{"id":102795,"date":"2025-06-02T12:25:36","date_gmt":"2025-06-02T10:25:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/packaging-journal.de\/?p=102795"},"modified":"2025-06-02T12:15:54","modified_gmt":"2025-06-02T10:15:54","slug":"vdma-forecast-for-the-robotics-and-automation-industry-expects-a-decline-in-sales","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/packaging-journal.de\/en\/vdma-prognose-robotik-und-automationsbranche-erwartet-umsatzrueckgang\/","title":{"rendered":"VDMA forecast: robotics and automation industry expects decline in sales"},"content":{"rendered":"

The German robotics and automation industry is facing a significant decline in sales in 2025. A reluctance to invest and international competitive pressure are hitting the industry hard - with consequences for automation solutions in packaging machine construction.<\/b><\/b><\/p>\n

Expectations in the German robotics and automation industry have clouded over: VDMA Robotics + Automation is forecasting a ten per cent drop in sales to 14.5 billion euros for the current year. Automated solutions are particularly hard hit with an expected drop of 15 per cent. .<\/p>\n

These figures are also a warning signal for the packaging machinery industry, traditionally a pioneer in the use of robotics and automation. Highly automated packaging lines in particular - from the primary and secondary packaging process through to palletising - are increasingly based on flexible robotic solutions, intelligent sensor systems and data-based optimisation.<\/p>

\"\"<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n

Reluctance to invest slows down innovation cycles<\/b><\/h2>\n

\u201eThe weak sales forecast at the start of the year has been confirmed,\u201c explains Dr Dietmar Ley, Chairman of VDMA Robotics + Automation. The association cites postponed investment decisions due to geopolitical uncertainties and increasing pressure from Asian competitors as the reasons for this. .<\/p>\n

For the machine vision sector - also a key factor for automated packaging processes - sales are expected to stagnate at 3.1 billion euros in 2025. In the robotics sector itself, the VDMA anticipates a decline of five per cent to 3.7 billion euros. .<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

In the packaging industry in particular, many manufacturers rely on fully automated lines that combine speed, flexibility and quality. Robot-assisted pick-and-place solutions, adaptive end-of-line systems and camera-based quality controls are standard - and without continuous investment in automation technologies, efficiency gains and innovation leadership quickly falter.<\/p>\n

Focus on SMEs and AI solutions<\/b><\/h2>\n

This year's automatica (24-27 June in Munich) will serve as a platform for new impetus. The focus will be on automation solutions for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and the increased use of artificial intelligence to optimise production processes. The intelligent networking of robotics, image processing and control technology is regarded as a key lever for increasing efficiency, particularly in packaging machine construction. .<\/p>\n

VDMA calls for political solidarity<\/b><\/h2>\n
\"\"
Dr Dietmar Ley, Chairman of VDMA Robotics + Automation (Photo: Michaela Plambeck)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

With the \u201eVDMA Robotics Action Plan for Europe\u201c, the association is presenting three key demands: More venture capital for start-ups and scale-ups, a roadmap to strengthen competitiveness and targeted scaling of European innovations. In particular, the VDMA is pushing for the swift implementation of the investment support programmes agreed in the coalition agreement. .<\/p>\n

Dr Ley warns: \u201eRobotics and automation are key technologies without which industrial production is no longer conceivable in high-wage Germany.\u201c Politics and business must act now to reduce locational disadvantages and give industry new impetus for growth.<\/p>\n

Packaging industry at a glance<\/b><\/h2>\n

Automation remains a question of survival for the packaging industry. In view of increasing demands for efficiency, flexibility and sustainability, innovative robotic solutions are indispensable - from the flexible packaging of individual products to smart palletising. The expected decline in investment is therefore not only an economic challenge, but also a strategic one. Investing now will secure competitive advantages for the future.<\/p>\n

VDMA Robotics Action Plan for Europe: http:\/\/www.vdma.org\/robstrat<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The German robotics and automation industry is facing a significant decline in sales in 2025. A reluctance to invest and international competitive pressure are hitting the industry hard - with consequences for automation solutions in packaging machine construction.","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":98560,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"__cvm_playback_settings":[],"__cvm_video_id":"","rank_math_description":"Die deutsche Robotikbranche erwartet 2025 ein Umsatzminus von zehn Prozent. F\u00fcr die Verpackungsindustrie bleibt Automation dennoch zentral.","rank_math_focus_keyword":"VDMA","rank_math_title":"","csco_display_header_overlay":false,"csco_singular_sidebar":"","csco_page_header_type":"","csco_page_load_nextpost":"","csco_post_video_location":[],"csco_post_video_location_hash":"","csco_post_video_url":"","csco_post_video_bg_start_time":0,"csco_post_video_bg_end_time":0,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[111],"tags":[55,36,60586,59099,39],"class_list":{"0":"post-102795","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-maerkte","8":"tag-automatisieren-und-robotik","9":"tag-markt","10":"tag-pj_home","11":"tag-vdma","12":"tag-verpackungstechnik","13":"cs-entry","14":"cs-video-wrap"},"acf":[],"vimeo_video":null,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/packaging-journal.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/102795","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/packaging-journal.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/packaging-journal.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/packaging-journal.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/packaging-journal.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=102795"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/packaging-journal.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/102795\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/packaging-journal.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/98560"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/packaging-journal.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=102795"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/packaging-journal.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=102795"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/packaging-journal.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=102795"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}