Studer reports positive results for the 2025 financial year

From left to right: Studer’s COO Stephan Stoll, CEO Sandro Bottazzo, and CTO Daniel Huber

Studer, the Swiss manufacturer of high-quality precision cylindrical grinding machines, reported a resilient performance in 2025, strengthening its global position despite the ongoing difficult geopolitical uncertainties. At the company’s annual press conference in Steffisburg earlier this month, attended by John Hunter, Machinery Market’s online editor, CEO Sandro Bottazzo noted that “the year 2025 was marked by challenging markets and geopolitical uncertainties. Nevertheless, we exceeded our expectations and emerged from this phase stronger than ever.”

Sales ended slightly below the levels of the previous year but above internal forecasts, helped by a strong final quarter. North America delivered solid results despite customs hurdles, while Asia — and China in particular — outperformed the previous year. Order intake also rose, driven by a high share of new customers. Germany, Italy, and Switzerland lagged, though Studer maintained or expanded market share worldwide. A stand-out area was customer care which achieved record service and maintenance revenue, with maintenance contracts now covering more than 70% of installed machines in many markets. The company also recorded one of the strongest backlogs for machine overhauls in its 114‑year history.

Aerospace was the stand-out sector, becoming Studer’s largest sector for the first time, accounting for nearly a third of all orders, while precision engineering, machine tools, and automotive also remained important market segments. The S33 led machine sales, followed by the S31 and S41, while the S141 posted one of its best results in a decade.

The year also saw major structural change following the United Grinding Group’s acquisition of GF Machining Solutions, now operating as United Machining Solutions. The enlarged group, with more than $1.5 billion in revenue and around 5,000 employees, is now among the world’s largest machine tool manufacturers. Studer’s Competence Center for internal cylindrical grinding relocated to the group’s modern facility in Biel.

New favoritCNC generation
Innovation remained central to Studer’s strategy. At the press conference, CTO Daniel Huber highlighted the launch last year of the compact S23 universal cylindrical grinder, which received strong market attention, as well as the new favoritCNC generation equipped with updated Fanuc control and automation options. He also pointed to WireDress enhancements for internal grinding and a new axis system for the S31 and S33 that automatically adapts to different workpiece lengths. He explained: “The C.O.R.E. Release 5.0 enables access to Transaction Network's manufacturer-independent customer portal directly from the machine operating panel and visualises live status updates of the machine park.”

In his presentation, COO Stephan Stoll described operational improvements, including a fully automated small-parts warehouse with 32 autonomous robots and 16,000 containers, significantly boosting logistics efficiency. The company also advanced its transition toward a paperless factory. With strong order momentum in late 2025, Studer expects demand to strengthen further in 2026.

Mr Bottazzo added: “Demand for high-quality grinding machines will continue to recover, and the response to our new S23 has been very encouraging. The first machines have already been successfully sold and delivered.” He also confirmed that the company will continue to invest in innovation, infrastructure, and its workforce.

Apprentices remain a strategic priority, representing around 10% of employees, with regular stand-out performances at SwissSkills competitions. He also said that Studer plans to exhibit at more than 35 trade fairs this year and will also mark the 50th anniversary of Granitan, Studer’s proprietary machine base material.