{"id":116161,"date":"2026-05-13T05:51:31","date_gmt":"2026-05-13T05:51:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/packaging-journal.de\/?post_type=vimeo-video&#038;p=116161"},"modified":"2026-05-13T10:04:43","modified_gmt":"2026-05-13T08:04:43","slug":"branch-in-upheaval-johannes-schmid-wiedersheim-vdma-interpack-2026","status":"publish","type":"vimeo-video","link":"https:\/\/packaging-journal.de\/en\/vimeo-video\/branche-im-umbruch-johannes-schmid-wiedersheim-vdma-interpack-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Branch in Transition: Johannes Schmid-Wiedersheim, VDMA | interpack 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Johannes Schmid-Wiedersheim is bringing a breath of fresh air to the VDMA Food Processing and Packaging Machinery Association. Since 1 April 2024, the former Messe Frankfurt manager has been leading an association with over 300 member companies \u2013 he will draw his first conclusions at interpack 2026, a time of great challenges.<\/p>\n<h3>Exhibitions remain indispensable<\/h3>\n<p>The Corona pandemic acted as a litmus test for the importance of in-person trade fairs. \u201eThere was a lot of doubt and it was a brief test of reality, what happens if they suddenly disappear,\u201c explains Schmid-Wiedersheim. \u201eAnd then it turned out that everyone said, no, we absolutely have to go back there.\u201c<\/p>\n<p>The interpack 2026 confirms this assessment with a positive mood despite challenging framework conditions. Especially in an environment characterised by volatility, industry meeting points for initiating business, exchanging knowledge, and political positioning remain indispensable \u2013 an experience that is now also being incorporated into association work.<\/p><div class=\"packa-in-post-alle packa-entity-placement\" style=\"text-align: center;\" id=\"packa-2123080345\"><div id=\"packa-989380673\"><a data-no-instant=\"1\" href=\"https:\/\/packaging-journal.de\/en\/newsletter\/\" rel=\"noopener\" class=\"a2t-link\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"PJ Self-promotion English 03\"><!--noptimize--><img src=\"https:\/\/packaging-journal.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/PJ-Eigenwerbung-English-03.png\" alt=\"\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/packaging-journal.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/PJ-Eigenwerbung-English-03.png 840w, https:\/\/packaging-journal.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/PJ-Eigenwerbung-English-03-300x75.png 300w, https:\/\/packaging-journal.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/PJ-Eigenwerbung-English-03-768x192.png 768w, https:\/\/packaging-journal.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/PJ-Eigenwerbung-English-03-18x5.png 18w, https:\/\/packaging-journal.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/PJ-Eigenwerbung-English-03-332x83.png 332w, https:\/\/packaging-journal.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/PJ-Eigenwerbung-English-03-664x166.png 664w, https:\/\/packaging-journal.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/PJ-Eigenwerbung-English-03-688x172.png 688w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 840px) 100vw, 840px\" width=\"840\" height=\"210\"  style=\" max-width: 100%; height: auto;\" \/><!--\/noptimize--><\/a><\/div><\/div>\n<h3>Take competition from the Far East seriously<\/h3>\n<p>The new head of the VDMA sees a need for action regarding German overengineering: \u201eOverengineering is an issue for many, or they simply notice it on the market that they can no longer sell their machines.\u201c International competitors are catching up technically, he warns. \u201eArrogance is a bad advisor right now.\u201c<\/p>\n<p>Despite difficult starting conditions \u2013 incoming orders fell by 16 percent in January \u2013 Schmid-Wiedersheim remains optimistic. He sees his most important task as reducing bureaucracy: \u201eIf we manage to remove one or two stumbling blocks or obstacles for our members in 3 years, that would definitely be one of the most important achievements.\u201c<\/p><div id=\"packa-3087897643\" class=\"packa-inhalt packa-entity-placement\"><!--noptimize--><script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-2686439340972671\" crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script>\r\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block;text-align:center\" data-ad-layout=\"in-article\" data-ad-format=\"fluid\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-2686439340972671\" data-ad-slot=\"6171251825\"><\/ins>\r\n<script>\r\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\r\n<\/script><!--\/noptimize--><\/div>\n<h3>Strengthening European Cooperation<\/h3>\n<p>With the establishment of the European umbrella organisation Europarma, the VDMA is focusing on international cooperation. Six nations aim to jointly exert pressure on European authorities and advance political issues \u2013 a lever that individual national associations have so far lacked in Brussels.<\/p>\n<p>Schmid-Wiedersheim is therefore stepping into the very large shoes of his predecessor, Richard Clemens, but brings fresh perspectives with him. His focus on reducing bureaucracy, European cooperation, and realistic market assessment could help the sector maintain its leading position \u2013 without resting on past successes.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The new VDMA boss, Johannes Schmid-Wiedersheim, warns of German overengineering at interpack 2026 and calls for a reduction in bureaucracy. His honest analysis regarding competition from the Far East: \u201eArrogance is a poor advisor right now.\u201c Plus: a new EU umbrella organisation.","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":116163,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","format":"video","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"__cvm_playback_settings":{"title":0,"byline":0,"portrait":0,"loop":0,"autoplay":0,"color":"24A27F","dnt":0,"aspect_ratio":"16x9","width":1200,"max_height":0,"video_position":"below-content","video_align":"align-left","lazy_load":false,"play_icon_color":"#FF0000","volume":25,"playlist_loop":0,"aspect_override":false,"start_time":0,"muted":false,"background":false,"transparent":false,"allow_override":false},"__cvm_video_id":"1191793734","footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"vimeo-videos":[],"vimeo-tag":[61193,61225,60542,61194,60532],"class_list":{"0":"post-116161","1":"vimeo-video","2":"type-vimeo-video","3":"status-publish","4":"format-video","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"vimeo-tag-interpack-tv-2026","8":"vimeo-tag-markt","9":"vimeo-tag-ppwr","10":"vimeo-tag-vdma","11":"vimeo-tag-verpackungstechnik","12":"cs-entry","13":"cs-video-wrap"},"acf":[],"vimeo_video":{"video_id":"1191793734","uploader":"packaging journal","uploader_uri":"\/users\/109467054","published":"2026-05-13T05:51:31+00:00","_published":"May 13th, 2026","updated":"2026-05-13T08:00:40+00:00","title":"Branch in Transition: Johannes Schmid-Wiedersheim, VDMA | interpack 2026","description":"Johannes Schmid-Wiedersheim, the new managing director of the VDMA Food and Packaging Machinery Division, talks about his first impressions and the challenges he faces in his new role. The former trade fair organiser explains why face-to-face meetings remain indispensable despite digitalisation and how the industry must respond to international competition. Schmid-Wiedersheim analyses current market developments, the reduction of bureaucracy as a priority, and the significance of the new European association cooperation Europarma. An honest look at the future of German mechanical engineering between over-engineering and the AI revolution. #interpack #VDMA #Mechanical engineering #Packaging technology #Food technology #Bureaucracy #Digitisation #Europe #KI","tags":[],"duration":1087,"_duration":"18:07","thumbnails":["https:\/\/i.vimeocdn.com\/video\/2156925991-bba26901efc1c338c982b18245200902db8379e5f0846bbf0834067eb75e7487-d_100x75?&r=pad&region=us","https:\/\/i.vimeocdn.com\/video\/2156925991-bba26901efc1c338c982b18245200902db8379e5f0846bbf0834067eb75e7487-d_200x150?&r=pad&region=us","https:\/\/i.vimeocdn.com\/video\/2156925991-bba26901efc1c338c982b18245200902db8379e5f0846bbf0834067eb75e7487-d_295x166?&r=pad&region=us","https:\/\/i.vimeocdn.com\/video\/2156925991-bba26901efc1c338c982b18245200902db8379e5f0846bbf0834067eb75e7487-d_640x360?&r=pad&region=us","https:\/\/i.vimeocdn.com\/video\/2156925991-bba26901efc1c338c982b18245200902db8379e5f0846bbf0834067eb75e7487-d_960x540?&r=pad&region=us","https:\/\/i.vimeocdn.com\/video\/2156925991-bba26901efc1c338c982b18245200902db8379e5f0846bbf0834067eb75e7487-d_1280x720?&r=pad&region=us","https:\/\/i.vimeocdn.com\/video\/2156925991-bba26901efc1c338c982b18245200902db8379e5f0846bbf0834067eb75e7487-d_1920x1080?&r=pad&region=us"],"stats":{"comments":0,"likes":0,"views":0},"privacy":"public","view_privacy":"anybody","embed_privacy":"public","size":{"width":1920,"height":1080,"ratio":1.7800000000000000266453525910037569701671600341796875},"type":"video","uri":"\/videos\/1191793734","link":"https:\/\/vimeo.com\/1191793734","embed_url":"https:\/\/player.vimeo.com\/video\/1191793734?h=dd2f4c4e45"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/packaging-journal.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/vimeo-video\/116161","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/packaging-journal.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/vimeo-video"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/packaging-journal.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/vimeo-video"}],"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=116161"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/packaging-journal.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/vimeo-video\/116161\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":116167,"href":"https:\/\/packaging-journal.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/vimeo-video\/116161\/revisions\/116167"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/packaging-journal.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/116163"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/packaging-journal.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=116161"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"vimeo-videos","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/packaging-journal.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/vimeo-videos?post=116161"},{"taxonomy":"vimeo-tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/packaging-journal.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/vimeo-tag?post=116161"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}