The 15th German Mechanical Engineering Summit was held on 16 and 17 September 2025 by the German Engineering Federation (VDMA) and mi-connect’s ‘Production’ section under the motto “Producing the future”. Top representatives from industry, research and politics came together to discuss industrial policy, the role of Europe, Germany as a business location and the future of production. The highlight on the first evening: the presentation of the German Mechanical Engineering Award, which honors entrepreneurs for their life’s work.
PC-based control as the foundation of corporate success
Hans Beckhoff’s visionary work became a tangible example of how technological progress can be shaped responsibly. He was one of the first to use standard PCs to control machines and systems in order to replace proprietary approaches with open and flexible IT-based solutions. In 1986, Beckhoff launched the first PC-based controller on the market. Since then, the company has set technological milestones at regular intervals, including the first Lightbus optical industrial fieldbus in 1989 and, six years later, the modular Bus Terminals, which are still the industry standard today. In 2003, Beckhoff created EtherCAT, a real-time Ethernet that also established itself as a global standard. In 2011, Beckhoff introduced the XTS multimover linear drive system, which was followed in 2018 by the XPlanar planar motor drive system for intelligent product transport. One of the company’s latest technological revolutions is the MX system, which enables the automation of machines and systems without control cabinets. At the heart of automation at Beckhoff is the TwinCAT control and engineering software, which as a standard automation platform includes all the functions of a machine – from sequence and motion control to integrated measurement and analysis, motion control for machines and robots, image processing and artificial intelligence.
Important role for the progress of mechanical engineering
This combination of hardware and software in particular enables mechanical engineering to build extremely optimized and therefore resource-saving production systems. Beckhoff technologies enable open interfaces to the IT world, real-time communication and the integration of edge and cloud services. By coupling IT and automation in principle, they help to make industrial processes more efficient and sustainable. “With his idea of PC-based control technology, Hans Beckhoff did not simply deliver a technical innovation – he made a decisive contribution to paving the way for mechanical engineering into the digital age. And not in theory, but in practice. His principle: standard hardware, open interfaces, maximum flexibility – that was a liberating blow for many machine builders, especially in medium-sized companies,” said Claus Wilk, editor-in-chief of ‘Produktion’ and laudatory speaker, in recognition of the award winner.
Technology and humanity
The jury, made up of representatives from science and publishing – including Prof. GĂĽnther Schuh (Managing Director WZL, RWTH Aachen), Thomas Bauernhansl (Head of Fraunhofer IPA) and representatives of the publishing house such as COO Stefan Waldeisen and the editors-in-chief Stefan Weinzierl and Claus Wilk – was impressed by Hans Beckhoff’s outstanding entrepreneurial achievements and also praised his social commitment and his attitude that technology and humanity are not mutually exclusive. “Beckhoff is an idea that connects people – with technology, with values, with attitude,” said Claus Wilk, describing the company. To this day, Hans Beckhoff relies on trust in the management of his company. This has resulted in a culture in which people treat each other as equals: “You haven’t just built a company. You have created a place where thinking is encouraged. Where ideas are allowed to grow. Where people count,” says Claus Wilk.
– – – – – –
Further links
👉 www.beckhoff.com
Photo: Anna McMaster / Beckhoff
