Despite a difficult market environment, Bielefeld-based DMG Mori AG (www.ag.dmgmori.com) had a ‘bumper’ 2016, with a record order intake of 2,369.9 million euros (compared to 2,282.8 million euros in 2015).

Although the world-wide market for machine tools was down -1.7%, DMG Mori’s order intake was up 4%.

The company said this improvement was achieved by concentrating on its core business of machine tools and services. It introduced a new sales and service structure world-wide, optimised its production capacity and sold companies that did not form part of the core business operations.

Order intake grew steadily over the course of the year, and it had already passed 2015’s total by the end of the third quarter.

That said, at 2,265.7 million euros, sales revenues were slightly down on the 2015 total (2,304.7 million euros). The export share for 2016 remained the same as the previous year at 67%.

The current forecast for machine tools assumes moderate growth in 2017, despite “considerable uncertainties”. The VDW (German Machine Tool Builders’Association) and the British economic research institute Oxford Economics currently expect consumption world-wide to grow by 2.1%.

DMG Mori says it is expecting a difficult international market environment in the current financial year, hence the changes made to its world-wide sales and service structure.

Since January, DMG Mori AG has been managing its home market (Germany), the EMEA region (Europe, Middle East, Africa), and the Indian and Chinese markets.

DMG Mori Co Ltd is responsible for its home market (Japan), the USA and the remaining regions in Asia and the Americas. This new structure is said to ensure that decisions to suit specific markets can be made quickly.