27 Mar. 2007 - "The chances for having a successful 2007 are good for Germany's precision tool manufacturers", said Dr. Dieter Kress, Chairman of the Precision Tools Division of the German Machinery and Plant Manufacturing Association (VDMA). German manufacturers of precision tools are optimistic when considering the future. For 2007, the industry is anticipating a production growth of up to six percent compared to last year. That corresponds approximately to the overall growth posted over the past three years. This prediction is based on the ongoing positive development in the level of orders for cutting tools, chucking tools, production technology, measurement instrumentation and testing technology, which already began during the fourth quarter of 2005. Even the demand for toolmaking products finally experienced an increase in the last six months of 2006 after a two-year dry spell, thus nurturing the hope of a prosperous 2007.

After many years, the development of the home market for Germany's precision tools could finally exceed the growth rates registered in other countries in 2007. The indicators for this are favourable, since the write-off reductions which apply for the last time this year promise an additional push in investments in addition to the optimistic economic indicators.