In this interview which was Conducted during the EMO Hannover 2025 Roadshow in Pune, Dr. Markus Heering, Executive Director of the German Machine Tool Builders’ Association (VDW), shares his insights on the future of the metalworking industry ahead of EMO Hannover 2025. Discussing the impact of geopolitical shifts, technological advancements like artificial intelligence, and the role of global exhibitions in fostering collaboration, Dr. Heering offers a comprehensive view on how the industry is adapting to new challenges. He also reflects on the effects of trade policies, particularly US tariffs and the China-plus-one strategy, and how such disruptions could lead to new opportunities for global partnerships, particularly between Europe and India.
EMO has been a leading trade fair in the metalworking industry for decades. What role do you see EMO Hannover 2025 playing in shaping the future of the industry?
I believe EMO is coming at the right time. We see changes in geopolitical situations, and global markets are shifting. EMO can help to bring the industry together again on a neutral platform to speak about these conditions. On the technology side, I always talk about the triangle of advanced manufacturing. And I believe artificial intelligence is the game changer coming up now—it will change the machine tool sector in the near future.
How does VDW plan to encourage cross-industry collaboration at EMO 2025, especially between global suppliers and manufacturers?
Usually, the main purpose of a trade show is to get in contact with customers. We offer a lot of platforms like forums, joint pavilions on specific topics, and a Global Economy Forum to discuss economic situations in different regions and industries. There will also be many on-site events in the evenings, which are good opportunities to connect with customers and suppliers. You just have to make use of them.
How do you see global exhibitions like EMO influencing the metalworking industry and trade policies, especially from India’s point of view?
The trade fair is like a window opener—you get a view of the future. Typically, when you visit a supplier, you talk about what you need today or tomorrow. But at trade shows like EMO, you see what’s coming in five or ten years. You take back ideas, and you create business from those ideas. It’s not something you can measure directly, but it has a strong long-term impact.
What is your perspective on the impact of US trade tariffs and the China-plus-one strategy on the global machine tool industry?
There’s a reason why some countries are stronger in certain areas—India is excellent in IT, for example, while the US used to be strong in production. Trying to bring back production to the US using tariffs won’t work the way it’s planned. I think the biggest loser in this situation is the United States itself, because it risks decoupling from international developments. They don’t have the skilled workforce, raw materials, or technology to go fully independent.
So you don’t see the US reversing the effects of these tariffs easily?
No, it would take decades to bring production back. Even if such policies last for just six months, the losses start today. I was in the US ten days ago and met many people who lost a lot of money—especially because their pension system is private and tied to stock markets. The decisions being made don’t seem well-informed. He is disrupting systems that have worked for decades.
Despite the challenges, do you think these disruptions might open new opportunities for global collaboration?
Yes, situations like this always offer new chances if you’re flexible. It may lead to stronger ties between Europe and India. Discussions on free trade agreements have restarted. We need to stay flexible—as companies and as an industry. Even when the situation changes again, like when Trump disappears, the effects will remain. Trust has been broken in some places, and that doesn’t return quickly.