The central Ruhr region has a long industrial tradition and, even today, industry still provides between 20% and 30% of the region's economic output. At present, innovative medium-sized companies with a global customer structure are shaping this industrial sector – companies such as Maschinenfabrik Mönninghoff. The goal of our involvement in the Initiative Industrie Mittleres Ruhrgebiet project is to strengthen an industry-friendly environment in the region in order to promote further establishment of producing companies and improve acceptance of industry in policies and society at large.