Demographic change megatrend
The shifting age pyramid entails not only challenges but also great opportunities. Phoenix Mecano products make a significant contribution to enabling older people to lead comfortable and independent lives and to counteracting the shortage of skilled labour.
The demographic development of a society is influenced by many factors. After the Second World War, Europe experienced a population boom combined with a general period of prosperity. Rising birth rates gave the continent renewed vitality and sustained economic growth. In Germany alone, the population swelled from 69.3 million in 1950 to a remarkable 82.3 million in 2000. It was a similar picture in Switzerland, where population growth peaked between 1950 and 1970. China also experienced a surge in population, which turned the country into a global economic power.
However, rising prosperity has seen birth rates fall in recent decades, particularly in Europe and East Asia. At the same time, life expectancy has gone up. Thanks to modern medical care and an increased awareness of health and well-being, people in industrialised countries are living longer and healthier lives than ever before. This opens up new prospects for a comfortable and fulfilling life in old age, which in turns creates new opportunities for a high-quality way of life and sustainable development.
Many Phoenix Mecano products play a key role in this context. Drives and controls for electrically adjustable comfort and healthcare furniture enable people to have an enjoyable, modern lifestyle in their own homes, meaning that older people can stay in their familiar surroundings for longer. Meanwhile, in care facilities, these systems ease the burden on hard-pressed nursing staff.
In the industrial sector, companies such as RK Rose+Krieger and Rose Systemtechnik are helping to optimise work processes and simplify interfaces. Their innovative solutions simplify assembly processes and can be seamlessly combined with automation solutions to ensure efficient production. This means that fewer manufacturing staff are needed, which is one of the most effective measures to combat the growing shortage of skilled labour.