Germany

SHERIDAN, WYOMING -- July 22, 2026 -- HD Advanced Technologies GmbH (HDAT), a wholly owned subsidiary of Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (HEIDELBERG), has signed a two-part industrial partnership with Swiss battery developer PHENOGY AG. HDAT will take over contract manufacturing of PHENOGY's sodium-ion energy storage systems, covering everything from procurement to installation and maintenance. The two companies are also preparing a joint venture to develop and mass-produce sodium-ion battery cells, combining PHENOGY's cell chemistry with a HEIDELBERG printing process. The goal is a European-based supply chain for battery storage that does not depend on manufacturing capacity outside the region.

SHERIDAN, WYOMING -- July 07, 2026 -- Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (HEIDELBERG) has closed the transaction integrating the lifecycle business and global sales and service units of the manroland sheetfed group into its operations. The company also signed a separate agreement this week to take over full production of POLAR cutting and finishing machines and systems, folding POLAR's development work into the HEIDELBERG organization as well. Both moves extend a strategy HEIDELBERG has pursued for several years to consolidate technology, branding, sales and service under one roof. The company says the combined steps strengthen its position as a systems integrator in the packaging and label segment.

SHERIDAN, WYOMING -- July 07, 2026 -- Architecture publications md and db will host the fourth edition of their joint symposium series "anders! bauen im Bestand" on July 15, 2026, at the Hospitalhof in Stuttgart, with a parallel livestream option. The program centers entirely on renovation and adaptive reuse this year, bringing together architects, engineers and manufacturers to address resource-conscious, circular building and energy-efficient retrofitting. Speakers will present both conceptual frameworks and completed projects, including the redevelopment of Stuttgart's former Breitling department store into the newly opened Haus des Tourismus. The event carries continuing-education recognition from the Chamber of Architects of Baden-Württemberg.

SHERIDAN, WYOMING — July 03, 2026 — Bonner Wirtschafts-Akademie (BWA), a Bonn-based personnel development and outplacement consultancy, has warned that Germany faces job losses of historic scale as an energy cost crisis and rapid AI adoption compound one another. BWA managing director Harald Müller pointed to a recent survey from the Institute of German Economy (IW), which found companies plan to cut nearly 30 percent of positions this year, calling that figure only the starting point of a larger shift. He argued the combination of rising energy costs and AI-driven automation will eliminate hundreds of thousands of jobs across both industrial and office roles, layered on top of losses already underway in the automotive sector.

SHERIDAN, WYOMING — July 03, 2026 — The Hopper Hotel St. Josef in Cologne has completed a redesign covering all 65 guest rooms and parts of its public areas, including the library and lobby. The project was carried out by LFPI Hospitality Group, which has operated the hotel since 2022 inside a heritage-protected building dating to 1891. LFPI has partnered with BWH Hotels under the WorldHotels Crafted brand since 2025, positioning the Cologne property within a wider collection of independently managed hotels. The redesign focused on preserving existing architectural elements while introducing new materials intended to improve guest comfort.

SHERIDAN, WYOMING — July 03, 2026 — Stellantis Pro One will bring 13 vehicles and four professional brands to a 1,000-square-meter stand at IAA Hannover, anchoring the presence around the unveiling of Box on Wheels, a new autonomous concept vehicle. The stand also marks the first live public appearance of the Smart Compact Van, which had its digital reveal in mid-June, and will highlight Stellantis CustomFit conversion capabilities across the full commercial vehicle range. The Box on Wheels reveal, scheduled for the September 14 press conference in Hall 13, signals Stellantis Pro One's shift toward positioning itself as an integrated logistics solutions provider rather than solely a vehicle manufacturer.

SHERIDAN, WYOMING — July 03, 2026 — Stellantis has confirmed its participation at Automechanika Frankfurt 2026, running September 8 to 12 at Messe Frankfurt, where it will showcase the Eurorepar Car Service network to independent repair shops. The stand, built as a live workshop environment, will demonstrate how independent garages can plug into Stellantis' 360° aftersales ecosystem, from parts sourcing to digital workshop tools. The move reflects a broader push by Stellantis to grow its Independent Aftermarket business alongside its franchised dealer network. Eurorepar Car Service now counts over 6,200 all-makes workshops worldwide, more than 4,900 of them in Europe.

SHERIDAN, WYOMING -- June 24, 2026 -- Hamburg-based Siepmann Printing GmbH has invested in a fully automated hybrid production environment combining offset and digital printing technology from Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG, integrating both systems through the Prinect workflow platform. The installation centers on a Speedmaster XL 106 from HEIDELBERG's Peak Performance Generation and a Versafire LV digital press. Together, the two systems allow Siepmann to route jobs between offset and digital printing from a single workflow, depending on run length and demand. The company produces pharmaceutical package inserts, packaging, and high-quality commercial print products — a product mix that places strict demands on color accuracy and process reliability.

SHERIDAN, WYOMING -- June 8, 2026 -- Eurobike will turn one of cycling's most contested engineering questions into a centerpiece of its 2026 program. The trade fair, organized by Fairnamic GmbH, plans to showcase 32-inch wheel concepts for gravel and mountain bikes across its exhibition floor and a series of expert sessions before the show opens in Frankfurt on June 24. For component makers, frame developers and buyers, the move offers a working venue to weigh whether larger diameters move from prototype to standard. It also positions the event as a reference point for an industry still deciding where wheel sizes go next.

SHERIDAN, WYOMING -- June 7, 2026 -- Vipal Rubber will present the V® Super Hybrid tyre retreading compound as the headline product at The Tire Cologne 2026, with field test data showing mileage performance up to 140 percent above the usual fleet average in severe mixed-terrain operations including wood extraction, animal food transportation and live cargo. Developed for operations combining paved and unpaved roads, the compound addresses durability, mileage performance and casing preservation simultaneously. Frederico Schmidt, General Manager of Vipal EMEA, will lead a public lecture on the technology on 9 June at 11:30am, covering technical retreading challenges and the circular economy case for tyre service life extension. The DV-UMe tread for electric vehicles will also feature at the Vipal booth.