Working Group Wireless Communications for Machines

The machinery and plant engineering sector sees itself at the heart of Industry 4.0, and two key aspects of this are connectivity and interoperability. Following the establishment of the 5G User Group, the next major step is a new working group “Wireless Communications for Machines”.

The German Engineering Federation (VDMA) believes that wireless technologies such as 5G, WiFi 6 and others are now ready for industrial use. They enable new application and value creation potential in machines, plants and production systems. Since the VDMA 5G User Group was founded in May 2019, the VDMA has been working intensively on the topic of 5G. The aim was to support our members in the application of 5G by transferring knowledge and experience.

About 100 VDMA member companies and numerous guests from information and communication technology, research, and end users of machines and plants participated in the events and activities of the VDMA 5G User Group together with stakeholders from politics and public administration.

Guide and application examples

With the VDMA guide “5G in Mechanical and Plant Engineering” and the “5G Use Cases” (both in German), experts from mechanical and plant engineering, automation technology and Fraunhofer IIS have provided answers to fundamental questions about the integration of 5G in mechanical and plant engineering products and their production.

Now those responsible would like to expand the topic of 5G in the VDMA to include other radio technologies: “The experience gained shows that mechanical and plant engineering also has a need to consider other radio technologies suitable for industry in addition to 5G. This requires the expansion of the VDMA network to enable cross-disciplinary knowledge transfer with all relevant players along the value chain,” according to a statement from the association.

To enable an efficient and institutional framework for collaboration as well as to ensure a technology-neutral view, the VDMA is founding the Wireless Communications for Machines Working Group.

5G User Group to be dissolved

With the new working group, those responsible want to promote the use of wireless solutions in mechanical and plant engineering and at the same time lower entry barriers. Synergies are to be leveraged for all participants and the prerequisites for the sustainable development of competitive cutting-edge technologies are to be created. In addition to technical aspects, organizational aspects should also play a role in the introduction of wireless solutions in machines, production systems and companies – a win-win situation for all through the exchange of experience and the creative potential of the VDMA network.

The foundation of the new VDMA Working Group Wireless Communications for Machines (AG WCM) is scheduled to take place on March 1, 2021, with the first general meeting. The strategic orientation and contents as well as organizational aspects are to be presented and discussed and operationalized with the members of the AG WCM.

The foundation is at the same time the end of the previous VDMA 5G User Group. It will be dissolved and its activities transferred to the new working group. At the same time, the association thanks the previous members and recruits active participants for the new group.