Supply problems ease for German polymer machinery makers

Frankfurt, Germany – Only 2% of plastics & rubber industry respondents within Germany’s mechanical & plant engineering sector, experienced ‘serious’ supply-chain problems in March, a VDMA poll has found.

This compared to: 14% who recorded delivery bottlenecks at a ‘medium’ level, 44%, ‘low’; and 40%, ‘none’, the ‘flash survey’ carried out 21-24 March shows.

Across all surveyed sectors – also including chemicals, electrical & electronics, metals/metal products – supply-chain impairments were rated as ‘serious’ by 13% of respondents, compared to 32% a year earlier.

Of the 639 survey participants, those reporting supply-chain problems at ‘medium’ or ‘low’ levels came in at 44% and 35% respectively by 24 March, compared to 42% and 15% a year ago.

But, while the overall supply-chain situation appears to be “gradually brightening”, there remain “serious bottlenecks in the supply of electronic components”, VDMA noted.

Despite this, and continuing cost pressures, most companies in Germany’s mechanical & plant engineering sector were “cautiously optimistic” about 2023.

With the improved outlook, 60% of VDMA members companies in the mechanical and plant engineering sector aim to expand their core workforce in the current year.

Against this, however, around three out of four companies reported noticeable or serious shortages of skilled workers.

"We are dealing here with a profound structural change that requires a high degree of flexibility and the efficient deployment of employees," commented Wiechers.

Indeed, VDMA added, issues around skills shortages and demographics are rated as the biggest of among nine key challenges facing the mechanical and plant engineering sector.

Meanwhile, the supply of energy to companies in Germany’s mechanical and plant engineering sector “has also become more relaxed and, above all, more reliable.”