This year’s CETOP General Assembly took place at CETIM, the Technical Centre for Mechanical Industries, in Senlis, France, on 5/6 May, on the kind invitation of the French CETOP member association ARTEMA.
CETOP President, Dr. Steffen Haack, Bosch Rexroth, informed about the “CETOP Update Strategic Topics”, followed by a lively discussion of the attending CETOP member associations.
Furthermore, Marcos Carias, economist for North America from Coface, gave a presentation on “The impact of the Middle East conflict on European economic activity: economic conditions, inflation, shortages… and competition from China”.
This was followed by a discussion and presentations of the CETOP Vice President’s on Economic, Education, Marketing and Communication, Research and Technics matters.
The event covered several major developments and strategic priorities. Member organizations met to shape the programme for 2026, using focused workshops to encourage cooperation and exchange across the sector. Leaders of the technical, economic, and training-focused groups reported on current studies, progress, and upcoming plans, underlining the strong role of specialist expertise within the organization.
A refreshed visual identity was unveiled, presenting a more modern look that mirrors the accuracy and innovative character of fluid power technologies. Alongside this, the association’s website was completely overhauled, offering clearer navigation, a better layout, and quicker access to key resources and information. The importance of accelerating digital transformation was strongly highlighted, with a clear call for European companies to adopt digital tools and processes, supported by shared knowledge and joint initiatives.
Strengthening international ties was also emphasized, particularly with partner organizations in the United States, India, and Japan, to better address global standards and market demands. Finally, a review of Hannover Messe 2026 confirmed the strong impact of the industry’s presence there, with high visitor interest and valuable opportunities to present innovations and deepen professional connections.