VDMA Surface Treatment Technology:

German manufacturers of Surface treatment technology underline their technical leadership in the demanding international competition in this field. About 85 manufacturers of components, systems and plants of Surface Treatment Technology are organised in VDMA-Surface Treatment Technology. The services of the VDMA department of Surface Treatment Technology promote the business of our member companies and provide following services:
 Statistics and Market information  
 Technical Lobbying  
 Collaborative public relation activities  
 Temporary project groups to active topics  
 Exchange of Knowledge

Technological leadership – Germany:

The branch looks back on an enormous upward trend, which continued in 2008. The worldwide demand for highly efficient processes and highly developed environmental standards from the German market of machinery and plant makers particularly. German suppliers of Surface Treatment successfully maintain their international top position with innovative products.
The world-wide positive economic development of the past years resulted in a strong sales growth for German companies from the cross-technology branch Surface Treatment. The branch generated a volume of production of approx. € 1.6 billion in 2007 and projects a growth of about 6 % for 2008. Compared to the capitol goods industry in whole, Surface Treatment Technology has had a growth above average for the last years.
Due to the rising integration in the world economy, the department of Surface Treatment Technology is expecting a further increase of export for the years to come. For 2007 the export volume was higher than €750 million. The member states of EU, along with East and South-East-Asia, other European countries and North America were the most important export markets. In 2008 important drivers have been East and South-East-Asian and Russian markets, but India, Brazil and Turkey approached the branch’s attention too.
However, automotive industry is still the persistent driver for innovations and growth of Surface Treatment. Investment in new models, increasing quality and environmental requirements and the growing dispersion of light weight construction as well as new car conceptions work on innovations. The request for high qualitative and innovative surface technology in this customer branch with a high investment potential is documented by the installation of e.g. fully automated powder coating plants. 


Share of Individual product categories in orders received for surface treatment technology in 2007:
• Plant (e.g. booths, dryers) without applicators – 38 %
• Applicators – 26 %
• Spray equipment and spraying machines, material supply – 26 %
• Pre-treatment plant – 10 %

German exports Surface Treatment Technology 2007:
• EU-27 - 49 %
• Other Europe - 19 %
• East and South East Asia - 16 %
• North America - 9 %
• Latin America - 3 %
• Near and Middle East – 2 %
• Central and South Asia - 1%
• Africa - 1%
• Australia – Oceania - 0.4 %

Total order surface technology by customer branches in 2007:
• Plastic Industry - 4 %
• Furniture - 6 %
• Technical Application - 17 %
• Automotive - 29 %
• Other Branches - 44 %

Role of VDMA

The German Engineering Federation (VDMA) is the largest Industrial Association in Germany having more than 3000 companies as member. These members are divided into 39 specialized sectors of industry, among which Surface Treatment Technology is one of the important sectors. 
Incorporated into VDMA, the Surface Treatment Technology is the sector association for 85 German manufacturers. It covers the complete range of surface treatment in the sectors of Pre-treatment, Coating, Drying, Ventilation Technology and Industrial Surface Plasma Technology.

The VDMA Indian office at Kolkata, Noida & Bangalore serves as a ‘bridge-head’ between the Indian and German industries. These offices can offer valuable support and information about the German industry and can assist Indian companies looking for business contacts to the German industry