EDITORIAL ROUNDUP

German machine tool industry reports leveling off

After two years of noticeable reluctance to invest, the German machine tool industry is showing its first signs of stabilising, reports national association, VDW. Overall, however, incoming orders for 2025 remained slightly below that of the previous year. Orders declined 3%, with demand from the domestic market, in particular, still subdued.A slight recovery was recorded by the end of the year, however:in the fourth quarter of 2025, the total number of new orders was up 4% on the previous year’s figure. Experts at VDW are expecting further gains in the second half of 2026.

More information www.vdw.de

Unlocking untapped factory capacity worth £129bn

A new report from FourJaw Manufacturing Analytics reveals that UK manufacturers could collectively unlock hidden production capacity worth up to £129 billion in additional annual output without significant investment in new equipment or staff.The report, Return on Information, reveals that large manufacturers using best-practice production data approaches, such as real-time monitoring across the factory floor, typically achieve a 16% increase in output, while SME producers usually attain 30%. It estimates that industry-wide adoption could unlock up to £67bn per year for large UK plants and £62bn for SMEs.

More information www.bit.ly/41C6ydi

AMRC Launches Scale-Up Programme

The University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) has launched AMRC Scale-up, a new programme to help high-growth deep-tech companies scale manufacturing in defence, aerospace and energy.Matt Farnsworth, commercial director at the AMRC, says: “AMRC Scale-up provides the technical runway for the UK’s most promising deep-tech companies to bridge the gap between prototype and global supply chain.”

Unlike early-stage accelerators, the programme focuses on companies moving toward industrial production rather than product validation.Through structured technical sprint engagements with AMRC engineers, participating companies will validate production systems capable of industrial scale, strengthen supply chain and certification readiness, and embed manufacturability into growth and investment strategy.

More information www.amrc.co.uk/pages/amrc-scale-up

Sodick will demonstrate complete solutions

Sodick Europe (stand 20-350) will showcase some of its latest die-sink EDM, wire EDM and
advanced machining centre technology at MACH. A total of six machines providing live
demonstrations will include the new AD55L, which Sodick says delivers premium technology
in an entry-level platform. At the core of the AD55L is Sodick’s linear-motor technology
across all three axes that have travel of 600 x 400 x 400 mm, with 0.0001mm step
resolution. The drive system, combined with linear scales and Sodick motion controller,
ensures exceptional accuracy, reports the company.
More information www.sodick.eu

FANUC to showcase next-generation automation

Industrial automation expert FANUC will host a live demonstration of an automated drilling
cell developed by Airbus and incorporating FANUC robot technology. Visitors to stand 18-
449 can also see first-hand a new generation of CNC, the FANUC FS500i-A, which enables
complex manufacturing environments to meet high precision and adaptability demands. In
addition, FANUC will showcase its in-house robot system building capabilities.
The centrepiece of the UK stand will be the robotic drilling system, which employs a FANUC
M-800iA/60 six-axis robot, as well as a drilling effector controlled by a FANUC CNC and a
mobile platform, both designed and built by Airbus. Designed for aerospace components, it
has improved drilling accuracy and increased productivity for the aerospace giant, while
releasing operatives to work on more creative and value-added tasks.
More information www.fanuc.eu