New materials are the basis for the implementation of innovative product ideas and the foundation of all production processes. Bavaria is at the forefront here – in mechatronics, automation and mechanical engineering as well as in the chemical, packaging and textile industries.
Production and Materials
From a flash of inspiration to technical progress: the development of new materials often provides the basis for innovations in product and system development, because they often make new product ideas possible in the first place.
Bavaria is particularly adept at devising and testing these new materials: the Free State not only ranks among the leaders in mechatronics, mechanical engineering and other sub-sectors in the area of production and materials, of which big players such as Neue Materialien Bayreuth GmbH, TEKNOR APEX as a materials specialist for hard/soft compounds or the Fraunhofer Institute for Silicate Research ISC in Würzburg are prime examples.
Bavaria is also actively engaged in constantly expanding its top position, promoting innovation and strengthening cooperation between research and industry.
Mechatronics and Automation
The efficient interplay of mechanics, electronics and software is becoming increasingly important for our digitalised economy. Bavaria has long been aware of this, as around half of all industrial employees here work in the fields of mechatronics and automation, working in sub-sectors such as vehicle technology, machine tool manufacturing, the electrical and electronics industry, medical and environmental technology and aerospace.
Alongside many economically strong companies such as KUKA AG and MAN Energy Solutions SE, Bavaria has also developed an outstanding research landscape with colleges, universities, competence centres and institutes such as the Fraunhofer Society.
The Bavarian “Mechatronics & Automation” cluster, among others, provides for the exchange of knowledge on current research results and findings from industry. Through the active integration of industry members, business and science can benefit from exciting synergies and acquire new mechatronic knowledge in the process.
Mechanical Engineering and Manufacturing
A “traditionally different” economic miracle: In the 1960s, Bavaria evolved into an industrial and technological hub where the automotive and machinery sectors, employing 236,800 people, still flourish today. What makes Bavaria so special is that almost all sub-sectors have found a home in the Free State. From propulsion technology and general air technology to power systems (engine and turbine), pumps and compressors to artificial intelligence and machine learning.
On average, Bavarian mechanical engineering companies generate total sales of 54 billion euros per year – a quarter of the industry’s sales in Germany as a whole. The future of the industry is also assured, as mechanical engineering is one of the most popular courses of study at Germany’s colleges and universities.
Chemistry
The chemistry is right in Bavaria, as the chemical industry is one of the most important sectors not only throughout Germany, but also in the Free State. Chemistry is the basis of countless products in the areas of personal care, pharmaceuticals, paints and varnishes, plastics, adhesives and synthetic fibres.
226 Bavarian companies are engaged in the field, including established global players such as Wacker Chemie AG and OMV in Burghausen, as well as the Alzchem Group AG in the Chiemgau region. In addition, there is the so-called Bavarian Chemical Triangle (ChemDelta Bayern), an industry hub in eastern Upper Bavaria with approximately 25 companies in the chemical and pharmaceutical industry, employing over 20,000 employees.
New Materials
Ideas and imagination are in demand: new materials are needed to introduce innovations in product and process technology, be it in the automotive industry, in mechanical engineering or in medical technology. Bavaria has long been aware of this, has been promoting the development of new materials for more than 30 years and today holds a leading international position in the industry with numerous innovative research institutions and high-tech companies.
Companies like 3M Technical Ceramics, Hoefer & Sohn, Schott AG Glas and Teknor Apex have their headquarters in the Free State, while at the same time intensive research is being conducted to create valuable foundations for technical progress as well as a boost to innovation in the companies.
The Free State is prioritising nano- and biomaterials, building materials and the fields of electrics and electronics. The best examples of this are the Fraunhofer Institute for Silicate Research in Nuremberg or the Bundeswehr Research Institute for Materials, Fuels and Lubricants in Erding.
Research at the Institute for Materials Science at the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg and the Bayerisches Zentrum für Angewandte Energieforschung e.V. (Bavarian Centre for Applied Energy Research) is just as important for the industry. It is here where the materials of tomorrow are being developed. Materials that can enhance the innovative character of your congress or event. Come to Bavaria!
Packaging
It’s also what’s on the outside that counts, too: Packaging, whether it’s made from paper, cardboard or plastic, is crucial for many industries. In 2021, Bavaria’s paper and plastics processing companies generated total sales of 5.1 billion euros. They have thereby achieved a level of quality that is well-received internationally, with over 40 percent of the packaging produced here being exported abroad.
Important players have established themselves in the Allgäu region in particular, including Multivac Sepp Haggenmüller SE & Co.KG, the Huhtamäki company or VG Nicolaus GmbH.
Research in the packaging sector is also closely linked to the development of new materials – for both industries, addressing the topic of sustainability is becoming increasingly important. It is only logical that the two sectors in Bavaria work together interdisciplinarily to develop new ideas and solutions.
Textiles
Sneakers and sportswear from Bavaria? Absolutely! The super brands Adidas and Puma are Bavarian plants and still have their headquarters in the Franconian town of Herzogenaurach.
But the Bavarian textile industry is not only successful in sports and leisurewear. Today, it also supplies highly innovative high-tech products for the construction industry, environmental and medical technology and the automotive industry.
In the development of new functional textiles, interdisciplinary networks such as the Bavarian TEXTILE INNOVATION also play a major role. These networks systematically bring together companies, research and science and thereby act as a booster for the innovative strength and competitiveness of the entire sector. Your industry event can also benefit from this dynamic capacity!
More about Bavaria's industrial diversity
Bavaria leads the way in many sectors. From health and life sciences to IT and financial services - find out where to find the concentrated industry expertise and the big players in the market.
Talking to Peter Kammerer
As Deputy Managing Director of the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) for Munich and Upper Bavaria, Peter Kammerer is in constant, direct contact with the Bavarian business community. In this interview, he reveals what makes Bavaria so special as a MICE destination.
