On November 2, 2026, the VDMA, Germany's mechanical engineering federation, published four position papers
The VDMA publishes four position papers on industrial AI, collective bargaining, international markets and the EU-Canada partnership.
On November 2, 2026, the VDMA, Germany's mechanical engineering federation, published four position papers. The first presents mechanical engineering as essential to industrializing artificial intelligence at scale, with a direct impact on manufacturing and Industry 4.0. It calls for a robust European AI ecosystem and international partnerships, notably with Canada.
The second addresses the demands of IG Metall, the German metalworkers' union, deemed disconnected from the economic realities of the mechanical engineering sector, which faces high operating costs. Collective bargaining must, according to the text, preserve investment capacity and job security.
The third, dated October 30, 2026, analyzes international mechanical engineering markets: India remains in the lead, the United States improves markedly, while Brazil remains under pressure. These sales developments are presented as important for the German machinery industry.
The fourth, dated October 29, 2026, calls on the European Union to concretely strengthen its partnership with Canada, notably through associate membership, rather than blocking prospective proposals. This is a trade policy issue in the European industrial context.
This analysis was produced with the assistance of artificial intelligence, from institutional sources and verifiable open data. AI Transparency