The figures for the third quarter of 2018 should be treated with caution, according to the German Machine Tool Builders’ Association (Verein Deutscher Werkzeugmaschinenfabriken, VDW). Incoming orders in the German tool machine industry fell by 2% in this period compared to last year. Orders from the domestic market fell by 1% and those from abroad by 2%. But over the first nine months of 2018 as a whole, orders rose by 7% – 20% on the domestic market and 1% from abroad. “Incoming orders and production have hit a new record level in 2018,” says Dr. Wilfried Schäfer, Managing Director of the VDW. Sounding a note of caution, however, he adds that “The upturn is gradually coming to an end and demand is settling down.”

Among metal forming manufacturers , incoming orders rose by 14% in the third quarter of 2018, with domestic orders increasing by 12% and foreign orders by 16%. In the first nine months of this year, orders increased by 12% (domestic orders by 20%, orders from abroad by 8%). “Forming technology has again positioned itself as the cart-horse over the course of this year,” comments VDW Managing Director Schäfer. The need to catch up on investment in forming technology, especially domestically, has not yet come to an end. The VDW is expecting an increase in production of 8% to a volume of over EUR 17 billion in 2018.