Press Releases

USA supersedes China as strongest export market

Frankfurt am Main, February 23, 2024. – The production in German forming technology, one of the most important segments in the machine tool industry, declined in 2023 by a marginal 2 percent to around 2.3 billion euros. “This means that forming – which realizes its turnover in large-scale projects with automotive and other industries as well as with many smaller clients in the sheet metal machining sector – was almost able to maintain its output in spite of a slacking in demand,” commented Dr. Markus Heering, Executive Director of the German…

Orders received by the German machine tool industry in the fourth quarter of 2023 were 17 percent down on the previous year’s figure. Orders from Germany fell by 20 percent whereas those from abroad dropped by 15 percent. Demand increased by 11 percent in nominal terms in 2023 as a whole. Domestic demand was down 14 percent, while foreign demand was 9 percent lower. In real terms, there was a 16 percent decline in demand over the year as a whole.

After four exciting days under the new management of Messe Stuttgart and the German Machine Tool Builders’ Association (VDW) (Association of German Machine Tool Manufacturers), NORTEC closed its doors today after achieving remarkable results. Between 23 and 26 January 2024, NORTEC welcomed 4,800 trade visitors to Hall A1 at Messe Hamburg.

Around 200 exhibitors taking part in the trade fair under new management

NORTEC opened its doors today at Messe Hamburg with a lively start. The Trade Fair for Manufacturers is being held from 23 to 26 January 2024 for the first time under new management. Messe Stuttgart and the German Machine Tool Builders' Association (VDW) took over responsibility for the trade fair in the middle of last year. The official opening ceremony in the Speakers‘ Corner in Hall A1 therefore marks the beginning of a new chapter.

In 2024, the German machine tool industry is expecting production to decline by almost 3 percent to EUR 14.8 billion in nominal terms. "A nominal record volume of 17.0 billion euros was posted in 2018/2019, and five years later, there is still no sign of this figure being matched," said Franz-Xaver Bernhard, Chairman of the VDW (German Machine Tool Builders' Association), at the association's annual press conference in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, on Monday.

Young talents can now register for the Grinder of the Year competition and put their theoretical knowledge and practical grinding skills to the test. Also to be won, alongside the Grinder of the Year 2024 title itself, are training vouchers of up to 3,500 euros in value and many other attractive prizes. Apprentices, journeymen and women as well as career-changers can apply until 26 February 2024. The campaign has been launched by GrindingHub, the trade fair for grinding technology, in cooperation with the Australian grinding machine manufacturer and principal sponsor Anca.