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China’s first trade shock hit the United States after it joined the WTO in 2001, hollowing out parts of American manufacturing.
Now a new wave of Chinese exports is reshaping global trade with Europe increasingly in the crosshairs. We travel to Bavaria in Germany to see firsthand how local auto manufacturers are facing headwinds from China, and get analysis from economists David Autor and Stephanie Flanders on whether the ‘second China shock’ will echo the past or unfold very differently.
Step inside Siemens Electronics Factory in Erlangen, Germany, where AI, robotics, the industrial metaverse, and digital twin technology are transforming advanced manufacturing. This exclusive factory tour showcases how these innovations address real-world challenges in the face of global competition, sustainability, and production efficiency.
The video explores how AI is being deployed across the factory floor, from robotic object recognition and automated picking systems using Simatic robot pick-AI, to quality improvements and process optimization. See how AI enables robots to identify unknown objects using 3D cameras, calculate optimal gripping points, and automate previously manual logistics tasks.
Discover the industrial metaverse and its role in creating precision digital twins of factory processes, machines, and entire production lines. Learn how Siemens uses these virtual models to test and optimize systems before physical implementation, enabling global collaboration, faster innovation, and significant cost savings. The factory demonstrates how digital twins allow engineers to design robotic lines, simulate material flow, and predict production outcomes virtually first.
Established in 1971, the Erlangen factory produces over a thousand product variants made-to-order, including industrial controllers, drives, and frequency converters. As Siemens' customer zero facility, it tests new automation and digitalization solutions in real-world operations before deploying them to customers worldwide. The video features insights from factory experts on how digital transformation, combined with culture and innovation, drives sustainable and competitive manufacturing for the future.
Experts:
• Julian Bräu, Project Manager Logistic Automation, Digital Industries, Motion Control, Siemens AG
• Velia Janetzky, Head of Digital Excellence Electronics Factory Erlangen, Digital Industries, Motion Control, Siemens AG
• Felix Keppner, Factory Lead Data Analytics, Digital Industries, Motion Control, Siemens AG
• Jan Niegsch, Factory Lead Processes, Digital Industries, Motion Control, Siemens AG
BMW shares fell more than 9% after the luxury automaker cut its 2025 earnings forecast, citing delays in US and German customs refunds and continued weakness in China as trade tensions cloud its prospects.
