The Czech Republic's competitive advantages are dwindling. In a survey conducted by the German-Czech Chamber of Commerce, companies complain above all about the lack of skilled workers and vocational training, and about the rising wage costs. However, the country is still getting good grades.

Berlin, too, has understood it: Lightweight design opens up new technical possibilities. Undersecretary Werner Loscheider of the Federal Ministry of Economics called it a "gamechanger" at the 9th Landshut Lightweight Construction Colloquium.

The first part of the article series highlights the importance of tool management for EBITDA and shows approaches for a short-term, sustainable and significant improvement in results.

The new member of Daimlers Board of Management Wilko Stark intends to strengthen cooperation with the international supplier network. Above all, however, the Chinese partners have a new special role to play in future goals.

Cladding is increasingly used to coat metal components. The machines use expensive lasers and are similar to machine tools. The sliding door systems for operator protection are equipped with robust, maintenance-friendly linear guides.

Typical casting defects such as shrinkage, porosity or air entrapment are a big challenge to designers of cast products. While downstream corrections can be quite expensive, casting simulation with modern software tools enables designers to visualize and avoid these defects, thus ensuring manufacturing feasibility.

Predictive maintenance is one of the most tangible applications within Industry 4.0. It allows status data to be obtained from machines and proactive maintenance to be carried out on systems. This paper uses a definition and practical examples to explain how predictive maintenance works.

Manufacturers of parts used in the automotive industry can rely on Laserax’s complete laser marking solutions to provide traceability to their customers.

The Weinsheim plant of STIHL Magnesium Die Casting is expanded and new production logistics are added. The new building, with a floor space of 6,300 square meters, is scheduled to celebrate its grand opening in mid-2020.

For electric drive systems, automobile manufacturers need the internal combustion know-how of their suppliers, says Horst Binnig, head of Rheinmetall Automotive. This should have a positive effect on traditional companies.

The increased use of die cast aluminum components in the Porsche 911 Cabriolet enables more efficient production. This not only reduces the weight of the component, but also eliminates the need for relevant production steps.

Typical casting defects such as shrinkage, porosity or air entrapment are a big challenge to designers of cast products. While downstream corrections can be quite expensive, casting simulation with modern software tools enables designers to visualize and avoid these defects, thus ensuring manufacturing feasibility.