Autonomous robots and artificial intelligence took center stage at Hannover Messe 2025, held from March 31 to April 4. With approximately 4,000 exhibitors from 60 countries and around 130,000 trade visitors, the world’s largest industrial trade fair provided a comprehensive overview of the current landscape in industrial innovation.
It’s becoming increasingly evident: AI is making its way into real-world applications in mechanical and plant engineering. While technologies like self-learning systems once required deep data science expertise—and were therefore adopted slowly, especially among mid-sized industrial companies—this has fundamentally changed. These technologies have become significantly more accessible.
According to a recent Bitkom survey, 42% of German industrial companies are already using AI in production, with another 35% planning to do so soon. Common applications include machine monitoring, control of robots and vehicles, and energy optimization.
At the trade fair’s opening ceremony, Siemens CEO Roland Busch summed up the shift aptly: “The next generation of managers will lead teams made up of both humans and AI agents.”
According to the Handelsblatt, one of the most widespread industrial AI applications remains quality assurance. MAN, the vehicle and mechanical engineering company, for instance, has partnered with Fraunhofer IAIS to develop an AI system named Alvisto. This solution monitors vehicle paint jobs by scanning surfaces and detecting defects or damage. The AI behind Alvisto merges data-driven machine learning with expert knowledge and logical reasoning.
Alvisto was first installed in MAN’s production facilities in December 2023 and has since progressed to identifying even microscopic dust particles trapped in paint. As of January 2025, it has been deployed in full-scale production.
When it comes to generative AI, German providers still lag behind global leaders—a fact that’s easy to glean from media coverage. Prof. Michael Färber of ScaDS.AI and TU Dresden cautions: “We need to be careful not to miss the train. Over the past few years, other countries have been pulling ahead—sometimes slightly, sometimes significantly.” (ARD Interview)
However, a more optimistic picture emerges when the focus shifts to the engineering-centric AI use cases in machinery and plant construction. In these segments, engineering know-how combined with traditional data science (beyond LLMs) remains a decisive advantage. Prof. Claus Oetter, Managing Director of the VDMA’s Software and Digitalization division, highlights: “I see a promising future for Germany and Europe if we continue down this path. Many applications have already been implemented—we just need to showcase them more. Mechanical and plant engineering is more complex than ChatGPT… but that’s exactly where we must put in the effort.” (YouTube Interview) – In short, German mechanical and plant engineering firms remain well-positioned for future success.
Siemens also presented a compelling AI-driven concept in process automation. Focusing on pharmaceutical production—a key topic in light of recent pandemics—the company demonstrated how virtualization can enhance the entire value chain. AI plays a pivotal role here: from drug discovery to designing tailored production plants. Virtualizing the entire process allows digital testing and optimization of manufacturing systems before physical construction even begins, enabling faster and more efficient production.
Finally, the fair also highlighted the impact of geopolitical developments. Companies like IONOS report a noticeable uptick in demand for GDPR-compliant cloud services, especially from regulated industries. IONOS has confirmed it is prepared for this increased demand. Similarly, StackIT noted that the term “digital sovereignty” now requires no further explanation—it’s become a familiar concept in today’s enterprise landscape.
