Unternehmen & Trends 02/2022

29 Editorial Dear readers, there is no doubt about it, the crisis is here. Regardless of whether we state that we are in an economic recession or not, the facts and figures are clear. Inflation has reached almost ten percent in a very short time, a level that seemed unimaginable a year ago. While the price increases were initially seemingly limited to the energy sector, they are now also clearly noticeable in consumer prices in particular. Rising interest rates are dampening the industrial investment climate, unsettling the capital markets and bringing private construction activity to a virtual standstill. There are also no signs of a timely solution to the Ukraine conflict, which is likely to lead to a continuation of the energy crisis. The further outlook is anything but characterised by deep confidence. For example, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) expects a stagnating global economy and stubborn inflation for 2023. After growth of 3.1 percent this year, the entire Eurozone will grow by a meagre 0.5 percent in 2023. According to the IMF forecast, no other major industrialised country will fare worse than Germany. Only Italy and Germany are forecast to be in recession in 2023, with the German economy expected to shrink by 0.3 per cent. Both the EU and the German government have launched aid programmes to make the impact of the energy crisis in particular more bearable for businesses and households alike. Nevertheless, it is worth taking a look at some key industries and sectors to see how and with what means they are fighting the crisis. The German automotive industry seems to be almost unimpressed by rising energy prices and inflation-induced private spending restraint. Despite chip and parts shortages, increased development costs in view of the transformation to new types of drive and declining sales figures, it shines with excellent earnings figures. In its wake, but without government sales support for non-fossil drives, the supplier industry with its global networks is developing. They and the logistics industry are particularly challenged to modify supply chains and to guarantee the security of supply of production sites. Despite a decline in crude steel production due to the crisis, the German steel industry is maintaining its position in a highly competitive international environment and is relying above all on innovative production processes and the use of alternative energy sources – especially hydrogen. Particular importance is attached today and in the future to German mechanical and plant engineering, which will continue to be the growth engine of the German economy. Of particular relevance will be how and with what intensity companies are able to incorporate insights from AI, digitalisation, globalisation and sustainability into their business processes. Without a doubt, digitalised business models are the competitive factor of the future. But small and medium-sized enterprises in particular are afraid to take the fundamental step of transformation. This year, the SPS Trade Fair for Smart and Digital Automation, which will take place in Nuremberg in November 2022, will once again provide orientation. It will present the latest products and solutions as well as trend-setting technologies of the future for industrial automation. Among other important developments, the digital transformation / Industry 4.0 will be a focal point and thus also provide proof that German companies definitely have the tools to design ways out of the crisis. This issue of Unternehmen & Trends is also published as a purely digital edition and gives our readers the opportunity to obtain significantly more background information via links, interactions and networking to web content and social media than is possible in purely print editions. We would like to thank all authors and advertising customers for their excellent cooperation and we cordially invite you to be a part of the next issue, which is expected to appear in spring 2023, with contributions and advertisements. Your editorial team Dr. Rudolf Müller and Elisabeth Klock www.vek-onlineservice.de Dr. Rudolf Müller Elisabeth Klock

RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjUzMzQ=