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Bearing & Gear Manufacturing in Germany - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

David Riemeier David Riemeier Frankfurt, Germany Last Updated: November 2024 WZ C28.15DE

Revenue

€26.0bn

2024

€26.0bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

€XXX.Xm

Employees

105k

Businesses

343

Wages

€X.Xbn

Bearing & Gear Manufacturing in Germany industry analysis

Due to high price pressure from cheap imports, the far-reaching negative effects of the coronavirus pandemic and the war in Ukraine, and the high buying power of highly consolidated customer markets, the mechanical drive element manufacturing industry has shrunk by 1.1% per year over the past five years. For the current year, IBISWorld is forecasting sales growth of 0.6% to €26.1 billion, which will be limited by the ongoing disruption to supply chains and the negative after-effects of the conflict in Ukraine. < />The development of the automotive industry plays a key role in the situation of manufacturers of mechanical drive elements. If their demand falls, the industry's turnover usually declines as well. For this reason, the decline in demand for mechanical drive elements for combustion engines associated with electromobility has forced industry players to expand their business to new customer markets over the past five years. In addition, the production volume also influences industry sales. If the net value added of the manufacturing industry in Germany increases, machines, systems and equipment wear out more quickly, which increases the demand of manufacturing companies for mechanical drive elements. Due to the great importance of foreign markets, the development of global gross domestic product also had an impact on the industry. As a decline in domestic production volumes and stagnation in global gross domestic product are expected for the current year, demand for industry products and industry turnover will be severely curbed.For the next five years, IBISWorld forecasts average annual growth in industry turnover of 1.1% to €27.6 billion in 2029 against the backdrop of an expected positive development in production volumes. As survival in this highly competitive market depends largely on product innovations, industry players are likely to invest more in personnel-intensive research and development in the future, meaning that the number of employees is expected to increase over the next five years despite the ongoing automation and digitalisation of production processes. If raw material prices normalise again and industry players benefit from a broader product range, the profit margin is likely to increase again in the coming years.

Trends and Insights

  • The electrification of vehicles is causing demand from car manufacturers for mechanical drive components to fall. While the large companies in the industry are already adapting to electromobility, smaller companies that specialise heavily in combustion engines are increasingly losing sales.
  • The automotive industry is the main sales market for drive elements. The sales slump experienced by car manufacturers as a result of the coronavirus pandemic and the war in Ukraine has caused demand in the automotive industry to fall in recent years.
  • The four federal states in the centre region are home to the most companies in the sector. This is primarily due to the industrial character of the region. North Rhine-Westphalia in particular is home to numerous companies in the upstream and downstream sectors.
  • Domestic manufacturers are in fierce competition with foreign producers. In recent years, Chinese companies in particular have succeeded in becoming more competitive internationally and expanding their global market share at the expense of other major manufacturers of mechanical drive elements.

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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has declined at a CAGR of 1.1 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated €26.0bn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

Industry sales are closely linked to the development of the automotive industry

  • Components for motor vehicles account for the largest share of industry sales. The development of the sector is therefore largely determined by the situation of car manufacturers.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Bearing & Gear Manufacturing in Germany
Revenue (2014-2029)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

The energy transition holds sales potential for industry players

  • In view of increasing environmental awareness, the Renewable Energy Sources Act, which was passed in 2022, and German and international climate targets, more wind and hydropower plants are likely to be built worldwide over the next five years. These plants require shafts, bearings, gears and other mechanical drive elements to transmit torque or convert it into electrical energy.

Biggest companies in the Bearing & Gear Manufacturing in Germany

Company
Market Share (%)
2024
Revenue (€m)
2024
ZF Friedrichshafen AG
3,841.5
Schaeffler AG
2,878.0
Robert Bosch GmbH
2,130.5

To view the market share and analysis for all 10 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Bearing & Gear Manufacturing in Germany
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Gearbox, Bearings and bearing housings and Shafts. Gearbox is the largest segment of the Bearing & Gear Manufacturing in Germany.

Trends and Insights

Rising production volumes are increasing the demand for gearboxes

  • Gearboxes are mechanical devices that are used in machines to adjust the power transmission and achieve optimum performance.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

The companies active in this sector are dedicated to the production of gearboxes, bearings, gears and other mechanical drive elements that are installed in motor vehicles as well as machines, systems and devices. However, the production of car engines, hydrostatic drives and hydraulic transmissions is not part of the industry.

What's included in this industry?

GearboxBearings and bearing housingsShaftsCouplingsGear wheels

Companies

ZF Friedrichshafen AGSchaeffler AGRobert Bosch GmbH

Purchase this report to view all 10 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURER (OEM)HYBRIDINSOURCING

Industry Code

WZ 2008

WZ 28.15 - Bearing & Gear Manufacturing in Germany

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

The electrification of vehicles is causing demand from car manufacturers for mechanical drive components to fall. While the large companies in the industry are already adapti...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

The automotive industry is the main sales market for drive elements. The sales slump experienced by car manufacturers as a result of the coronavirus pandemic and the war in U...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets
  • International Trade

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2024
  • Product innovation level
  • Total imports, level and trend
  • Total exports, level and trend
  • Trade Balance

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2024
  • Major market segmentation in 2024
  • International trade, including imports by country and exports by country

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services
  • Recent trends in import and export volumes, country of origin or destination, and expected future trends

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

The four federal states in the centre region are home to the most companies in the sector. This is primarily due to the industrial character of the region. North Rhine-Westph...

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each region in 2024
  • Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of employees in each region in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across Europe, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

Domestic manufacturers are in fierce competition with foreign producers. In recent years, Chinese companies in particular have succeeded in becoming more competitive internat...

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

With the acquisition of Wabco, the ZF Group is increasing its competitiveness in the field of electromobility. In the future, the company no longer wants to develop component...

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
  • Overview of ZF Friedrichshafen AG's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Schaeffler AG's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Robert Bosch GmbH's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for 7 additional companies

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for ZF Friedrichshafen AG, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Schaeffler AG, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Robert Bosch GmbH, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description, key data and performance trends for 7 additional companies

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

The industry products must meet the requirements set out in the Machinery Directive and the Product Safety Act, among others. In addition, there are various standards such as...

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

The expenses for raw materials required to manufacture mechanical drive elements represent the largest cost block. The share of material expenses in sales has recently fallen...

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Average Wage (2014-2029)
  • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
  • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2014-2029)
  • IVA (2014-2029)
  • Establishments (2014-2029)
  • Enterprises (2014-2029)
  • Employment (2014-2029)
  • Exports (2014-2029)
  • Imports (2014-2029)
  • Wages (2014-2029)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Bearing & Gear Manufacturing industry in Germany in 2024?

The market size of the Bearing & Gear Manufacturing industry in Germany is €26.0bn in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Bearing & Gear Manufacturing in Germany industry in 2024?

There are 343 businesses in the Bearing & Gear Manufacturing industry in Germany, which has grown at a CAGR of 1.0 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the Bearing & Gear Manufacturing industry in Germany grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Bearing & Gear Manufacturing industry in Germany has been declining at a CAGR of 1.1 % between 2019 and 2024.

What is the forecast growth of the Bearing & Gear Manufacturing industry in Germany over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Bearing & Gear Manufacturing industry in Germany is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Bearing & Gear Manufacturing market in Germany?

The biggest companies operating in the Bearing & Gear Manufacturing market in Germany are ZF Friedrichshafen AG, Schaeffler AG and Robert Bosch GmbH

What does the Bearing & Gear Manufacturing in Germany include?

Gearbox and Bearings and bearing housings are part of the Bearing & Gear Manufacturing industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Bearing & Gear Manufacturing in Germany?

The company holding the most market share in Germany is ZF Friedrichshafen AG.

How competitive is the Bearing & Gear Manufacturing industry in Germany?

The level of competition is high and increasing in the Bearing & Gear Manufacturing industry in Germany.

Related Industries

Widen your competitive advantage with related industries

Competitors

  • There are no industries to display.

Complementors

  • Engine & Turbine Manufacturing in Germany
  • Fluid Power Equipment Manufacturing in Germany
  • Pump & Compressor Manufacturing in Germany
  • Tap & Valve Manufacturing in Germany

International industries

  • Global Auto Parts & Accessories Manufacturing
  • Gear & Speed Changer Manufacturing in the US
  • Bearing & Gear Manufacturing in the UK

View all industries in Germany

Methodology

How are IBISWorld reports created?

IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in Germany include:

  • German Federal Statistics Office (Destatis)
  • European Statistics Office (Eurostat)
  • United Nations Comtrade

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

Learn more about our methodology and data sourcing on the Help Center.