Skip to main content

MTP goes Industry @ Merck

Practical insights into the successful implementation of MTP

On September 29, 2026, MTP goes Industry will bring together operators, equipment manufacturers, engineering companies and technology providers at Merck in Darmstadt, Germany to explore the practical implementation of the Module Type Package (MTP) standard.

The event focuses on real-world MTP applications, operator requirements, implementation experiences and the role of MTP-enabled equipment in modular production. Participants can expect impulse talks, a panel discussion, interactive workshops, guided Merck laboratory tours, the on-site Microfair with exhibiting companies, and opportunities for technical exchange throughout the day.
 

September 29, 2026 | Merck, Darmstadt | English | Free of charge

MTP-Logo2024_OSrgb_kurz.jpg

Preliminary Agenda

8:30 am

Get-together- Start the day with coffee and informal networking.
 

8:45 am

Welcome & Introduction - Introduction to the Microfair, organizational information on workshops and guided tours.

  • Mathias Maurmaier | Siemens


8:50 am

Keynote Speech- MTP is the Foundation for Scalable, Open Automation

  • Michelangelo Canzoneri | Merck


9:30 am

Panel Discussion- MTP in Practice: Expectations, Challenges and Future Requirements

  • Sebastian Härtner | Merck
  • Martin Eilers | MEYER WERFT
  • Dr. Karl Mocha | Bayer
  • Christian Maas | Pyrum
  • nn


10:30 am

Coffee Break & Visit to the Microfair
 

11:00 am

Workshop 1: Integration Capability as a Competitive Advantage – System Integrator Requirements for Future PEAs

  • Andreas Langer | CTE
  • Wolfram Hänsel | Pavis

Workshop 2: Getting Modularization Right from the Start – PEA Design, Modularization Concepts, and First Steps Toward Implementation

  • Thomas Makait | MTP4Pharma
  • Lukas Grahl | Semodia

Workshop 3: Successfully Implementing MTP – Technologies, Experiences, and Business Value for PEA Manufacturers

  • Saverio Mottana | Masco
  • nn | Tec5
  • Marcel v. d. Haar | Merck Life Science

Guided Tour of Merck Laboratories

  • Andreas Bamberg | Merck
  • Heiko Christ | Merck
  • Christian Schäfer | Merck


12:00 pm

Lunch Break & Visit to the Microfair
 

1:00 pm

Parallel Workshop Sessions & Guided Tour – Round 2

  • Workshop 1
  • Workshop 2
  • Workshop 3
  • Guided Tour of Merck Laboratories


2:00 pm

Coffee Break & Visit to the Microfair
 

2:30 pm

Parallel Workshop Sessions & Guided Tour – Round 3

  • Workshop 1
  • Workshop 2
  • Workshop 3
  • Guided Tour of Merck Laboratories


3:30 pm

Summary

  • Mathias Maurmaier | Siemens


4:00 pm

End of the Event

Subject to change

Program Content Overview

Keynote

The keynote will highlight why modular production and MTP are becoming strategically important: increasing pressure for faster, more cost-efficient, and smaller-scale production, different industry requirements, and the need to move beyond today’s often non-scalable approaches.

It will address the impact of early adopters, the risks of missing the shift towards scalable modular solutions, and what is needed to succeed: avoiding vendor lock-in, defining the right automation and integration levels, and using MTP-enabled PEAs as a basis for flexibility, differentiation, and future competitiveness.
 

Panel Discussion

The panel discussion will focus on practical requirements and implementation realities from different industrial sectors. Operators and industry representatives will share what they expect from MTP-enabled PEAs in concrete projects, where integration challenges arise today, and which requirements equipment manufacturers and solution providers need to address.

The discussion will also cover lessons learned from ongoing initiatives, open questions for broader market adoption, and the role of collaboration between operators, OEMs, suppliers, and integrators in making MTP usable at scale.
 

Workshop 1

Integration Capability as a Competitive Advantage - System Integrator Requirements for Future PEAs

How must Process Equipment Assemblies (PEAs) be designed in the future to ensure successful deployment in modularization projects? This workshop explores the perspective of system integrators, who serve as the key interface between plant operators and PEA manufacturers. Participants will discuss proven integration concepts, current challenges in module integration, and the requirements for modern MTP-enabled PEAs. The objective is to develop a shared understanding of the technical and organizational prerequisites manufacturers must meet in order to be considered for future projects and tenders. implementation strategies will be presented and discussed, including MTP-enabled controllers, gateway-based solutions, and software-centric architectures using virtual PLC systems. Beyond the technical aspects, the workshop will examine impacts on engineering effort, reusability, scalability, and return on investment. The goal is to provide PEA manufacturers with a solid basis for selecting and defining their own MTP strategy.


Workshop 2

Getting Modularization Right from the Start - PEA Design, Modularization Concepts,and First Steps Toward Implementation

The success of modular production concepts is often determined during the early design phase. This workshop demonstrates how companies can take a structured approach to modularization and develop robust PEA concepts. Key topics include defining appropriate module boundaries, designing reusable PEAs, and understanding how early design decisions affect integration, qualification, and scalability. Through practical examples, participants will learn how existing engineering processes can gradually evolve toward modular architectures and how MTP supports this transformation.
 

Workshop 3

Successfully Implementing MTP - Technologies, Experiences, and Business Value for PEA Manufacturers

What are the most effective technical approaches to creating an MTP-enabled PEA today, and when does the investment pay off? In this workshop, experienced users and solution providers will share practical insights from real-world projects. Different implementation strategies will be presented and discussed, including MTP-enabled controllers, gateway-based solutions, and software-centric architectures using virtual PLC systems. Beyond the technical aspects, the workshop will examine impacts on engineering effort, reusability, scalability, and return on investment. The goal is to provide PEA manufacturers with a solid basis for selecting and defining their own MTP strategy.

Companies at Microfair

MTP_goes_Industry_Sponsoren_20260416.png

Participant Information

Below you will find the most important information regarding workshop selection, participant limits, event details, networking dinner and hotel recommendations.
 

Important: Action Required by July 20

  1. Workshop Selection Required
    To support our detailed planning, we kindly ask you to complete the Workshop Selection Form as soon as possible.
    During the program, four options (three workshops and the Merck laboratory tour) will be offered. As there are three session rounds, each participant can attend three out of the four available options.
    Please submit your preferences here: https://forms.office.com/e/RSBXc4wMQ5
     
  2. Participant Limit per Company
    Due to the high level of interest and limited capacity, we kindly ask companies to limit attendance to a maximum of two participants.
    If your company has registered more than two participants, please inform maria.mueller(at)profibus(dot)com which participant(s) will withdraw their registration. Otherwise, we ask for your understanding that we may need to adjust the number of participants per company accordingly.


Event Details

  • Location: Merck Headquarters
  • Visitor parking: Frankfurter Str. 133, 64293 Darmstadt
  • Date & Time: September 29, 2026 | 08:30 – 16:00
  • Language: English
  • Participation Fee: Free of charge (including seminar materials and catering)


Optional Networking Dinner

Participants who have registered for the networking dinner are warmly invited to join us on:

     Monday, September 28, 2026, at 19:00

     Darmstädter Ratskeller
     Marktplatz 8 | 64283 Darmstadt | https://www.ratskeller-darmstadt.de/

Please note that the networking dinner is self-pay and not included in the workshop participation.

Reservations have been made on the terrace. In case of unfavorable weather conditions, the dinner will take place in the brewery restaurant ("Braustube").


Hotel Recommendations

We have arranged special rates and room allocations with the following hotels. Please make your reservations directly with the hotels. Accommodation costs are at your own expense.

Group assignments for workshops:

Please refer to the letter on your name badge for your group assignment.

The workshop groups have been allocated according to the responses submitted in the pre-event participant survey. To ensure balanced discussions and the best possible workshop experience, we kindly ask all participants to respect and maintain the assigned group allocation.