Bulk solids industry cautiously optimistic for 2023
Manufacturers in the ventilation and process technology sectors are cautiously optimistic about the future after surviving the Corona crisis
Powtech, Europe's leading trade fair for mechanical processing, analysis and handling of powders and bulk solids, will be held in Nuremberg from September 26-28. The VDMA special show will be there again this year - with eleven exhibit exhibitors and, for the first time, under the joint management of the Air Handling Technology and Process Plant and Equipment trade associations.
Air handling technology with full order books
After surviving the Corona crisis, manufacturers in the ventilation and process technology sectors have not only exceeded pre-crisis levels, but are also cautiously optimistic about the future. Both sectors are currently still benefiting from full order books from 2022.
Exports of air handling technology as a whole also increased by almost 12 percent year-on-year to 15 billion euros in 2022. The most important customer market is the EU with a share of 55 percent. The most important sales countries are the USA (1.67 billion euros), ahead of France (990 million euros), Poland (976 million euros) and China (925 million euros). In addition, exports to North and Latin America each showed a strong increase of over 20 percent.
While according to the spring flash survey of the VDMA Air Handling Technology trade association, nominal growth in air treatment was still 7 percent in 2022, manufacturers expect a nominal 4 percent increase in sales in 2023. Although this means stagnation overall due to the increase in producer prices, manufacturers are nevertheless optimistic about the future. The industry has the highest expectations for customers in the chemical, pharmaceutical, plastics and food industries. Only for the construction and building materials industries do manufacturers forecast weaker development.
"On the positive side, topics such as energy efficiency, environmental protection and occupational safety are increasingly being taken into account in the customer industries - not least due to the extensive body of regulations - and are thus providing positive impetus for the industry in the medium term," says Guntram Preuß, Air Handling Technology/Market Information and Drying Technology Officer. "Especially for this purpose, impulses will be noticeable at this year's POWTECH trade fair from the exhibitors with their know-how."
Drying technology (as an area of air technology) is showing a similar development with high order backlogs in some cases into 2024. Companies are benefiting from energy source conversions and efficiency measures, but are currently noticing a slight dip in order intake. In 2022, the nominal increase in sales for drying technology was still five percent; for 2023, manufacturers are assuming plus six percent. In real terms, however, this again means only a small increase.
Strong export growth for process plant and equipment in 2022
Process plant and equipment looks back on an export increase of 15 percent for 2022 compared to 2021 (6.54 to 7.51 billion euros), thus also exceeding the 6.6 billion euros from the pre-Corona year 2019. The most important export countries remain the USA with a share of 10.6 percent (794 million euros), followed by China (9.6 percent at 719 million euros) and France (6.1 percent). However, Europe remains the most important market with a share of 41 percent, followed by Asia (22 percent and the highest growth for Central and Southeast Asia of 53.3 percent) and the Americas (15 percent). Imports also increased by 15.9 percent compared to 2021, from 2.48 billion to 2.87 billion euros. Once again, the main supplier countries remained the U.S. (11.6 percent), China (9.4 percent) and France (9.2 percent).
According to the economic survey conducted by the VDMA Process Plant and Equipment trade association in the first half of the year, process technology manufacturers expect the order situation to remain constant or increase in 2023. Almost half of the respondents also anticipate an increase in sales. The main reasons for this are large orders, new product ranges and the opening up of new markets, especially India and South America. The current export increase of 4.6 percent in April 2023 compared to the previous year also continues to support this positive basic sentiment.
However, both Process Plant and Equipment and Air Handling Technology continue to register concerns and challenges for the bulk solids industry. Where disrupted supply chains have largely recovered as a result of the Corona crisis, some manufacturers have been affected by the loss of Russia as a sales market due to the Ukraine war. In addition, there is growing uncertainty in dealing with China and a challenging search for alternative markets. At the European level, there are regulatory obstacles not only in the form of supply chain legislation and product passports, but also the widespread impact of the impending PFAS ban on mechanical and plant engineering. In addition, the effects of the shortage of skilled workers are already becoming apparent: many companies are facing increased efforts in recruiting and also in retaining existing staff.
The VDMA special show at POWTECH 2023 in September
The concerns and technology solutions of the bulk solids industry are also the subject of this year's VDMA special show at POWTECH. For the first time, the two trade associations Air Handling Technology and Process Plant and Equipment will be exhibiting here together with eleven member companies and their exhibits in Hall 2, Stand 204.
"It is our concern not only to provide comprehensive support to our members, but also to place them in the focus of our country's technological capability," appeals Richard Clemens, Managing Director of the VDMA Process Plant and Equipment association. "The mechanical and plant engineering sector is not only a player, but also an innovator, a foundation and one of Germany's largest employers. This makes it regularly affected by many regulations. Not only presenting but also communicating the resulting effects has always been one of our core tasks."
Accordingly, the stand area will not only feature the co-exhibitors of the special show (AL-KO THERM GmbH, Alexanderwerk GmbH, bar pneumatische Steuerungssysteme GmbH, DIOSNA Dierks & Söhne GmbH, Donaldson Filtration Deutschland GmbH, Filtration Group GmbH, Herding GmbH Filtertechnik, HET Filter GmbH, Masterflex SE, MOLLET Füllstandtechnik GmbH, ts-systemfilter GmbH), but also VDMA consultants on the topics of TA-Luft, PFAS, biologization of the industry and shortage of skilled workers. In addition, a press brunch is scheduled for September 26th from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
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Tradefair world POWTECH
Here you will find everything about suppliers and products around the leading international trade fair for powder & bulk solids processing and analytics
Tradefair world POWTECH
Here you will find everything about suppliers and products around the leading international trade fair for powder & bulk solids processing and analytics
