Industrial automation is redefining how factories operate. Innovative solutions in the fields of robotic and AI are enabling fully connected and adaptive smart production systems. Japanese excellence in robotics hardware and precision engineering, combined with Germany’s strength in industrial software and system integration, creates powerful opportunities for collaboration in smart manufacturing.
North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), Germany’s leading industrial region, is home to advanced production technologies and the manufacturing industry. Next to the big players in the smart manufacturing industry, Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are shaping the future of smart manufacturing with innovative solutions. On top of that, advanced research institutions and innovation clusters in NRW specialize in automation, AI applications, and digitalized production. For Japanese companies, this unique ecosystem offers an ideal gateway to Europe for developing and testing next-generation smart factory solutions, including joint R&D projects, pilot programs in digital manufacturing, and workforce upskilling initiatives. In particular in last mile production steps, there is still potential for the application of innovative solutions to increase efficiency.
This seminar will highlight advanced and innovative solutions from both NRW and Japan in the field of Smart Manufacturing and Factory Automation, as well as provide a platform for potential collaboration between NRW and Japan.
|
|
Date: December 4th, 2025 (Thu.), Reception Desk will be open at 14:30
Time: 15:00 - 18:00 （Networking starts at 18:00）
Venue: Hamarikyu, 1F, CONRAD Tokyo
Language: English / Japanese (simultaneous interpretation)
Please register latest by 28th November (Fri.) 17:00 (JST)
Hosted by: NRW.Global Business GmbH /NRW.Global Business Japan
Supported by: Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany / Japan External Trade Organization / The Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun, Ltd.
|
|
Program
Opening and Moderation
Dr. Carolina Kawakubo, NRW.Global Business Japan, Representative Director and President, NRW Japan K.K.
＜Presentations＞
North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) - Center of Excellence of Production Technologies and the Manufacturing Industry
Jennifer Marienfeld, Head of Business Unit Japan, NRW.Global Business GmbH
The Role of Robotics in Japan’s Industry: Opportunities for Japan-Germany Cooperation in Supporting SMEs
Norio Kodaira, Japan Robot System Integrator Association / The Robotics Society
Machines, automation and robotics for the cutlery, tool, machine knife, surgical and foundry industries: Innovative plant concepts for fully automated, networked production
Dr. Andreas Groß, Managing Director, Heinz Berger Maschinenfabrik GmbH & Co. KG
Redefining Cleaning – Intelligence in Motion for a Smarter Tomorrow: Kareima’s journey from trusted tradition to autonomous innovation
Sandra Oelgeklaus, CEO, Kareima Reinigungsmaschinen Handelsgesellschaft mbH
Customized machines and automation solutions for future-oriented and transparent manufacturing
Marco Horn, Managing Director, MKW GmbH
Coffee Break （16:05〜）
Factory of the Future (FoF) – Advancing Automation, Robotics and Smart Systems
at Magna
Justus Müller, Smart Factory Deployment Specialist MML Europe/Mgr. Manufacturing Engineering, MAGNA Böco GmbH
Mitsubishi Electric's Expansion into Germany: a Case Study in Factory Automation Solutions Corporation
Hiroyuki Goto, Senior Manager, EMEA & Americas Section, Regional Business Management & Development Division, Global Strategic Planning & Marketing Group, Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
From a Hand Tool to a Computer-Controlled Marking System
Frank Baehr, CEO, Röltgen GmbH & Co. KG
Quality Assurance with Nondestructive Testing
Dr. Wolfram Deutsch, President, KARL DEUTSCH Prüf- und Messgerätebau GmbH + Co KG
＜Panel Discussion＞
Business Opportunities for Smart Manufacturing in SMEs for Japanese Companies in NRW
<Moderator> Dr. Carolina Kawakubo, Representative Director and President, NRW.Global Business Japan
<Panelists>
- Philip Velmer, Head of Cluster & Technology, Bergische Struktur- und Wirtschaftsförderungsgesellschaft mbH
- Prof. Dr. Peter Gust, Vice-Rector Third Mission and International Affairs of the University of Wuppertal
Networking （18:00 - 19:00 ）
|
|
Notes: This seminar is designed for participants affiliated with organizations, such as corporations. We kindly ask for your understanding that we may have to limit participation if we are unable to verify your organizational affiliation.
This invitation is for your personal use only which is why your name and your mail address are already in the registration form. If you would like to invite others, please let us know per email (event@nrwglobalbusiness.co.jp). We will then send out a separate, personalised invitation.
In case you transfer your invitation to a third person and he/she registers to the event by using it, your own data will be deleted by the event system.