Orders received by the German machine tool industry in the first quarter of 2025 were 10 percent down on the same period last year. Domestic orders fell by 30 percent, while orders from abroad remained at the previous year's level.

Orders received by the German machine tool industry in the fourth quarter of 2024 were 7 percent down on the previous year's figure. Orders from both Germany and abroad fell by similar amounts: 7 percent and 6 percent, respectively. In 2024 as a whole, incoming orders declined by 19 percent. Domestic orders were 9 percent down on the previous year, while orders from abroad fell by 24 percent.

Major decline in production expected in 2025. "The German machine tool industry considers itself to be in a very strong position among the international competition, despite the numerous challenges," reports Franz-Xaver Bernhard, Chairman of the VDW (German Machine Tool Builders' Association), Frankfurt am Main, at the association's annual press conference.

Experts draft practical guidelines for more transparency in the supply chain. What is the CO2 footprint of a machine tool? Anyone who wants to prepare a sustainability report for a manufacturing company or document progress in greenhouse gas emissions will probably pass this question on to the supply chain.

Orders received by the German machine tool industry in the second quarter of 2024 were 28 percent down on the same period last year. Orders from Germany fell by 13 percent whereas those from abroad dropped by 33 percent.

The digital registration documents for EMO 2025 are currently being sent out. The world’s leading trade fair for production technology is set to celebrate its 50th anniversary at the next event, scheduled for 22 to 26 September 2025 in Hanover.

Engineering sector now biggest customer for first time: Last year, the German machine tool industry supplied around 27 percent of its production to the automotive industry and its suppliers, according to the latest customer structure survey conducted by the VDW (German Machine Tool Builders' Association) among its members.