BEMAS New Year's Dinner: Strengthening Industrial Resilience in an Age of Electrification

On Thursday, 28 January 2027, we will once again bring together members, board members and professionals from the world of maintenance, reliability and asset management for a festive evening filled with inspiration, connection and networking.

Lessons from 100 years of building, repairing and servicing electric motors for navigating the challenges ahead.

Industrial resilience is becoming increasingly important as electrification reshapes both new and existing industrial infrastructure. Demand is growing for larger, more specialised and mission-critical electric drives, while ageing equipment must remain reliable in an environment of longer lead times, obsolete components, changing supply chains and shortages of technical expertise.

These developments make decisions around electric motors increasingly strategic. Availability, lifecycle risk, energy efficiency, technical documentation, supplier capabilities and access to skilled people can all determine how resilient your operation really is.

In this keynote, Mathis connects lessons from almost a century of MENZEL history with current developments in electrification and the international motor-service industry, showing how industrial companies can prepare today for the risks of tomorrow.

Part 1: 100 Years of Change: How MENZEL Learned to Adapt

• From a Berlin repair company founded in 1927 to an international manufacturer and service provider for large industrial motors.
• Lessons from war, destruction, rebuilding, economic crises and major technological shifts.
• Why long-term thinking, technical expertise, flexibility and close customer relationships remain essential.
• How apprenticeships, internal development and knowledge transfer help preserve technical know-how across generations.

Part 2: The Electrification Wave: A New Industrial Reality

• How electrification, energy infrastructure and data centres are increasing demand for larger and more critical electric drives.
• Why availability, obsolescence, lead times, supply chains and energy efficiency are becoming strategic concerns.
• How the role of motor service companies is shifting from repair provider to engineering and lifecycle partner.
• What EASA insights reveal about changing maintenance practices, supplier relationships, workforce challenges and motor repair strategies.

Part 3: Resilience by Design: Preparing Industrial Companies for What Comes Next

• Identify which motors and drive systems create the greatest production and lifecycle risks.
• Make deliberate choices between repair, overhaul, retrofit, replication and replacement.
• Select critical suppliers based on engineering competence, quality, responsiveness and technical capability — not price alone.
• Protect technical expertise through training, knowledge transfer and strong partnerships.
• Build optionality through suitable spares, accessible documentation, adaptable specifications and qualified alternative suppliers.

You learn how electrification is changing the risks surrounding critical electric motors and which technical, organisational and lifecycle decisions can strengthen industrial resilience.

Join this keynote to discover how you can prepare your assets, your technical organisation and your supplier network for the challenges ahead.

17:30   Reception

18:30   Dinner & Keynote

20:30   Q&A, open bar and networking

Technopolis, Technologielaan 1, 2800 Mechelen

• Employees of companies who are a member of BEMAS: €125 per person (excl. VAT)
• Non-members: €155 per person (excl. VAT)

Tip: Reserve a company table and enjoy a reduced rate!

Booking a full table of 8 seats offers both a cost advantage and the opportunity to invite colleagues or clients to join you at this festive networking evening.

• Table of 8 – For companies who are a member of BEMAS: €795 (excl. VAT)
• Table of 8 – For companies who are not a member of BEMAS: €945 (excl. VAT)