Post by Niko Warbanoff

Germany as a business location faces massive challenges, our economy’s need for transformation is vast, and the mood in many places is disheartened. What we need are sources of encouragement. For me, one such source of encouragement is the Mercedes-Benz Digital Factory Campus in Berlin-Marienfelde, which I had the privilege of visiting this week. It is an outstanding example showing that our country is capable of innovation, capable of digitalization, and still able to set world-class industrial standards. Marienfelde is the "Transformation Plant" for the entire Mercedes-Benz Group. Here, ideas become reality; new technologies are not just developed and tested but also made viable for production. Take the new axial-flux motor, for example. It packs up to 500 hp into a motor that you could easily carry home with you — weighing 26 kilograms and very compact in size. Marienfelde also serves as a training and education center. Practical innovations and further training in digitalization: the plant fulfills two major tasks for the future at once. As a result, it wasn't just me who was thrilled, but also the colleagues from Stadler Rail who accompanied me during my visit. Lucius Gerig, Dennis Laubbacher, Roland Reichlin, Oliver Werren, and my DB International Operations colleague Andreas Wegerif all agreed: inspiring, progressive, and practical. There is a lot we can learn from the Mercedes-Benz Digital Factory Campus. It is extremely encouraging that we have such innovations here in Germany. Many thanks to Dr. Markus Keicher and Matthias Ziege for the exciting insights!