On March 19, 2026, the Central Association for Surface Technology (ZVO), together with representatives of its Industrial Coaters and Chemical and Plant Engineering divisions, took part in political talks at the German Bundestag. At the Paul Löbe Building, the delegation met with Dr. Klaus Wiener and Nora Seitz of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group.
Pressures on Industrial SMEs
The discussions centered on the economic conditions facing industrial companies in Germany. In the participants’ view, high energy costs, growing regulatory requirements and rising labor costs are placing a particular strain on the competitiveness of many businesses. Industry executives described their day-to-day operating experience and pointed to the impact on investment decisions and location choices.
Political Processes and Economic Pressure
According to the association, there is a general awareness at the political level that action is needed. At the same time, the discussion made clear that reforms and relief measures take time. For SME-driven segments of the surface technology industry in particular, that time lag can become a problem when companies are already operating under intense competitive pressure.
Industrial Policy as a Location Issue
Another topic raised at the meeting was concern about ongoing deindustrialization in Germany and Europe. ZVO sees a need for reliable industrial policy conditions and intends to continue its dialogue with political decision-makers. The aim is to ensure that the importance of surface technology to industrial value chains is given greater consideration in political decision-making.