About Konstruktionspraxis

Konstruktionspraxis

konstruktionspraxis is the specialist medium for developers and design engineers in mechanical, apparatus and vehicle engineering, published monthly in Würzburg by the Vogel Communications Group. First issued in 1990, the magazine accompanies all phases of the design process, from product concept and material selection through prototyping to the necessary soft- and hardware, addressing engineers in machine building, electrical engineering and the metal- and plastics-processing industries. With a distributed circulation of around 23,000 copies, seven annual special issues and a dedicated podcast, konstruktionspraxis is one of the central professional media for the German-speaking design engineering community, combining current trend reporting with background features, fundamentals articles and interviews.

Overview

konstruktionspraxis, in its own lowercase spelling, is a specialist journal for developers and constructors in machine, apparatus and vehicle construction, in electrical engineering and in further metal- and plastics-processing branches of industry. Its readership consists of design engineers, development engineers, engineering managers and technical decision-makers who shape the products of German industry, from machinery and plant engineering to automotive suppliers and electrical equipment manufacturers. The editorial concept follows the complete design process: from the draft of the product through the selection of the suitable material and the first prototypes to the soft- and hardware required for their realisation.

The magazine appears monthly in German, with the print ISSN 0937-4167 and an IVW-audited distributed circulation of 22,979 copies. In addition to the twelve monthly issues, seven special issues are published each year on topics including sustainable design, vehicle construction, drive and fluid technology, Best of Products, and tips and tricks. The information offering comprises background reports, fundamentals articles and interviews, alongside reports on new developments, their application and best-practice examples from industry that create market transparency.

The publisher is the Vogel Communications Group GmbH and Co. KG of Würzburg, one of Germany's largest providers of specialist communication, with a portfolio spanning more than 100 print media, web portals and business events. The editor-in-chief is Ute Drescher. The brand extends digitally through konstruktionspraxis.vogel.de and through the konstruktionspraxis podcast, the specialist magazine for listening, which supports designers and developers in their daily tasks with expert tips and trend topics.

History

konstruktionspraxis was first published in 1990, at a time when computer-aided design was transforming engineering work and the German mechanical engineering industry was entering a period of technological upheaval. The magazine was established by the Vogel publishing house of Würzburg, already a leading publisher of industrial specialist media, to give design engineers their own dedicated journal. The early 1990s saw the title establish its formula: practice-oriented coverage of the design process, from CAD systems and materials to components and drive technology.

Through the 1990s and 2000s the magazine accompanied the digitalisation of engineering: the spread of 3D CAD, the rise of simulation and finite-element methods, the integration of electronics and software into mechanical products, and the emergence of mechatronics as a discipline. The title documented the industry's response to globalisation, cost pressure and the growing importance of development speed, while maintaining its focus on the practical needs of the constructing engineer.

In the 2010s and 2020s the magazine addressed the megatrends reshaping product development: Industry 4.0 and the digital twin, additive manufacturing, lightweight construction, sustainable design and the electrification of drives. The launch of the konstruktionspraxis podcast extended the brand into audio, with episodes on topics from chillers and simulation to e-mobility and robotics. The seven annual special issues developed into a signature element, offering deep dives into sustainable construction, vehicle design, drive and fluid technology and product highlights. Under the editorship of Ute Drescher, the magazine maintains its position as the practice-oriented voice of the German-speaking design engineering community.

Content and Sections

The content of konstruktionspraxis covers all phases of the design process. Product development features address the draft and conception of new products, design methodology and the management of development projects. Materials coverage deals with the selection of suitable materials, from steels and light metals to plastics and composites, with attention to sustainability and recyclability. Prototyping and manufacturing articles follow the path from the first prototype to series production, including additive manufacturing and toolmaking.

Component and system selection forms a core of the magazine: connection technology, fluid technology, drive technology, automation and electrical engineering are covered with product news, comparative tests and application reports. Software and hardware topics address CAD, simulation, PLM and the digital tools of modern development. The magazine reports on current trends and tendencies, from digital engineering and the industrial internet of things to robotics and the automation of production, and its interviews give industry experts and researchers a platform.

Best-practice examples from industry show how companies solve design challenges, creating market transparency for readers facing similar tasks. The special issues on sustainable construction, vehicle construction, drive and fluid technology, Best of Products and tips and tricks provide focused deep-dives beyond the monthly rhythm. Fundamentals articles explain the engineering principles behind the products, giving younger engineers the theoretical grounding their daily work requires. The podcast complements the print offering with expert tips on development and design and discussions of trend topics such as IIoT, digital engineering and sustainability.

Publisher and Organization

konstruktionspraxis is published by the Vogel Communications Group GmbH and Co. KG, based in Würzburg, Bavaria. The group is one of Germany's largest providers of specialist communication, with around 700 employees, revenues of 104 million euros and a portfolio of more than 100 print media, web portals and business events. Its specialist media include Automobil Industrie, MM MaschinenMarkt, MM Logistik, kfz-betrieb, Elektronikpraxis, Process and Laborpraxis alongside konstruktionspraxis. The group's leadership comprises Matthias Bauer as chairman, Dennis Hirthammer and Günter Schürger.

The magazine appears monthly in German, with the print ISSN 0937-4167 and an IVW-audited distributed circulation of 22,979 copies, plus seven special issues per year. The editor-in-chief is Ute Drescher, leading an editorial team based at the Vogel campus in Würzburg. The brand's advertising clients come from the component and systems industries, from drive and fluid technology manufacturers to software providers and materials suppliers, reaching the engineers who specify and select the technologies of German product development.

Digital Presence

The digital home of konstruktionspraxis is konstruktionspraxis.vogel.de, the brand's web portal within the Vogel Communications Group's digital network. The site carries current news, articles, product information and the digital editions of the magazine, extending the monthly print rhythm into continuous coverage of design engineering. The portal serves the community of developers and constructors with searchable content, newsletters and event information.

The konstruktionspraxis podcast, the specialist magazine for listening, is available on the podcast platforms, supporting designers and developers in their daily tasks with expert tips on development and design. Episodes address trend topics such as the industrial internet of things, digital engineering, robotics, the automation of production and sustainability, and listeners are invited to send feedback and topic suggestions to the editorial team at redaktion@konstruktionspraxis.de. The audio format reaches engineers during commutes and work breaks, extending the brand's service into the daily routines of its audience. For the industry's suppliers, the combination of the monthly print magazine, the special issues, the web portal and the podcast offers a targeted platform reaching the design engineers who decide on components, materials and technologies in German-speaking industry.