Dominic Wolfschutz of the German Woodworking Machinery Manufacturers Association told TTJ that UK-bound exports were up 26% in 2012 to €41m, making the UK the 11th biggest export market for Germany. "The UK used to be in our top five markets, but business is now picking up again and seems to be quite good at the moment."
This is against a backdrop of all UK woodworking machinery imports being less than half what they were in 2001. Mr Wolfschutz said the worldwide trade in woodworking machines had grown 36% since the financial crisis in 2008, but growth had now plateaued.
He said the German woodworking machinery industry expected to record 1-2% production growth in 2013 and thought the industry was probably past the worst economic trials of recent years.
"It will probably take us a few more years to get back to the level of 2007-08," he added.
Russia is back in the market again, investing in machines, while China’s purchasing is largely centred on panel production technology. Belarus has also made some big investments in panel plants – mainly through Dieffenbacher – while the US is buying again after many years of a freeze on machinery purchasing.
Mr Wolfschutz quotes research by the Boston Consulting Group which says the US will become competitive against China on furniture production costs, because of fastgrowing wages in China.
"There is already some back-sourcing of the furniture industry to the US," he said. "The growth is coming from the emerging markets. If you want to sell your machines it will be more and more into those countries.
"Only through innovation can you see growth in mature markets (such as western Europe). The biggest potential for German technology is eastern Europe and South America.
