"After a revenue decline of around 9 percent to 9 billion euros, we are eagerly looking forward to the federal election and hope that the next federal government will quickly improve the conditions for our location," said Stefan Zecha, chairman of the Precision Tools Association in VDMA e.V., at today's annual press conference in Frankfurt. "Crises in customer industries combined with significant location disadvantages, such as high taxes and energy and bureaucracy costs, are challenging us. But especially in difficult times, productivity is in high demand. And that is our core competence," Zecha added.
Domestically, tool manufacturers had to accept a decline of around 12 percent, also due to a declining domestic production in mechanical engineering and the difficult situation in the German automotive industry.
The export level was overall 4 percent below that of the previous year. Business was particularly weak in Europe. But China also lagged behind the previous year's results for most sub-sectors. Of the major sales markets, only the USA was able to provide growth for all sub-sectors with an increase of 8 percent.
The outlook for the precision tool industry for 2025 is at best characterized by the hope of having reached the bottom soon. Overall, a further decline of 2 percent is currently expected. Zecha: "What the entire German industry urgently needs are competitive location conditions. Faster bureaucracy reduction, open markets, new free trade agreements, the elimination of trade barriers, affordable energy, an investment-friendly tax system with lower corporate taxes and better depreciation conditions!"
This year, the industry event calendar features several important events, including the Intec trade fair from March 11 to 14 in Leipzig, where VDMA will be represented with a member community stand and will help shape the program of FORUM.INTERAKTIV on Wednesday. At the Moulding Expo from May 6 to 9 in Stuttgart, VDMA is one of the co-organizers of the Future Forum with current topics for visitors and will have an information stand on site. Another highlight will be the world's leading trade fair for production technology, EMO, which will take place from September 22 to 26, 2025, in Hanover. And at the Schmalkalden Tool Conference, which VDMA Precision Tools traditionally organizes together with GFE Schmalkalden, the who's who of cutting tool development will gather on November 12 and 13, 2025.
Info
VDMA Precision Tools is the information and communication center for German precision tool manufacturers as well as their interest representation. Cutting tools, clamping technology, as well as forming tools and molds are operated on machine tools and are used in all areas of metal processing as well as in parts of plastic processing.
Source: VDMA
