German machine tools are highly sought after worldwide, renowned for their cutting-edge technology and innovative solutions. With a strong international presence, these companies offer comprehensive products, services, and tailored solutions to meet diverse industry needs. Therefore, the German machine tool sector plays a pivotal role in upholding the “Made in Germany” brand, recognized globally for its high standards and quality.
German machine tools are highly sought after worldwide, renowned for their cutting-edge technology and innovative solutions. With a strong international presence, these companies offer comprehensive products, services, and tailored solutions to meet diverse industry needs. Therefore, the German machine tool sector plays a pivotal role in upholding the “Made in Germany” brand, recognized globally for its high standards and quality.
“Made in Germany” machine tools are the key to success, particularly in times of globalized change. They provide industrial manufacturers with technologies of innovative excellence which help them to meet and master the challenges of both the present and the future, thus guaranteeing sustained technical progress. It is not only the products themselves, but also and above all the packages including solutions and services that have underpinned the sector’s superior reputation over many generations – a reputation which is set to continue in the future.
The success factors include a highly qualified workforce, a good infrastructure in place throughout Germany and a dense network of can-do suppliers. They also include discerning customers, with whom joint development and trialing projects are very often conducted. And, not least, there are the highly effective teams of researchers who make sure that the very latest findings are used when producing the machine tools. All these advantages put the German machine tool industry among the world’s top producers and exporters on the international machine tool market, helping its customers all over the world to become and remain successful.
The machine tool industry plays a key role in industrial manufacturing operations: it supplies metalworking production technology to all branches of industry, thus making a crucial contribution towards raising productivity levels in the entire industrial sector. The mechanical and electrical engineering sectors, the automotive industry and its component suppliers, the aircraft industry, the medical technology sector, manufacturers of metal products, and many more, all benefit from their partners in the German machine tool industry.
Top-5 in world production 2023
% share in total production
Top 5 in world exports 2023
% share in total exports
Customer branches of the German machine tool 2023
Distribution of production value in %
The strength of the U.S. economy derives firstly from the country’s abundant and easily accessible raw materials, and secondly from its large domestic market. The economy has been actively modernizing and diversifying, with its primary focus on equipping the industrial sector to meet future challenges. State-of-the-art machinery plays a crucial role here. The U.S. imports more than half of its production technology needs, with nearly one in five of these machine tools sourced from Germany.
In 2004, China replaced the USA as our most important export market. In 2023, the USA became number 1 again. It stays there also in the first half of 2024. For many years, Germany’s machine tool industry has consistently ranked top among the supplier nations, second only to Japan. Recently, the U.S. has increasingly turned to German machine tools, particularly when it comes to substantial investments aimed at reindustrializing its automotive sector, and to meeting the increasing demand from the domestic aerospace industry. In 2023, Germany delivered machines, including parts and accessories, worth more than 1.4 billion euros to the U.S. The primary machine categories supplied in 2023 included machining centers, eroding machines, grinding, honing, and lapping machines, presses, as well as bending, folding, and straightening machines.
With its extensive expertise in all areas of international metalworking, the German machine tool industry remains a valuable partner for the U.S. industrial sector. It regularly demonstrates its capabilities to U.S. customers, particularly at events such as IMTS.
Machine tool imports of USA, top 5 suppliers 2023
% share in total imports
German machine tool exports to USA 2014-2024
in million euros
German machine tool exports to USA by machine type 2023
in million euros
VDW (German Machine Tool Builders’ Association), based in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, represents the interests of the German machine tool industry. Together with the Machine Tools and Manufacturing Systems sector association of the VDMA (German Engineering Federation), VDW represents some 300 predominantly mid-tier companies. These enterprises account for about 90 percent of the sector’s total turnover, and are voluntary members of the association.
VDW is the face of the industry to the public, political decision-makers, business partners, and the scientific community. It has been serving its members for 133 years now. Based on its in-depth knowledge of the industry, VDW provides its clients with sound information and advice, supporting them on individual questions and issues.
VDW is one of the few industry associations that organize exhibitions for the international machine tool industry, and has many decades of experience in this field. With its A fair by VDW quality seal, it stages the leading trade fair for production technology, EMO Hannover, on behalf of the European Association of Manufacturing Technologies (Cecimo), next scheduled for 22 to 26 September 2025. VDW also organizes its own international exhibition for production and manufacturing technologies, NORTEC in Hamburg, next scheduled for 3 to 5 February 2026. GrindingHub in Stuttgart, the top international event for grinding technology, and the youngest member of VDW’s exhibition portfolio, will return from 5 to 8 May 2026.
In addition, VDW supports members who wish to take part in manufacturing technology exhibitions in the key export markets. The association helps companies apply for official joint participation from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, and supports small and medium-sized companies in penetrating new markets.
At IMTS, you will find us in: North 2, Booth 221003
Contact:
VDW – German Machine Tool Builders’ Association
Phone +49 69 756081-0
vdw@vdw.de
www.vdw.de
EMO Hannover takes the pulse of the industry. No other trade fair offers such comprehensive coverage of the international manufacturing technology market for metalworking. Under the topic Innovate Manufacturing it is a gloabal leader and driving force for new products, manufacturing solutions, and services.
EMO Hannover serves as a crucible for innovation, important debates and new business partnerships. Nearly all global market leaders from 45 countries exhibit at the fair. Trade visitors from around 140 nations come from all the key industrial sectors, including machinery and plant engineering, the automotive industry and its suppliers, aerospace, precision mechanics and optics, shipbuilding, medical technology, tool and mold making, steel and lightweight construction.
As the most important interface between industry and production technology, we actively promote modernization processes in manufacturing – even after the fair has closed its doors. We are the industry’s most important event, offering all trade show participants a complete overview and thus enabling them to make informed purchasing decisions. Serving as an international business platform, we promote cross-industry dialogue and effective networking 365 days a year.
umati (universal machine technology interface) is the global initiative for open communication interfaces for the machine building industries and their customers. Machine builders, software producers, component suppliers, and users unite in a strong community to promote the use of open, standardized interfaces based on OPC UA companion specifications. umati ensures uniform implementation, provides a platform for sharing experience, and creates visibility in the market.
umati facilitates the exchange of data between machines, components and installations and its integration into customer- and user-specific IT ecosystems – easily, seamlessly and securely.
OPC UA provides a communication framework between devices on the shop floor. Standardized data models, which are defined in OPC UA Companion Specifications, can be easily supplemented with customer- and manufacturer specific data. For machinery, the main companion specification is the OPC UA for Machinery, which contains basic modules for the machine interface. These modules are crucial for the entire machine and plant engineering sector. The OPC UA for Machine Tools represents a major milestone for the machine tool sector.
At IMTS, you will find us in: East 3, Booth 135256
Contact:
Mr. Götz GÖRISCH
Phone +49 69 756081-64
info@umati.org
www.umati.org
VDMA Laser and Laser Systems for Material Processing
VDMA Laser and Laser Systems for Material Processing is a platform for exchange, communication, and cooperation.
Contact:
Dr. Sven BREITUNG
Phone +49 69 756081-22
s.breitung@vdw.de
www.laser.vdma.org
Additive Manufacturing at VDMA
Additive Manufacturing (AM) is a key horizontal technology for mechanical engineering and numerous other industries.
Contact:
Dr. Markus HEERING
Phone +49 69 6603-1451
markus.heering@vdma.org
www.vdma.org/additive-manufacturing
Exhibitors from Germany at IMTS Chicago 2024
3D MicroPrint GmbH
www.3dmicroprint.com
Booth: East 3 – 135368
Alfing Corporation
www.alfing-corp.com
Booth: East 3 – 135360
ALZMETALL GmbH & Co. KG
www.alzmetall.de
Booth: South 3 – 338566
Representative: ALZMETALL Machine Tools USA Inc.
Bach Resistor Ceramics GmbH
www.bachrc.de
Booth: East 3 – 135374
bavius technologie GmbH
www.bavius-technologie.com/
Booth: South 3 – 338970
Representative: bavius technologie inc.
Behringer GmbH
Maschinenfabrik und Eisengießerei
www.behringer.net
Booth: North 3 – 236844
Representative: Behringer Saws, Inc.
BENZ GmbH Werkzeugsysteme
www.benztooling.com
Booth: West 3 – 432445
Representative: BENZ Tooling, a business unit of Schenck USA Corp.
Heinz Berger Maschinenfabrik GmbH & Co. KG
www.bergergruppe.de
Booth: North 3 – 237117
Blohm Jung GmbH
www.blohmjung.com
Booth: North 3 – 236802
Representative: United Grinding North America, Inc.
botek Präzisionsbohrtechnik GmbH
www.botek.de
Booth: East 3 – 135364
Chiron Group SE
www.chiron-group.com
Booth: South 3 – 338190
Representative: CHIRON Group
Coherent Munich GmbH & Co. KG
www.coherent.com
Booth: East 3 – 135550
Representative: Coherent Inc.
Danobat-Overbeck GmbH
www.danobatgrinding.com
Booth: North 3 – 236811
Representative: DANOBAT Inc.
Datron AG
www.datron.de
Booth: West 3 – 431452
Representative: DATRON Dynamics
DELPH
www.delph-ai.com
Booth: East 3 – 135276
DER SPINDELDOCTOR
www.spindeldoctor.com
Booth: East 3 – 135276
Nidec DESCH Antriebstechnik
www.desch.com
Booth: North 3 – 237238, South 3 – 338948
Representative: Nidec Machine Tool America, LLC.
Deutsche Messe AG
www.messe.de
Booth: East 3 – 135252
DVS Technology AG
www.dvs-technology.de
Booth: North 3 – 236920
EISELE GmbH
www.eisele.eu
Booth: East 3 – 135264
Representative: Eisele Connectors Inc.
EMAG GmbH & Co. KG
www.emag.com
Booth: North 3 – 237047
Representative: EMAG L.L.C.
ERO-Führungen GmbH | Erich Rothweiler & Söhne
www.ero-fuehrungen.de
Booth: East 3 – 135266
Euchner GmbH + Co. KG
www.euchner.de
Booth: North 3 – 236408
Representative: Euchner USA, Inc.
Fachhochschule Dortmund / University of Applied Sciences and Arts (UAS) Dortmund
www.fh-dortmund.de
Booth: East 3 – 135276
Fastems Systems GmbH
www.fastems.de
Booth: South 3 – 338966
Representative: Fastems LLC
Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action
www.bmwk.de
Booth: East 3 – 135252
Arnz Flott GmbH Werkzeugmaschinen
www.flott.de
Booth: South 3 – 338012
Representative: KNUTH Machine Tools USA Inc.
Fraunhofer-Institut für Lasertechnik ILT
www.ilt.fraunhofer.de
Booth: East 3 – 135260
Fraunhofer-Institut für Werkstoff- und Strahltechnik IWS
www.iws.fraunhofer.de
Booth: East 3 – 135276
GE Additive
www.ge.com/additive
Booth: West 3 – 433200
German Pavilion
imts.german-pavilion.com
Booth: East 3 – 135252
Germany Trade & Invest (GTAI)
www.gtai.de
Booth: East 3 – 135252
Gleason-Pfauter Maschinenfabrik GmbH
Gleason-Hurth Tooling GmbH
www.gleason.com
Booth: North 3 – 236909
Representative: Gleason Corporation
Göltenbodt technology GmbH
www.goeltenbodt.com
Booth: West 3 – 432061
GRENZEBACH Maschinenbau GmbH
www.grenzebach.com
Booth: East 3 – 135358
GRIP GmbH
www.grip-gmbh.com
Booth: East 3 – 135274
Grob-Werke GmbH & Co. KG
www.grobgroup.com
Booth: West 3 – 431400
Representative: GROB Systems Inc.; YG-1 Tool Company
Haimer GmbH
www.haimer.de
Booth: West 3 – 431510
Representative: Haimer USA
Hainbuch GmbH
www.hainbuch.com
Booth: West 3 – 431636
Representative: Hainbuch America Corporation
HAMUEL Maschinenbau GmbH & Co. KG
www.hamuel.de
Booth: East 3 – 135262
Dr. Johannes Heidenhein GmbH
www.heidenhain.de
Booth: South 3 – 339440
Representative: HEIDENHAIN CORPORATION
Maschinenfabrik Berthold Hermle AG
www.hermle.de
Booth: South 3 – 339119
Representative: Hermle USA Inc.
HTS Hydraulische Transportsysteme GmbH
www.hts-direkt.de
Booth: East 3 – 135961
Representative: HTS Direct, LLC
HYFRA Industriekühlanlagen GmbH
www.hyfra.com
Booth: North 3 – 236582
IMM Maschinenbau GmbH
www.imm-maschinenbau.de
Booth: East 3 – 135366
INDEX-Werke GmbH & Co. KG
Hahn + Tessky
www.index-werke.de
Booth: South 3 – 339119
Representative: INDEX Corporation
ITB Ingenieurgesellschaft für technische Berechnungen mbH
www.itb-fem.de
Booth: East 3 – 135272
ITT Enidine GmbH
www.itt.com
Booth: East 3 – 135768
Representative: ITT Enidine
JCOM
www.jcom-import.com
Booth: East 3 – 135380
Kapp Niles GmbH & Co.KG
www.kapp-niles.com
Booth: North 3 – 237024
Representative: KAPP Technologies, L.P.
Kasto Maschinenbau GmbH & Co. KG
www.kasto.com
Booth: North 3 – 237044
Representative: KASTO, Inc.
Kehren GmbH Grinding Technology
www.kehren.com
www.lapmaster-wolters.com
Booth: North 3 – 237451
Representative: Lapmaster Wolters
Georg Kesel GmbH & Co. KG
www.kesel.com
Booth: East 3 – 135558
Representative: Kesel Group
Franz Kessler GmbH
www.kessler-group.biz
www.alfing-corp.com
Booth: South 3 – 338263, East 3 – 135360
Representative: Kessler Group
ALFING CORPORATION
KUKA Aktiengesellschaft
www.kuka.com
Booth: North 3 – 236807
Representative: KUKA
Laserline GmbH
www.laserline.com
Booth: East 3 – 135758
Representative: Laserline Inc.
Leistritz Produktionstechnik GmbH
www.leistritz.com
Booth: North 3 – 236941
Representative: Leistritz Advanced Technologies Corp.
Liebherr-Verzahntechnik GmbH
www.liebherr.com
Booth: North 3 – 236914
Representative: Liebherr Gear and Automation Technologies, Inc.
Linde AG
www.linde.com
Booth: West 3 – 433116
Representative: Linde Advanced Material Technologies
MAE Maschinen- u. Apparatebau
Götzen GmbH
www.mae-group.com
Booth: East 3 – 135558
Representative: MAE-Eitel Inc.
A. Mannesmann Maschinenfabrik GmbH
www.schneeberger.com
Booth: North 3 – 236035
Representative: Schneeberger, Inc.
ModuleWorks GmbH
www.moduleworks.com
Booth: East 3 – 133313, West 3 – 433014
Nagel Maschinen- und Werkzeugfabrik GmbH
www.nagel.com
Booth: North 3 – 236945
Representative: Nagel Precision Inc.
Nakanishi Jaeger GmbH
www.nakanishi-jaeger.com
Booth: North 3 – 236717
Representative: NSK America Corporation
NANO MINERAL CASTING GMBH
www.jnnano.com
Booth: North 3 – 237166
OKS Spezialschmierstoffe GmbH
www.oks-germany.com
Booth: East 3 – 135252
One Click Metal GmbH
www.oneclickmetal.com
Booth: South 3 – 339119
Open Mind Technologies AG
www.openmind-tech.com
Booth: East 3 – 133351
Representative: OPEN MIND Technologies USA, Inc.
F.H. Papenmeier GmbH & Co.
www.papenmeier.de
Booth: East 3 – 135270
Peakboard America Inc.
www.peakboard.com/en-us
Booth: East 3 – 135268
ph-cleantec GmbH
www.ph-cleantec.de
Booth: East 3 – 135376
Phoenix Contact GmbH & Co. KG
www.phoenixcontact.com
Booth: North 3 – 236044
Representative: PHOENIX CONTACT USA Inc.
pro-micron GmbH
www.pro-micron.de
Booth: West 3 – 432151
Renishaw GmbH
www.renishaw.de
Booth: East 3 – 134314, East 3 – 134524, West 3 – 433239
Representative: Renishaw Inc.
Restless Machines LLC
www.restlessmachines.com
Booth: East 3 – 135376
Röders GmbH
www.roeders.de
Booth: South 3 – 339386
Representative: Roeders of America Inc.
Rotoclear GmbH
www.rotoclear.com
Booth: North 3 – 237161
Gebr. Saacke GmbH & Co. KG
www.saacke-pforzheim.de
Booth: North 3 – 237334
Representative: Saacke North America, LLC
SAFECHEM Europe GmbH
www.safechem.com
Booth: East 3 – 135370
Scanningspray Vertriebs GmbH
www.aesub.com
Booth: East 3 – 135372
K.A. Schmersal GmbH & Co. KG
www.schmersal.com
Booth: North – 236455
Representative: SCHMERSAL USA
Schneeberger GmbH
www.schneeberger.com
Booth: North 3 – 236035
Representative:
Siemens AG
www.siemens.com
Booth: East 3 – 133249
Representative: Siemens Industry Inc.
Solukon Maschinenbau GmbH
www.solukon.de
Booth: West 3 – 433126
Spinner Werkzeugmaschinenfabrik GmbH
www.spinner.eu.com
Booth: South 3 – 339448
Representative: Spinner North America LLC
Starrag GmbH
www.starrag.com
Booth: South 3 – 338556
Representative: Starrag USA Inc.
Tebis Technische Informationssysteme AG
www.tebis.com
Booth: East 3 – 133230
Representative: Tebis America Inc.
Threedy GmbH
www.threedy.io
Booth: North 3 – 236059
TRUMPF Werkzeugmaschinen SE + Co. KG
www.trumpf.com
Booth: East 3 – 135010, West 3 – 433133
Representative: TRUMPF Inc.
TU Dortmund – Kompetenzzentrum für digitale Produktionstechnologien
www.iul.eu
Booth: East 3 – 135276
ULT AG
www.ult-airtec.com
Booth: East 3 – 135252
umati
www.umati.org
Booth: East 3 – 135256
United Grinding Group Management AG
www.grinding.com
Booth: North 3 – 236802
Representative: United Grinding North America, Inc.
VDW – Verein Deutscher Werkzeugmschinenfabriken e. V.
www.vdw.de
Booth: North 2 – 221003
Visometry GmbH
www.visometry.com
Booth: East 3 – 134575
Vollmer Werke Maschinenfabrik GmbH
www.vollmer-group.com
Booth: North 3 – 236834
Representative: VOLLMER OF AMERICA CORP.
Werkzeugmaschinenfabrik Waldrich Coburg GmbH
www.waldrich-coburg.de
Booth: South 3 – 339384
Representative: WALDRICH COBURG NA, Inc.
Walter Maschinenbau GmbH
www.walter-machines.com
Booth: North 3 – 236802
Representative: UNITED GRINDING North America, Inc.
Weiler Werkzeugmaschinen GmbH
www.weiler.de
Booth: South 3 – 339070
Representative: WEILER North America Corporation
WENZEL Group GmbH & Co. KG
www.wenzel-group.com
Booth: East 3 – 134718
Representative: WENZEL America, Ltd.
Winema Transfer Machines GmbH + Co. KG
www.winema.de
Booth: South 3 – 338825
Wirtschaftsförderung Dortmund
www.wirtschaftsfoerderung-dortmund.de
Booth: East 3 – 135276
YMP Präzisionsindustrie GmbH
www.ympcnc.com
Booth: North 3 – 236678
F. Zimmermann GmbH
www.f-zimmermann.com
Booth: South 3 – 339336
Representative: Zimmermann Inc. – Corporate HQ
Z-LASER GmbH
www.z-laser.com
Booth: East 3 – 134766
Useful Addresses
Generalkonsulat der Bundesrepublik Deutschland
German Consulate General Chicago
676 North Michigan Avenue, Suite 3200
Chicago, IL 60611
Phone +1 312 202 0480
www.germany.info/us-de/botschaft-konsulate/gkchicago/kontakt-formular-chicago
www.germany.info/us-de/botschaft-konsulate/gkchicago
Deutsch-Amerikanische Handelskammer
German American Chamber of Commerce of the Midwest, Inc.
150 North Michigan Avenue, 35th Floor
Chicago, IL 60601
Phone +1 312 644 2662
info@gaccmidwest.org
www.gaccmidwest.org
VDMA, Verband Deutscher Maschinen- und Anlagenbau e.V.
German Engineering Federation
Lyoner Strasse 18
60528 Frankfurt/Main
Germany
Phone +49 69 6603 0
kommunikation@vdma.org
www.vdma.org
Verein Deutscher Werkzeugmaschinenfabriken e.V. (VDW)
German Machine Tool Builders‘ Association
Lyoner Straße 18
60528 Frankfurt/Main
Germany
Phone +49 69 756081 0
vdw@vdw.de
www.vdw.de
German Machine Tool Builders’
Association (VDW)
Lyoner Straße 18
60528 Frankfurt am Main, Deutschland
Tel. +49 69 756081-0
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