Around 46% of companies in the mechanical and plant engineering industry in Germany experienced counterfeit products in the last two years. This is shown by the new 2024 study on industrial security and counterfeiting of the German Mechanical Engineering Industry Association (VDMA), published in April. What seems to be particularly interesting is that the number of counterfeiting cases has fallen significantly compared to the 2022 study (back then, the figure was still around 72%) and has now reached its lowest level since the series of studies began. According to the report, the marked decline can also be attributed to effective measures against counterfeiting by the companies concerned.
The total losses amounted to around 4.1 billion euros, while around 16,000 jobs were lost, according to the VDMA. These figures also decreased compared to 2022. According to the report, about 60% of the cases fell into the categories of copied components and external appearances. Almost a third of the companies surveyed also stated that their websites or online stores had been faked, while copies of catalogs, brochures, and product photos had increased significantly too. However, counterfeits of entire machines have decreased.
The study also observed a marked change with regards to the originators of counterfeit products. While 70% of copied products were still commissioned by competitors back in 2022, the report found that this figure had fallen to 58% in 2024. In contrast, there was a significant increase in imitation cases involving professional large‑scale imitators (42%) and state‑owned companies (18%). As two years previously, most counterfeit products came from China, accounting for around 82% of imitations. In second and third place were India (18%) and Germany itself (16%).
Moreover, the VDMA study points to the increasing threat of cyberattacks. According to the report, around one in four companies in the German mechanical and plant engineering sector has been affected by often serious cyberattacks in the last two years. The companies surveyed were also already responding to the increased threat of cyberattacks: Almost all of them said they were taking at least one measure to protect themselves against cyberattacks. For example, 80% of companies had set up an attack detection system, while 59% had taken out cyber insurance. A new directive for the secure operation of information systems (NIS2) is also troubling companies; it requires affected companies to register with a national authority.
Every two years, the VDMA examines counterfeiting in mechanical and plant engineering as well as its risks and impact in this study, surveying around 100 companies in the industry. This year, the association has also expanded its survey to include research into cybersecurity for the first time.
