Sensor and measurement technology: sales stabilize, order situation picks up
Sensor and measurement technology recorded significant sales growth in the first quarter, while sales stabilized at plus minus zero percent in the second quarter. Incoming orders in the industry developed positively overall with an increase of eight percent. The proportion of AMA member companies that have registered short-time work is falling significantly, with only one in five companies now working on short-time work.
The AMA Association for Sensor and Measurement Technology (AMA) asked its 450 members about the economic development in the second quarter. According to its own information, the industry generated sales of plus minus zero percent in the second quarter compared to the previous quarter.
Small to medium-sized companies (SMEs) were able to catch up in sales significantly better than the large companies in the sector in the second quarter. Therefore, the expectations of the small to medium sized AMA members are a little more optimistic than those of the larger members. Overall, the industry expects positive growth of four percent for the third quarter.
Short-time working is only available at SMEs in the industry and mainly affects suppliers in the target markets: mechanical engineering, sensor and measurement technology, as well as the automotive and electrical industries. Suppliers in the medical technology and energy industries are little or not affected. This underpins the above-average incoming orders for the suppliers of medical technology. The aerospace sales market is also developing well. The suppliers report below-average results in sensor and measurement technology.
The AMA Association is also asking its members about the development of online trading during the COVID crisis. Every sixth company is increasing its own online trade, especially suppliers for the energy and automotive sectors. Most of the companies that set up and expand online trading report promising results.
"Fortunately, our industry is catching up again, in particular sales and incoming orders are developing as our industry expected the long-term trend before the corona pandemic," says Thomas Simmons, AMA Managing Director. "The order books are well filled, short-time working has decreased significantly, sales are stabilizing and the industry is looking to the current quarter with confidence."
