SMART FACTORY – THE FUTURE IS HERE

The manufacturing industry in the state capital is one of the economically strongest in all of North-Rhine-Westphalia (NRW). All the more so when the network of core industry, service providers and tech start-ups is taken into consideration. A master plan is supposed to lead this network into a future full of prospects.

Industry isn‘t everything – yet they say without industry everything is nothing. How vital is manufacture really for our lives? VIVID’s reporter Maria Leipold spent a day on the lookout for ‘Products Made in Düsseldorf’ and their place in our day-to-day life.

The industry can benefit from the possibilities of digitalisation in many ways - but often still does not. Some start-ups from Düsseldorf are addressing the situation. For example FoxBase and Fero Labs.

Komatsu Mining from Benrath is one of the world market leaders in the field of machines for the mining industry. 

Cycling - especially with electric assistance - is becoming increasingly popular. VIVID has talked to cycling specialists from Düsseldorf about the coronavirus' contribution to this development and what the most important bike trends currently are.

Online delivery services for food are not very popular in Germany. The Dutch provider Picnic has nevertheless succeeded in conquering the market in North-Rhine-Westphalia (NRW). VIVID spoke with Frederick Knaudt, Founding Team Picnic Germany, about a completely new business model. 

Andrea Hendrickx is curiosity personified. The 52-year-old manages the German operations of the Indian technology company Infosys. In her private life, she is committed to environmental protection and development aid - and collects medical lasers. That in turn has made VIVID curious. Time for a chat!

For almost 140 years, the Breuninger brand has stood for high-quality fashion. It can be experienced at Düsseldorf's Kö-Bogen in Germany's second largest flagship store since 2013. Andreas Rebbelmund, its Managing Director, spoke with VIVID publisher Rainer Kunst during a running session about leadership, multi-channel strategies and lessons learned during the Corona period. 

Having grown up in a tiny village of no more than 900 people in the rural Emsland region in northern Germany, Schmidtfrerick moved to Düsseldorf in 2018 for a work placement at Saatchi & Saatchi. And as the advertising agency offered her a fabulous job opportunity straight after, she decided to remain loyal to her beloved adopted home. As a talent manager, the 24-year-old ensures that other young people get enthusiastic about Düsseldorf – among other things through the initiative ‘Beyond Königsallee’.

For almost four decades Werner M. Dornscheidt has passionately shaped Messe Düsseldorf - most recently as Chairman of the Board. In an interview with VIVID, he talks about the most important achievements during this time, his relationship with the city – and what an Honorary Consul of Mexico actually does.

Closed museums, postponed exhibitions, artists in isolation. During the corona crisis, Düsseldorf's art businesses upgraded digitally and took art online – and vice versa. Moving towards the future.