The business of the machine factory Berthold HERMLE AG developed pleasantly dynamically in the first six months of 2026, somewhat better than expected. The Swabian machine tool and automation specialist not only recorded a persistently high demand from future industries such as the chip industry or aerospace as well as from the defense sector, but also a certain base formation on a broad basis. Furthermore, the company benefited from larger individual projects and orders from the start-up sector.
Group-wide, HERMLE's order intake in the first half of 2026 increased by 16.1% compared to the corresponding previous year period to 273.9 million euros (previous year: 235.9 million euros). New domestic orders rose by 11.3% to 76.1 million euros (previous year: 68.4 million euros), while foreign order intake increased by 18.1% to 197.8 million euros (previous year: 167.5 million euros). As of June 30, 2026, the order backlog in the HERMLE Group stood at 125.3 million euros compared to 113.1 million euros on the previous year's reporting date and 90.6 million euros at the end of 2025.
Supported by the high order intake, HERMLE's group revenue increased by 7.9% from the beginning of January to the end of June 2026 to 239.2 million euros (previous year: 221.6 million euros). Domestic business volume rose by 11.1% to 65.8 million euros (previous year: 59.2 million euros) and abroad by 6.8% to 173.4 million euros (previous year: 162.4 million euros). In the USA, there was again a nominal above-average increase due in part to passed-on tariffs. Group-wide, the export ratio is calculated at 72.5% (previous year: 73.3%).
Due to the good demand and the rapid processing of orders, HERMLE's capacities in the first half of 2026 were significantly better utilized than in the corresponding period of 2025. Further profit-increasing impulses resulted from the completion of particularly profitable individual projects, shifts in the product mix, favorable currency effects, and a special effect from the release of risk provisions related to customer orders from the start-up sector. These factors compensated for the increasing burdens from rising personnel costs and bureaucratic effort. In total, HERMLE's operating result (EBIT) increased in the first six months of 2026 to 25.6 million euros (previous year: 15.3 million euros). The result before taxes rose from 16.7 million euros to 26.2 million euros, resulting in an improved gross revenue margin of 11.0% (previous year: 7.5%). The net profit increased from 11.8 million euros to 18.8 million euros.
After the somewhat better-than-expected course in the first six months, HERMLE's growth dynamics are expected to weaken in the second half of 2026. This is primarily due to a base effect, as the development in the second half of 2025 was already very good. On the other hand, the dynamics in the reporting period were characterized by strong demand from new industries and customers with a start-up character, so it cannot be automatically assumed that the pleasant order stability will continue. In addition, HERMLE, like the entire German industry, continues to face significant economic and geopolitical uncertainties. It should also be considered that the positive special effects from the first half will no longer apply and that, due to trade policy tensions, there is still an expectation of rising material costs and currency risks.
Nevertheless, the company is confident that it will reach the upper end of the forecast range published at the beginning of the year for the entire year 2026, which means a revenue increase of around 10% and a group result approximately at the previous year's level. The negative scenario of the forecast now appears increasingly unlikely, but cannot be ruled out due to the still numerous potential burdens, including in the procurement area.
The asset and financial situation of the HERMLE Group remains solid. As of June 30, 2026, the company reported an equity ratio of 71.7% (31.12.2025: 72.5%) and liquid funds of 124.7 million euros (31.12.2025: 81.3 million euros). The operating cash flow increased in the first six months of 2026 by 37.4% to 27.2 million euros (previous year: 19.8 million euros). Thus, the significantly increased investments in tangible assets and intangible assets, which rose to 16.2 million euros (previous year: 9.2 million euros), could be financed from internal resources as is customary at HERMLE. The company continued its expansion and modernization program for its locations during the reporting period. The focus was on the construction of a new technology and training center at the company's headquarters in Gosheim, which is expected to be occupied in the first quarter of 2027.
As of June 30, 2026, HERMLE employed a total of 1,636 employees (30.6.2025: 1,607; 31.12.2025: 1,639). The increase compared to the previous year's reporting date was mainly due to the takeover of trainees and dual students who successfully completed their training, as well as the refilling of vacant positions. This increased the number of trainees or students at HERMLE from 111 to 127 young people. Additionally, there were targeted new hires in the areas of automation, development, IT, foreign service, and – to cope with the increasing bureaucratic effort – in administration.
The focus of HERMLE's research and development work during the reporting period was on deepening and broadening the complete machining and automation expertise. At the important industry trade fair AMB in Stuttgart, the company will present two new products in these areas in September 2026: the highly integrated complete machining center C 22 MT and the robot system RS 1 GEN2. With such innovations, HERMLE creates potentials for economically independent organic growth. Furthermore, it remains unchanged that there is an intact demand for highly efficient, precise, and dynamic machining centers and automation solutions in the medium term. The company aims to leverage this in the future through consistently high user orientation and the exploration of additional growth-strong industries and regions.
The machine factory Berthold HERMLE AG is one of the world's leading providers of high-quality milling machines and machining centers as well as complete automation solutions from a single source. In 2025, the company achieved a group revenue of 491.9 million euros and an operating result of 69.2 million euros. HERMLE machine tools and manufacturing systems are used in high-tech industries such as mechanical engineering, aerospace, medical technology, electronics and chip industry, optical industry, energy technology, tool and mold making, and the automotive industry as well as their supplier industries due to their high quality and precision. HERMLE shares are traded on the regulated market of the Stuttgart and Frankfurt stock exchanges.
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