Baden-Württemberg’s location in the centre of Europe offers a significant advantage in that it guarantees access to many important markets. Baden-Württemberg mechanical engineering companies have the technology to develop and manufacture high-quality products and are thus leaders in Germany and Europe. There is national as well as international demand for products from the mechanical engineering companies of Baden-Württemberg and they are used throughout the world.

Mechanical engineering in Germany

• With regard to Germany‟s position on the world market, both the high level of innovative strength and the internationally esteemed German art of engineering ensure that German mechanical engineers are forerunners in technology.

• Germany is by far the leader in mechanical engineering in Europe. The sector owes this position to a long tradition in this area and also a strong domestic market with sound industrial foundations.

• The German mechanical engineering sector comprises more than 21,000 companies and employees over a million staff.

• German mechanical engineers generate an annual turnover of around 232 billion Euros. This means that German companies account for a third of the sector‟s turnover in Europe (EU-27).

• The mechanical engineering and plant manufacturing sector accounts for around 10% of companies engaged in the manufacturing industry in Germany. Mechanical engineering and plant manufacturing companies have predominantly medium- sized operational and decision-making structures. Many of these small and medium-sized companies are world leaders in their sector-specific specialisation.

• Innovation expenditure accounts for around 5.2% of turnover in the German mechanical engineering sector. The sector lies above the average for the manufacturing industry and attributes this to the great innovative strength of German mechanical engineers. New products account for around 28% of the turnover, meaning that the sector ranks fourth within the manufacturing industry.