German grinding technology defies global challenges at the start of the year

In the first quarter of 2022, incoming orders in the German grinding technology industry rose by 48 percent compared to the same period last year. Domestic orders increased by 71 percent. Foreign orders were 43 percent up on the previous year. Sales also held up very well despite the bottleneck situation: the first three months of the year saw a strong year-on-year increase of 34 percent.

"The start to the year was very encouraging in the grinding technology industry. The consequences of the Russia-Ukraine war are not yet visible in our current grinding technology figures," says Dr. Wilfried Schäfer, Managing Director of the VDW (German Machine Tool Builders' Association), Frankfurt am Main. In any case, the two markets take up only 3 percent of German exports of grinding, honing and lapping machines, which totaled about 654 million euros last year.

Orders from the euro zone at the current margin show that this development could also be reversed: For March, the industry had to record a strong minus of 49 percent. Sales were down by almost 36 percent. Supply bottlenecks as well as the consequences of the war in Ukraine and the aftermath of the Corona pandemic are the names of the challenges. 

"The economy is currently under enormous pressure: After the Corona-related crisis, China's zero-covid policy is now exacerbating supply bottlenecks. At present, there are no signs of relief at all. This makes it all the more important for companies to show their presence now, to establish new contacts and maintain existing networks - all of which our exhibitors will be able to do at GrindingHub," Schäfer noted. In about two weeks, the new trade fair for grinding technology will celebrate its premiere in Stuttgart. Three halls are now fully booked with more than 370 exhibitors from a total of 23 countries and almost 18,000 m² of net exhibition space.

Author: Tobias Beckmann, Online Editor, VDW