From Computation to Anticipation

Artificial intelligence is fundamentally transforming industrial simulation and development processes. On July 14 and 15, approximately 110 experts gathered at the AI & Data-driven Simulation Summit & Forum hosted by the Automotive Solution Center for Simulation (ASCS) at Bechtle PLM’s offices in Neckarsulm to discuss how companies can benefit from these advancements.

The end of a battery’s life is just the beginning

Experts estimate that by 2030, around 3 million tonnes of used batteries from electric cars will be due for recycling. Festo therefore offers modular automation concepts not only for cell production, the assembly of battery modules and packs, and platform integration, but also for dismantling and recycling – or rather, the separation of materials.

Winner of the ROBOTICS AWARD 2026 Supplies the U.S. Military

For the first time, an autonomous kitchen robot from goodBytz, winner of the ROBOTICS AWARD 2026, is being deployed in the U.S. By the end of the summer, the Hamburg-based food-tech company will begin supplying a Texas military base. There, the system will prepare fresh meals around the clock for the soldiers stationed at the base.

Precision meets increased load-bearing capacity

HIWIN has launched the UR roller guide, which was unveiled at HANNOVER MESSE 2026. The new heavy-duty guide offers higher load capacity, a longer service life, optimised lubrication and flexible designs for precise, high-load applications in mechanical and plant engineering.

The Dawn of a New Iron Age?

According to researchers at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), hydrogen as an energy carrier can be effectively supplemented by iron. A study on this topic demonstrates the potential of iron powder for long-term energy storage, energy transport, and the use of existing power plant infrastructure in the energy system of the future.

Reaching for the stars together

The strategic partnership between Schaeffler and Spire Global, which has now been announced, aims to establish a new European standard for the space industry. The initial focus is on the development of subsystems for satellites and satellite platforms.

Can Europe bridge its laser gap?

Fibre amplifiers offer a number of advantages over other approaches for space-based communication. The Laser Centre Hannover (LZH) is therefore working on fibre-optic components that can withstand the extreme conditions in space whilst delivering high laser powers of more than 100 watts.

Interview with Moritz Futscher

CEO und Co-Founder, BTRY AG

Europe’s Answer to AI’s Energy Hunger

Rittal, the GSI Helmholtz Center for Heavy Ion Research, and etalytics were honored for a concept for the future of AI data centers. Direct Liquid Cooling and AI-supported energy optimization are intended to enhance performance, efficiency, and technological sovereignty.

Networking Is Becoming a Competitive Factor

Companies seeking high-performance, flexible communication for their production processes—along with reduced engineering effort and flexible fieldbus connectivity—will find what they’re looking for at ifm electronic GmbH. The Essen-based company is introducing the new generation of the multi-protocol-capable IO-Link Master AL1602 for scalable automation solutions.

For a Phased Modernization Strategy

Rockwell Automation introduces FactoryTalk ResilientEdge for autonomous, scalable manufacturing operations. With a unified execution architecture, the new product is designed to bring intelligence, reliability, and enterprise scalability to modern manufacturing operations.

AI Boom Calls for New Solutions

Delta Electronics has opened a new research and development center in Soest. The investment strengthens the development of energy-efficient power supply solutions for AI data centers and electric mobility, while also aiming to set new standards in sustainability and energy efficiency.

AI-Driven Manufacturing Without Traditional PLCs

At HANNOVER MESSE 2026, voraus robotik and Dell Technologies collaborated to showcase one of the most compelling advances in AI driven manufacturing. Their joint demo featured a fully operational robot cell that runs without a traditional PLC, powered entirely by voraus robotik’s software defined automation platform.

They’ve put it in black and white: everything is going greener!

Schneider Electric has made a successful start to 2026 with its Impact 2030 sustainability strategy. The group has significantly reduced its own emissions, supported energy savings on a large scale, and driven forward decarbonisation, the circular economy and skills development.

Exceptionally High Efficiency Across the Entire Energy Cycle

The HARTING Technology Group, based in Minden, has commissioned a fuel cell pilot plant at its Espelkamp site. The plant is designed to complement biogas and photovoltaic systems, increase energy efficiency, and, in the future, also store and utilize green hydrogen.

High-Temperature Electrolysis Stack Sets New Standards

A new high-temperature electrolysis stack—developed by Dr. Stefan Megel, Dr. Sindy Mosch, and Dr. Mihails Kusnezoff of Fraunhofer IKTS—produces hydrogen with unprecedented efficiency. The development, which can also function as a fuel cell and is designed for industrial mass production, is expected to set new global standards.

Come check this out!

Transporting, positioning, welding—FANUC’s new CRX-3iA collaborative robot expands the CRX series with its lightest and smallest model to date.

Brussels slows down, attackers speed up—and Beijing cracks down

Three reports in ten days, one common thread: The business fundamentals of industrial AI deployment are being renegotiated. At the end of June, the EU finalized the postponement of its high-risk regulations; in early July, researchers documented the first fully autonomous AI ransomware; and on July 7, Reuters reported that Beijing is considering cutting off foreign access to China’s most powerful models.

Two News Items, One Lesson on Control

For nineteen days, the world’s most powerful AI model was taken offline by government order—Claude Fable 5 has been back online since July 1. Just one day later, it was reported that developer Anthropic is in talks with Samsung about developing its own chip.

42 million megawatt-hours: Google lays out the AI’s electricity bill

On June 30, Google published its eleventh environmental report—and it reads like a load profile of the AI era: a 37 percent increase in electricity consumption in a single year, the largest jump in the company’s history. At the same time, a new reference architecture from Siemens and NVIDIA shows how the industry is translating the problem into manageable engineering solutions. Both are required reading for decision-makers.

The Black Box gets a Window

Artificial intelligence already supports power grids, price forecasts, and efficient energy use. Now, researchers at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) have developed a method that makes AI predictions for energy systems more transparent and easier to understand.

Flexibly control up to 120 motorized rollers via a single IP address

Pepperl+Fuchs is expanding its conveyor technology portfolio with a scalable Ethernet motor control system for up to 120 motorized rollers. With comprehensive diagnostic data, multiprotocol capability, IIoT connectivity, and a rugged IP67 design, the system is designed to support efficient and predictive plant processes.

AI and Robotics are Converging

Agile Robots is currently testing the new Cosmos 3 AI platform for the development and simulation of robotic applications—with a particular focus on virtual environments designed to accelerate the testing, validation, and optimization of robot behavior.

Interview with Ansgar Thilmann

Founder & CEO | Chief Financial Officer | HCP Sense GmbH

Safety Becomes the Key to the Physical AI Era

On June 22, 2026, NVIDIA introduced “Halos for Robotics” as a full-stack safety architecture for robotics and Physical AI, thereby providing an answer to the question of how AI-driven machines can evolve from pilot projects toward certifiable applications.