
ebm-papst is growing again thanks to AI and data centers
ebm-papst returned to a growth trajectory in fiscal year 2025/26. Air Technology, data center applications, and artificial intelligence are driving revenue and investments.

ebm-papst returned to a growth trajectory in fiscal year 2025/26. Air Technology, data center applications, and artificial intelligence are driving revenue and investments.
Synapticon and Generative Bionics have entered into a partnership to develop propulsion systems for humanoid robots. The goal is to establish a European supply chain for the development, manufacturing, certification, and integration of the technology, as well as to reduce dependence on external suppliers.

Global investment firm Carlyle has signed an agreement to sell Flender, a provider of mechanical drive technology, to Triton Fund 6, advised by Triton. The terms of the transaction were not disclosed and is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2026.

New approaches in drive technology
Nabtesco is working on intelligent drive systems for industrial applications. The focus here is on the use of physical AI, the combination of artificial intelligence with real physical systems.

Around six months before the start of the trade fair, more than 900 companies have registered for SPS 2026 in Nuremberg. The trade fair focuses on industrial AI, cyber security and digital transformation.

Comau has signed a binding agreement to acquire Invent, a Brazil-based company specializing in intralogistics and warehouse automation solutions, with a strong focus on e-commerce and high-throughput distribution environments.

Deutsche Messe AG is reorganizing its personnel and consistently focusing its Management Board on the further development of the company and the exhibition grounds in particular. With an expanded three-member Management Board, the company is focusing on the areas of trade fair business, digitalization and exhibition grounds development & transformation.

With a record order backlog, higher free cash flow and a new share buyback program of up to €6 billion, Siemens is continuing its growth trajectory in the second quarter of 2026.

Schaeffler and VinDynamics, a company of the Vietnamese Vingroup, have agreed on a strategic partnership in the field of humanoid robotics. The collaboration focuses on the development and supply of planetary gearboxes, central components of actuators that act as muscles and joints and enable the movement of humanoids.
Schaeffler improved its operating profitability in the first quarter of 2026 despite declining nominal revenue. The Group generated 5.764 billion euros in revenue and increased EBIT before special items to 285 million euros. E-mobility and Asia/Pacific were the main growth drivers.

In the 2025 financial year, Bosch Rexroth generated sales of around 6.5 billion euros. The company thus succeeded in maintaining its business at the previous year's level despite the persistently difficult environment. Order intake recorded significant growth.

Schaeffler has been honored with the Hermes Award. The prize was awarded for a scalable actuator platform for humanoid robotics that is designed for industrial series production and high integration.

On the occasion of the strike announced by ver.di on the first two days of Hannover Messe 2026 (20 and 21 April), which will paralyze public transport in Hanover, the organizer, Deutsche Messe, is expressing clear criticism and great concern about the impact on the trade fair and business location.

VDMA at the Hannover Messe 2026
The specialist associations for drive technology and fluid technology will be showcasing their contributions to Industry 4.0, automation, digitalization and defence-related manufacturing technologies at the Hannover Messe.

Wittenstein at the Logimat 2026
The compact AGV drive system 'cyber iTAS system 2' from Wittenstein consists of a servo controller from the 'cyber simco drive2' series with integrated, SIL3 and PLe-certified safe torque-off safety function and a space-saving, heavy-duty wheel actuator 'cyber TAS actuator 2'.

After two years of noticeable investment restraint, the German machine tool industry is showing the first signs of stabilization. Overall, however, incoming orders in 2025 remained slightly below the previous year's level.

The German mechanical and plant engineering sector is off to a weak start in 2026. In January, price-adjusted incoming orders were 6% below the previous year's level, with fewer orders received from euro countries in particular.

Schaeffler generated revenue of EUR 23.5 billion in 2025 and increased EBIT before special items to EUR 936 million. At 266 million euros, free cash flow was significantly above the prior year and forecast. Net income remained negative due to high one-off expenses.

Stefan Schönegger succeeds Florian Schneeberger as CTO of ABB Machine Automation (B&R), who has been Division President of the Machine Automation Division and CEO of B&R Industrial Automation since November 1, 2025.

The mechanical and plant engineering industry in Germany once again suffered noticeable losses on foreign markets in 2025. According to the Federal Statistical Office, exports fell by 1.8% in nominal terms compared to the previous year. Adjusted for prices, the decline was even 3.3 percent.