The industry sector will meet in Stuttgart, Germany, for the 17th Blechexpo international trade fair for sheet metal working, together with the 10th Schweisstec international trade fair for joining technology, from 21-24 October 2025. Once every two years, it brings international exhibitors and expert visitors to the Stuttgart Exhibition Centre to present up-to-date technologies, innovative solutions and industry-specific trends.

In nine halls at the Stuttgart Exhibition Centre, attention will be focused entirely on sheet metal working, now and in the future, over four days. Topics will range from thermal and mechanical sheet metal processing, along with system peripherals including controllers and software, as well as solutions for handling and feeding, up to quality assurance. The“ best CONGRESS”( and a panel discussion on‘ Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Sheet Metal Working and Joining Technologies’), the“ best Awards” and Career Friday are trade show highlights.

“ Blechexpo / Schweisstec is where suppliers and users can gather information about the latest developments and exchange ideas in direct dialogue with experts. Sheetmetal, pipe and profile processing can be found in halls 1, 3, 5 and 7. Halls 4 and 6 are reserved for stamping technologies. Cutting, joining and fastening technologies will be presented in hall 9. Hall 8 will focus on pressing and forming technologies. Steel and metal services, as well as surface finishing technology, will be addressed in hall 10,” show organiser, P. E. Schall, told ISMR.

In 2023, Blechexpo / Schweisstec attracted 1,256 exhibitors from 38 countries as well as 40,103 visitors.

For further details of the 2025 trade show, read ISMR’ s Blechexpo / Schweisstec preview on page 51. Meet the ISMR team in Hall 1 on booth 1400 at Blechexpo. It is the show’ s official international media partner and copies of ISMR will be given out at the show entrances, press centre and on its booth at the show. ISMR readers can use ticket code 72XMV-3JNVB for discounted show registration. n

www. blechexpo-messe. de

www. schweisstec-messe. de

Orders received by the German machinetool industry in the second quarter of 2025 remained at the same level as in the same period in 2024. According to the VDW( German Machine Tool Builders’ Association), domestic orders in Germany fell by 14 per cent, while orders from overseas rose by seven per cent. In the period from January to June 2025, orders fell by five per cent. Domestic demand, it said, fell by 22 per cent, while overseas orders were up four per cent on the previous year.

“ The main impetus in the first half of the year came from Europe, although demand levels have not yet picked up in the domestic German market,” said Dr. Markus Heering, Executive Director, VDW, commenting on the result. The ongoing uncertainty caused by U. S. tariff policy and other crises are causing investors to take a wait-and-see approach, according to the VDW. While the recently negotiated tariff rate of 15 per cent applies, this will increase costs and significantly inhibit German exports to its largest market( the U. S.), added the VDW.

“ U. S. industry urgently needs our machines because no comparable domestic alternatives are available, yet small and medium-sized U. S. companies in particular will not be able to pay the higher prices,” cautioned Heering.

In contrast, highlighted the VDW, the medium-term outlook in Germany is brightening. The approved increase in spending on defence and infrastructure,

Machine tool industry Germany International business supports orders in the first six months 2025

New orders( index, nominal, 12-month moving average) 180

160

140

120

100

80

60

40

20

0

Order intake % change to previous year

as well as the recently adopted investment package, could noticeably raise consumers’ willingness to make new purchases.

“ The ifo business climate index is signalling improved sentiment in the German manufacturing industry. The international Purchasing Managers’ Index PMI also shows that the slump in the industrial sector is bottoming out. Nevertheless, this is not the hoped-for turnaround,” indicated the VDW.

“ The recovery of the machine tool industry has been put back once again,” explained Heering.“ We do not anticipate a return to stable growth until

2026.” Domestic demand, particularly, is expected to provide a boost, while overseas business is

Dr. Markus Heering, Executive Director, VDW.

12 months moving average

original values

2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025

Order bookings in the German machine tool industry.

Note: Index basis turnover 2021 = 100, data up to June 2025, sources: VDMA, VDW

VDW | order intake 2nd quarter 2025 | likely to be weaker than previously expected.“ The tariff policy of the U. S. is harming its own economy the most, which will not be providing any great impetus in the near future,” outlined Heering.

Sales of German machine tools in the first six months of this year, confirmed the VDW, were down nine per cent.

“ However, more than 1,500 exhibitors at EMO 2025 in Hannover this September will be presenting a range of innovations designed to raise their customers’ competitiveness. We are expecting this to provide crucial impetus,” concluded Heering.

The German machine tool sector produced machines and services worth around 14.7- billion euros in 2024. n

www. vdw. de

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