion euros. Nevertheless, 72 percent of the companies surveyed still state to be affected, with 87 percent of the counterfeits come from China - an alarming sign for the industry.

The study also illustrates that 41 percent of companies report plagiarism that represent security risks and see 57 percent dangers for the safe operation of their facilities. The majority of the counterfeits aimed at individual parts and designs, which has serious consequences for the quality and safety of the products.

The role of large and small companies

A striking difference is also evident in dealing with these challenges. While more than half of the large companies take civil law steps against plagiarism, only 14 percent of small and medium -sized companies do so. Over half of the cases lead to extrajudicial measures, which underlines the need to consider alternative procedures, as recommended by the VDMA. Above all, this includes legal writing and personal conversations.

The call for help from the machine builders shows that many companies can no longer cope with this crisis alone. The need for support and a realistic self -assessment is noticeable in the industry. In view of the aggressive market development in China and the associated risks, the need for restructuring and a sharper competitive strategy is essential.

Further information on the topic can be found in the comprehensive report of the IKB