GENERAL NEWS
German machine-tool orders stabilise
According to the VDW ( German Machine- Tool Builders ’ Association ), order intake in the German machine tool industry rose by 24 percent in the second quarter of 2022 ( compared to the same period last year ). Orders from Germany increased by 27 per cent and those from overseas by 23 per cent . In the first half of 2022 , orders increased by 34 per cent overall . Domestic orders contributed to this with a 35 per cent increase and overseas orders with a 33 per cent increase .
“ Despite the current difficult conditions , machine-tool orders continued to develop well in the second quarter . In relation to the first half of the year , volumes are almost at record levels from 2018 . Overseas business is primarily supported by demand outside the EU . In particular , our two lead markets , China and the USA , remain strong . The severe lockdown in Shanghai and other Chinese cities did not leave any deeper traces in the second quarter ,” commented Dr . Wilfried Schäfer , Executive Director of the VDW
“ In terms of technologies , cutting machining is currently pulling up the overall result . Demand in the first half of the year was twice as strong as that for forming technology . This is an indication that major projects in the
Right : Dr . Wilfried Schäfer , Executive Director of the VDW .
automotive industry are currently on hold , especially in Germany ,” Schäfer added .
Forming technology accounts for around 30 per cent of total machine-tool sales . Press technology , in particular , is used in major projects , said the VDW .
Sales continue to be a cause for concern . In the first half of the year , it was seven per cent higher than in the same period of the previous year . In real terms , said the VDW , the result means stagnation .
“ Accordingly , as feared , the supply chain problems are far from over ,” explained Schäfer . Capacity utilisation rose slightly from 85.9 percent in April to 87.4 per cent in July .
Around 70 per cent of German machinetool production goes into exports , which picked up again in the second quarter . The statistics show an increase of five per cent in the first six months . Exports to Asia grew the most strongly in a regional comparison at 11 per cent . However , China , the largest market , made only a disproportionately small contribution , with a five per cent increase . In contrast , Japan , India and some smaller markets in Southeast Asia took up German machine tools with double-digit growth rates . “ Business with American customers also continues to be good (+ 9 %). Europe stagnated at the previous year ’ s level , with exports to Eastern Europe in particular slumping sharply due to the breakaway from Russia . Exports to Western Europe , on the other hand , have picked up significantly ,” said the VDW .
Imports rose by a total of 16 per cent . Asian suppliers , in particular , are leading the way .
“ The uncertainties for economic development have increased further ,” Schäfer cautioned .
He sees no end in sight for the Russia- Ukraine war as yet . The energy supply in the coming Autumn / Winter remains uncertain with corresponding consequences for prices . In China , the largest market , he pointed out that there are signs of weak overall economic growth . Added to this are geopolitical dangers in dealings with Taiwan . Accordingly , he concluded , the business climate in the machine-tool industry has clouded over .
“ However , there is still a great need for investment in climate change . The recently adopted investment programme in the USA will also provide impetus for the industry ,” Schäfer concluded .
The German machine-tool industry is one of the five largest specialist sectors in mechanical engineering . It supplies production technology for metalworking to all branches of industry and makes a significant contribution to innovation and productivity progress in industry . In 2021 , the sector produced machinery and services worth around 12.7- billion euros with an average of around 64,900 employees ( companies with more than 50 employees ). n
Robot sales hit record high in North America
For the third-straight quarter , robot sales in North America hit a record high , driven by a resurgence in sales to automotive companies and an ongoing need to manage increasing demand to automate logistics for e-commerce .
According to the Association for Advancing Automation , of the 12,305 robots sold in Q2 2022 , 59 % of the orders came from the automotive industry . The remaining orders came from non-automotive companies , largely in the food / consumer goods industry , which saw a 13 % increase in unit orders over the same period ( April to June ) in 2021 .
“ While automotive entities have long been the frontrunner in deploying robotics and automation , the last few years have seen food / consumer goods , life sciences and other industries grow at even higher rates ,” said A3 President , Jeff Burnstein .
“ While this quarter shows a marked shift back to historic norms with more robots going to automotive than to any other industry , the continued growth of robotics in food / consumer goods companies especially demonstrates the ongoing need to automate warehouse logistics for handling the exploding growth of e-commerce ,” he highlighted .
The 12,305 units sold in Q2 2022 is 25 % more than sold in the same period in 2021 and 6 % more than those sold in the first quarter of 2022 ( when 11,595 robots were sold ).
“ The Q2 2022 value of US $ 585 million is the second-best quarter ever for revenue , down 9 % from the previous record Q1 2022 , which saw US $ 646 million in revenue . When combined with 2022 ’ s first-quarter results , the previous record , the North American robotics market is off to its best start ever , with 23,903 robots ordered at a value of US $ 1.249 billion . The market grew by 26 % and 29 % for units ordered and revenue , respectively , over 2021 ,” explained the association .
A record fourth quarter in 2021 resulted in the strongest year ever for North-American robot sales , with 39,708 units sold at a value of US $ 2 billion , and 2022 is on track for another record year .
“ The larger trend towards robots being used to benefit more companies in North America continues ,” Burnstein added . “ This makes it critical to educate system integrators and users now about how to deploy robots while keeping workers safe .”
The Association for Advancing Automation ( A3 ) promotes automation technologies and ideas that transform the way that business is done . Its members represent nearly 1,100 automation manufacturers ; component suppliers ; system integrators ; end users ; academic institutions ; research groups and consulting firms that drive automation forward worldwide . n