The machine factory Berthold HERMLE AG has made a good start to the current year. The Swabian specialist in machine tools and automation was able to increase order intake in the first three months of 2026 by 14.9% to €138.2 million compared to the same period last year (previous year: €120.3 million). The positive development was supported, among other things, by the sustained high demand in the USA as well as in the aerospace industry and by individual large projects. With an increase in orders of 18.0% to €104.7 million (previous year: €88.7 million), the upward trend continued abroad. However, demand in Germany also grew again: New domestic orders increased by 6.0% to €33.5 million (previous year: €31.6 million). The order backlog as of March 31, 2026, was €118.0 million compared to €121.8 million on the same date last year and €90.6 million at the end of 2025.
HERMLE's group revenue increased by 14.1% to €110.9 million in the first quarter of 2026 (previous year: €97.2 million). The domestic volume grew by 28.9% to €35.2 million (previous year: €27.3 million) and foreign sales increased by 8.3% to €75.7 million (previous year: €69.9 million). This corresponded to an export ratio of 68.3% (previous year: 71.9%). The operating result also improved in the first three months of 2026 compared to the comparable previous year period. Thanks to the increased revenues and the resulting improved capacity utilization, burdens from higher personnel costs and currency effects were more than compensated.
As of March 31, 2026, HERMLE employed a total of 1,631 employees (March 31, 2025: 1,605; January 1, 2000: 1,639). The increase compared to the previous year's date was mainly due to the takeover of trainees and dual students who successfully completed their training, as well as the filling of vacant positions. In addition, there were targeted new hires, including in foreign service.
The financial and asset situation of the HERMLE Group remained very solid.
As of March 31, 2026, the company reported an equity ratio of around 70%. The extensive, multi-year investment program for securing the future of the locations could therefore be advanced as planned. During the reporting period, the construction of the new application center with an attached cafeteria at the company's headquarters in Gosheim was the focus, which is expected to open in 2027.
HERMLE also continued its intensive R&D activities. At this year's in-house exhibition at the end of April, which attracted great interest from numerous visitors from home and abroad, the company presented state-of-the-art machining centers and innovative automation concepts as well as digital tools that enable efficient and future-proof manufacturing processes. With diverse automation and robotics systems, HERMLE was able to demonstrate how various customer requirements, from single-part production to highly productive series processing, can be realized from a single source.
Contact:
