Mechanical and plant engineering

Mechanical and plant engineering is one of the most important industries in the German economy.  More than 6,000 companies employ around 964,000 workers – more than in  any other industrial sector. In terms of revenue, mechanical and plant engineering is the second largest industrial sector in Germany. In 2011, the industry generated revenues of more than €200 billion.

The mechanical and plant engineering sector is the largest employer for engineers, employing 167,500 engineers in 2010. In addition, mechanical and plant engineering is one of the most innovative industries in Germany, setting standards in developing and applying future technologies. According to estimates by the Cologne Institute for Economic Research (IW), the sector invested €11.8 billion in innovation in 2010, and 66 percent of mechanical engineering companies introduced innovations to the market. Most of the mechanical engineering applications filed at the European Patent Office come from Germany (13 percent between 1999 and 2006). The industry’s innovative strength is also evident when looking at its research and development activities. In 2011, the industry spent more than €5 billion in this area.