Companies in the optical, medical and mechatronic industry in Germany are expecting growth of 8 per cent to a total of just under 46 billion euro for 2008. The number of employees is also expected to rise by 3 per cent to 242,000. The number of industrial businesses is expected to remain constant at around 2,700 companies.

The area of laser and optical components alone is expecting sales to grow from 9 billion euro in 2007 to 9.7 billion euro this year. Here the growth rate is in fact 9 per cent. This positive estimate is based on domestic as well as foreign business. Domestic sales are expected to grow by 10 per cent. This corresponds to a figure of around 3.5 billion euro. In terms of foreign business the companies are assuming growth of 8 per cent, so that sales would total around 6.2 billion euro. The number of employees is also expected to rise in 2008. Based on a forecast increase of 3 per cent this would take the total to around 48,700 employees.

Already in 2007, this sub-industry saw particularly strong growth. For example, sales in the ophthalmic industry realized a relatively modest increase of 2.4 per cent to 3.7 billion euro, whereas the laser and optical components industry saw sales increase by 12 per cent to 9 billion euro.

Overall, provisional figures for last year show that the companies in the optical, medical and mechatronic industry achieved growth of 8.6 pr cent. The domestic business rose by 8.8 per cent and realized a total of 17.6 billion euro. Foreign sales of 24.7 billion euro and growth of 8.5 per cent also significantly exceeded the previous year's level. The export quota for 2007 remained unchanged at 8 per cent. The growth trend had a correspondingly positive effect on the development of the number of employees: at around 235,000 the number of employees rose by five per cent. In terms of the number of industrial businesses, this remained virtually constant with a slight 1.3 per cent increase at 2,690 companies.

Despite this positive overall development all three sub-industries have the same problem: the lack of qualified staff. The industry association SPECTARIS attributes this problem to the fact that orders, projects and production processes of the corresponding branches of industry have become much more complex. At the same time, from the point of view of the managing director of SPECTARIS Sven Behrens, certain counter-measures can be taken. For example, it would be possible to promote enthusiasm for technology in nursery schools and schools and to improve further education and training. In addition, the entry conditions for specialist staff from abroad should be relaxed. The older generation should also be more involved and the proportion of female qualified staff must be promoted more strongly through suitable framework conditions. "The lack of qualified staff should not hinder the development of a future industry ", says Behrens.