VDW reported on June 23 that incoming orders for the German machine-tool industry rose 15% year over year in the first quarter of 2026, with domestic orders up 18% and foreign orders up 14%, after three difficult years. The same release said first-quarter production fell 11% to EUR 2.8 billion, domestic sales dropped 13%, and exports declined 10%, while exports to the USA rose 8%, Europe fell 11%, Asia fell 18%, and China fell 32%. For CNC buyers, the impact is that order recovery does not remove supplier and export-market risk. RFQs for vertical turn-mill-grinding centers and CNC vertical lathes should compare production slot availability, quote validity, delivery route, acceptance standard, spare-part support, and whether the supplier can support the buyer destination market before final model selection.
What this means for CNC buyers
Treat the German order rebound as a cautious sourcing signal: ask suppliers to confirm production slot availability, quote validity, export-market support, delivery route, acceptance standard, spare-part plan, and service responsibilities before final model selection.
RFQ details to prepare
- Part drawing, sample photos, material, blank size, diameter, height, and weight.
- Current process route, number of setups, transfer points, clamping risks, and bottleneck operation.
- Required turning, milling, drilling, tapping, grinding, boring, inspection, or automation needs.
- Tolerance, surface finish, inspection method, target cycle time, annual quantity, and destination country.
- Preferred model range, factory space limits, loading method, packing, installation, and support expectations.