element14 Community
element14 Community
    Register Log In
  • Site
  • Search
  • Log In Register
  • About Us
  • Community Hub
    Community Hub
    • What's New on element14
    • Feedback and Support
    • Benefits of Membership
    • Personal Blogs
    • Members Area
    • Achievement Levels
  • Learn
    Learn
    • Ask an Expert
    • eBooks
    • element14 presents
    • Learning Center
    • Tech Spotlight
    • STEM Academy
    • Webinars, Training and Events
    • Learning Groups
  • Technologies
    Technologies
    • 3D Printing
    • FPGA
    • Industrial Automation
    • Internet of Things
    • Power & Energy
    • Sensors
    • Technology Groups
  • Challenges & Projects
    Challenges & Projects
    • Design Challenges
    • element14 presents Projects
    • Project14
    • Arduino Projects
    • Raspberry Pi Projects
    • Project Groups
  • Products
    Products
    • Arduino
    • Avnet Boards Community
    • Dev Tools
    • Manufacturers
    • Multicomp Pro
    • Product Groups
    • Raspberry Pi
    • RoadTests & Reviews
  • Store
    Store
    • Visit Your Store
    • Choose another store...
      • Europe
      •  Austria (German)
      •  Belgium (Dutch, French)
      •  Bulgaria (Bulgarian)
      •  Czech Republic (Czech)
      •  Denmark (Danish)
      •  Estonia (Estonian)
      •  Finland (Finnish)
      •  France (French)
      •  Germany (German)
      •  Hungary (Hungarian)
      •  Ireland
      •  Israel
      •  Italy (Italian)
      •  Latvia (Latvian)
      •  
      •  Lithuania (Lithuanian)
      •  Netherlands (Dutch)
      •  Norway (Norwegian)
      •  Poland (Polish)
      •  Portugal (Portuguese)
      •  Romania (Romanian)
      •  Russia (Russian)
      •  Slovakia (Slovak)
      •  Slovenia (Slovenian)
      •  Spain (Spanish)
      •  Sweden (Swedish)
      •  Switzerland(German, French)
      •  Turkey (Turkish)
      •  United Kingdom
      • Asia Pacific
      •  Australia
      •  China
      •  Hong Kong
      •  India
      •  Korea (Korean)
      •  Malaysia
      •  New Zealand
      •  Philippines
      •  Singapore
      •  Taiwan
      •  Thailand (Thai)
      • Americas
      •  Brazil (Portuguese)
      •  Canada
      •  Mexico (Spanish)
      •  United States
      Can't find the country/region you're looking for? Visit our export site or find a local distributor.
  • Translate
  • Profile
  • Settings
Community Hub
Community Hub
Documents element 14: Global Spotlight | Engineering in Germany at a Glance
  • Blog
  • Forum
  • Documents
  • Quiz
  • Events
  • Leaderboard
  • Polls
  • Files
  • Members
  • Mentions
  • Sub-Groups
  • Tags
  • More
  • Cancel
  • New
Join Community Hub to participate - click to join for free!
Actions
  • Share
  • More
  • Cancel
Engagement
  • Author Author: jlucas
  • Date Created: 29 Sep 2016 4:40 PM Date Created
  • Last Updated Last Updated: 28 Feb 2017 8:59 PM
  • Views 853 views
  • Likes 7 likes
  • Comments 2 comments
Related
Recommended

element 14: Global Spotlight | Engineering in Germany at a Glance

image
element14 Global Spotlight | Germany
the element14 Global SpotlightGerman Engineering at a GlanceWe Are Makers ...
Five reasons to study in GermanyFive of the best | Projects ...Texas Instruments in Germany

 

image

 

Germany has a long-held reputation as one of the world's leading engineering powerhouses. From a well-established education system to housing several industry-leading global manufactturers, German engineering has become a byword for efficiency and precision. As part of our new element14 Global Spotlight series,  we'll be spending the next few weeks shining a light on Germany's relationship to engineering, from the history of manufacturing to features on leading German brands and manufacturers, plus discussions with our top members from the region.

 

Vital Statistics

 

image

 

Population (December 2015): 82.2 million

 

GDP (PPP):

$3.7 trillion

 

Top ten exports (2015):

 

image

 

1. Motor vehicles (18.7% of total exports)

2. Machinery & equipment (17%)

3. Electronic equipment (9.9%)

4. Pharmaceuticals (5.7%)

5. Medical & technical equipment (4.6%)

6. Plastics (4.6%)

7. Aircraft & Spacecraft (3.5%)

8. Oil (2.5%)

9. Iron or steel products (2.2%)

10. Organic chemicals (2%)

 

Largest manufacturers by revenue

image

 

1. Volkswagen (Automotive) $254 billion

2. Daimler (Automotive) $150.8 billion

3. BASF (Chemicals) $103.9 billion

4. Siemens (Engineering) $100.6 billion

5. BMW (Automotive) $98.8 billion

6. Airbus (Aerospace & Defence) $74.5 billion

7. Bosch (Engineering) $71.6 billion

8. Bayer (Pharmaceuticals & Chemicals) $52.5 billion

9. ThyssenKrupp (Metals) $51.6 billion

10. Continental (Tyres) $43.2 billion

 

(Source: Forbes.com)

 

Top 5 Engineering Institutes

image

 

1. RWTH Aachen University

2. Technical University of Munich

3. Universität Stuttgart

4. Technische Universität Darmstadt

5. Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)

 

(Source: Topuniversities.com)

 

Notable figures in German engineering

 

Konrad Zuse (1910-1995)

image

 

Inventor of the world's first programmable computer, the functional program-controlled Turing-complete Z3, which became operational in May 1941. Also developed the first process control computer (the S2 computing machine) the first commercial computer (Z4) and the first high-level programming language (Plankalkül). Considered by many to be the father of modern computing

 

Otto Lilienthal (1848-1896)

image

Aviation pioneer who made a significant contribution to heavier-than-air flight. By completing the first successful, repeated and well documented gliding flights, he raised the profile of aviation around the world, and was cited as a major inspiration by the Wright Brothers.

 

Karl Benz (1844-1929)

image

Engine designer and automobile engineer whose Benz Patent Motorcar is considered the first practical motorcar. His wife Bertha conducted the first long distance automobile trip in August 1888, demonstrating the feasibility of Benz automobiles for travel. Instrumental in the foundation of the Mercedes Benz corporation.

 

Ernst Werner von Siemens (1816-1892)

image

Inventor and industrialist who founded the Siemens electrical and telecommunications company. Notable inventions include the first electric elevator, the moving-coil transducer and electromote trolleybus. Often referred to as Germany's founding father of electrical engineering.

 

Rudolph Diesel (1858-1913)

image

Mechanical engineer who invented the Diesel engine. Also conducted pioneering work in the fields of refrigeration and thermal efficiency, before his mysterious death in 1913. Inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame in 1978.

 

Jörg Schlaich (1934-)

image

Structural engineer known for his groundbreaking work in the creative design of bridges, long-span roofs and other complex structures. Co-founded Schlaich Bergermann & Partner, a structural engineering firm that has delivered major innovative projects all over the world.

 

What do you think of when you think about German engineering? Have you ever lived, worked or studied in Germany? Share your insights and experiences in the comments below, and let us know what else you'd like to see from our focus on Germany and engineering over the coming weeks.

  • manufacturing
  • global spotlight
  • germany
  • Share
  • History
  • More
  • Cancel
  • Sign in to reply

Top Comments

  • Jan Cumps
    Jan Cumps over 8 years ago +5
    I'd like to also nominate Heinrich Hertz. And a real-life story: when I was studying electronics (early & mid 80's), we'd all browse all day through the Oppermann catalog.They were the Heathkit / *** Smith…
  • tonydbeck
    tonydbeck over 6 years ago +1
    I always think of the Germans as excellent engineers with great attention to detail. Generally speaking German products are always made with great precision. Where I work, a large proportion of our machinery…
  • tonydbeck
    tonydbeck over 6 years ago

    I always think of the Germans as excellent engineers with great attention to detail.  Generally speaking German products are always made with great precision. 

     

    Where I work, a large proportion of our machinery is German and has been very reliable.  We have a huge amount of Siemens equipment that has been in service for 20 or more years and is still going strong!   It is all very well engineered equipment.

     

    I have also worked along with a few German engineers on commissioning work in the UK and China and have always really enjoyed working along with them.   The engineers I have worked with have all been very focused on the task at hand and had excellent levels of knowledge and skill.

     

    --------------------------

    Tony

    • Cancel
    • Vote Up +1 Vote Down
    • Sign in to reply
    • More
    • Cancel
  • Jan Cumps
    Jan Cumps over 8 years ago

    I'd like to also nominate Heinrich Hertz.

     

    And a real-life story: when I was studying electronics (early & mid 80's), we'd all browse all day through the Oppermann catalog.They were the Heathkit /*** Smith of this corner of Europe.

    • Cancel
    • Vote Up +5 Vote Down
    • Sign in to reply
    • More
    • Cancel
element14 Community

element14 is the first online community specifically for engineers. Connect with your peers and get expert answers to your questions.

  • Members
  • Learn
  • Technologies
  • Challenges & Projects
  • Products
  • Store
  • About Us
  • Feedback & Support
  • FAQs
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Legal and Copyright Notices
  • Sitemap
  • Cookies

An Avnet Company © 2025 Premier Farnell Limited. All Rights Reserved.

Premier Farnell Ltd, registered in England and Wales (no 00876412), registered office: Farnell House, Forge Lane, Leeds LS12 2NE.

ICP 备案号 10220084.

Follow element14

  • X
  • Facebook
  • linkedin
  • YouTube