The ACHEMA conference is an impressive exhibition on chemical apparatus engineering, closely connected with the epoch-making developments of chemical and process engineering. It is most timely to think about new opportunities of development. Large-scale plant engineering and general plant construction has experienced considerable improvement during the past decades. The effects of these changes are particularly perceptible in the economic sector of German apparatus engineering. Economic pressures have given an additional impetus to a considerable shrinking process. Chemical apparatus engineering will have to focus on two main pillars in the near future: highly qualified standard and innovative products. The latter must be developed in close cooperation with the economic sector of chemical engineering in order to put the hardware required for new technologies and process strategies on the market. This article names fields of manifestation of the general technical progress. The thrust is directed toward an elevated level of product quality that can be achieved from the point of view of apparatus engineering. These are properties that will finally lead to higher profitability. ne signs for a new start of apparatus engineering are quite favorable, and this opportunity has to be seized. The ACHEMA conference as a location of exchange of experiences and an opportunity of critical assessment could be a source of ideas for future work.