Sensors and measurement technology: Stagnating sales and declining order situation in the second quarter
AMA Association reports on current industry developments
Berlin, October 23, 2025 – The AMA Association for Sensors and Measurement Technology (AMA) surveyed its 450 members on economic developments in the second quarter. After a four percent increase in sales in the first quarter of 2025, sales in the industry remained unchanged in the second quarter compared to the previous quarter, while order intake declined by six percent. The slightly declining book-to-bill ratio of 0.96 signals a slight decline in orders in the second quarter. Nevertheless, the forecast for the third quarter of 2025 is for a moderate increase of two percent, with the industry benefiting from the higher order intake in the first quarter (up eleven percent).
Exports account for 56 percent of total sales. Within exports, Europe accounts for the largest share (34%), followed by North America (19%) and China (17%). This confirms the strong international networking of the industry.
According to the Federal Statistical Office, the picture is similar for the manufacturing sector in Germany as a whole: weak domestic demand, high energy prices, and geopolitical tensions are dampening order intake and production. Here, too, the book-to-bill ratio is below 1.0.
“The industry is in a phase of consolidation,” explains Philipp Gutmann, Managing Director of the AMA Association. “Stagnating sales and declining order intake make it clear that we need to step up our innovation and export strategies. We continue to see great opportunities in digitalization, automation, and artificial intelligence.”
The companies cited the following as the most important challenges:
· Trade barriers and export regulations (17%)
· Decline in demand in target markets (16%)
· Adaptation to regulatory requirements (15%)
In addition to economic indicators, the quarterly survey also highlights future topics such as the use of artificial intelligence (AI). Around one-third of companies (34%) use or plan to use AI, particularly in marketing and communication, followed by research and development (25%) and products and services (13%). These figures show that AI is increasingly perceived as a growth driver and field of innovation across the entire value chain of sensor and measurement technology.
Compared to the manufacturing industry as a whole, sensor and measurement technology companies continue to show a solid export orientation and are simultaneously focusing on innovative future technologies in order to tap into new growth potential.
AMA Innovation Award 2026: Submit your applications now
Juryvorsitzender (Foto: AMA/Bischof& Broel)
AMA Association honors innovative developments in sensor and measurement technology
Berlin, October 15, 2025 – The AMA Association for Sensor and Measurement Technology (AMA) is calling on scientists and developers from industry and research to apply for the prestigious AMA Innovation Award 2026. The association is looking for groundbreaking research and development results in sensor and measurement technology with clear market relevance. The deadline for submissions is January 22, 2026.
Individuals and development teams whose solutions demonstrate innovation and economic relevance are eligible to apply. The AMA Innovation Award is endowed with 10,000 euros. In addition, young companies that have been on the market for no longer than five years, employ fewer than 50 people, and have an annual turnover of no more than 10 million euros can win the special “Young Company” award. The winner will receive a free exhibition stand at SENSOR+TEST 2026.
“We invite you to submit your forward-looking ideas in the field of sensor and measurement technology and present them to an international audience of experts at SENSOR+TEST 2026,” says Klaus Drese from Coburg University, chairman of the jury. "Whether you represent an established company or a start-up, whether you operate nationally or internationally, we look forward to your innovations and contributions that reflect the dynamism of our industry."
The AMA Innovation Award has been presented for 26 years and recognizes the achievements of developers and development teams, regardless of the companies or institutions behind them. The jury, consisting of experts from science, research, and industry, evaluates the scientific quality, degree of innovation, and market prospects of the submissions.
The nominations and the winner of the special “Young Company” award will be announced at the AMA press conference on March 3, 2026. The winners of the AMA Innovation Award 2026 will be honored at the opening ceremony of SENSOR+TEST 2026 on June 9, 2026, in Nuremberg. All nominated teams will present their innovations to an international audience of experts at the event.
The conditions of participation and application documents for the AMA Innovation Award 2026 and the special category “Young Company” can be found at: https://www.ama-sensorik.de/en/science/ama-innovation-award/
Sensors and measurement technology: Industry starts with an increase in sales and orders
AMA association reports positive development for the first quarter
Berlin, July 16, 2025 – The AMA Association for Sensor and Measurement Technology surveys its approximately 450 members on a quarterly basis regarding economic developments. In the first quarter of 2025, the industry recorded sales growth of three percent compared to the previous quarter. Compared to the first quarter of 2024, sales rose by four percent. Order intake increased by eleven percent at the beginning of the year compared to the previous quarter.
With a three percent increase in sales and a significant rise in incoming orders, the book-to-bill ratio for the first quarter was 1.08. This figure is considered an indicator of the order situation and describes the ratio of incoming orders to sales in the same period.
This shows that sensor and measurement technology is developing positively compared to the manufacturing industry as a whole. According to the latest surveys by the ifo Institute, the business climate in the manufacturing sector remained subdued overall in the first quarter of 2025. Despite some positive signals, reports of declining order backlogs and weak demand dominated. The sensor and measurement technology industry thus remains stable despite the overall economic uncertainty at the beginning of the year.
Currently, 69 percent of AMA members export to North America, with 18 percent of total sales going to the US, Canada, and Mexico. These figures demonstrate the international importance of the industry but also cast a critical eye on its dependence on non-European markets. During this survey, the US administration announced that it would drastically increase import tariffs on goods from the EU, regardless of the unpredictable consequences for industry and the global economy. It is impossible to predict how far the resulting trade barriers will weaken the markets. For this reason, the AMA association is refraining from making forecasts and expectations for the industry.
“The results of our latest survey show that sensor and measurement technology make an important contribution in almost all areas of our society, making it more resilient to crises,” says Philipp Gutmann, Managing Director of the AMA Association. “Sensors are and will remain a central building block for innovation and digitalization in Germany and worldwide. At the same time, we are observing political developments in the North American market with concern.”
Board elections at the AMA Association: Krause remains chairman, Thilmann and Drese join the team
Berlin, May 23, 2025 – The members of the AMA Association for Sensor and Measurement Technology (AMA) confirmed Peter Krause (Insenso GmbH and PRIGNITZ Mikrosystemtechnik GmbH) as Chairman of the Board at their general meeting on May 7 in Nuremberg. Newly elected to the AMA Board are Ansgar Thilmann (HCP Sense GmbH) as Secretary and Prof. Dr. Klaus Stefan Drese (Coburg University of Applied Sciences) as Member and Chairman of the AMA Science Council.
In addition to the new members, Christoph Kleye (SonoQ GmbH) was confirmed as deputy chairman and David Steinebach (TWK-ELEKTRONIK GmbH) as treasurer. The term of office for all board members is two years.
Ansgar Thilmann is one of the founders and managing directors of HCP Sense GmbH in Darmstadt. With HCP Sense, he was awarded the AMA Innovation Award Special Prize in the “Young Company” category in 2022 and is co-author of the AMA/VDI study Sensor Trends 2030. He takes over the position of secretary from Dr. Rolf Slatter (ITK Precision GmbH), who did not stand for re-election after several terms of office.
Prof. Dr. Klaus Stefan Drese (Coburg University of Applied Sciences) succeeds Prof. Dr. Stefan Zimmermann (Leibniz University Hannover) as Chairman of the AMA Science Council, who will continue to serve on the council as Deputy Chairman. Drese has been a member of the AMA Science Council for many years and, as Chief Editor, played a key role in the development of the new study Sensor Trends 2030.
“We are grateful for the trust placed in us. Together with the new board members, we will continue the successful course of the AMA Association even under increasingly difficult economic conditions and, with a new team, continue to bring innovators together in a targeted manner,” explains Peter Krause. “Sensor and measurement technology are key technologies for the major challenges of our time, whether artificial intelligence, climate-neutral cities, connected mobility, or smart industrial processes. They provide the crucial data, create the technological foundations, and thus directly strengthen the future viability of Germany as an industrial location. With the combined expertise of our members, we are a reliable partner to industry, science, and politics.”
The AMA Association was founded in 1981 as a working group for measurement transducers. Today, it has around 450 members from industry, research, and science. The association sees itself as a central platform for sensor and measurement technology and promotes intensive exchange at events such as the SENSOR+TEST trade fair and the scientific SMSI Congress.
25 years of the AMA Innovation Award: Recognition for pioneering spirit and experience
Three-minute bacteria test and high-temperature ultrasonic sensors impress the jury
Nuremberg, May 6, 2025 – The AMA Association for Sensor and Measurement Technology has honored two outstanding development teams with the AMA Innovation Award 2025. This year's winners are the development teams at NanoStruct GmbH in Würzburg, a young company with university ties, and the development team at the established Endress+Hauser Flow in Switzerland. Both teams impressed the independent jury of experts from science and industry in equal measure. The prize money of €10,000 will be split between the two winners.
The award ceremony took place on May 6, 2025, at the opening of the SENSOR+TEST trade fair in Nuremberg. This year marked the 25th anniversary of the AMA Innovation Award, an anniversary that impressively reflects the breadth and depth of technological innovations in sensor and measurement technology.
The award-winning projects at a glance:
Three-minute bacteria test with SERS technology
Development team: Dr. Henriette Maaß and Enno Schatz, NanoStruct GmbH, Würzburg
The start-up NanoStruct GmbH, which emerged from the University of Würzburg, developed an innovative rapid test for identifying pathogenic bacteria in food. The technology is based on surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) and enables detection within minutes using nanostructured sensors.
The challenge lay in the reproducible production of the nanostructures, which has now been successfully achieved. The technology is about to enter the market – initially in the field of food analysis, with further applications in other safety-critical areas in the future. True to the motto “Faster analysis for a safer life,” the process contributes to greater safety and efficiency in quality control.
Clamp-on ultrasonic sensors for high-temperature flow measurements
Development team: Beat Kissling, Quirin Müller, Roberto Vitali, Andreas Berger, Endress+Hauser Flow, Reinach (Switzerland)
The development team at Endress+Hauser Flow has achieved a technological breakthrough that enables contactless flow measurements at temperatures of up to 550 °C for the first time. The innovative clamp-on ultrasonic sensor can also be used to measure high-temperature liquids such as molten salts with precision, making a significant contribution to industrial applications in the context of the energy transition. The sensors open up new applications, for example in thermal energy storage or in high-temperature processes where no reliable measurement technology was previously available.
“I would like to congratulate both winning teams. With this year's double award, we are recognizing two completely different but equally forward-looking developments,” explains Professor Dr. Andreas Schütze, Chairman of the Jury. ”They show how innovative strength arises in both start-ups and established companies and how important this diversity is for technological progress.”
Brochure with all 2025 submissions
All accepted submissions, the winning teams, and the nominated teams will be published with a brief description of the innovation in the brochure “AMA Innovation Award 2025 – The Applicants,” which can be downloaded free of charge online:
https://www.ama-sensorik.de/fileadmin/2025_InnoBroschuere_FINAL.pdf
Applications for the 2026 Innovation Award
Application forms for the AMA Innovation Award 2026 will be available at the end of October 2025. Applications can be submitted by individuals or development teams from companies and institutes. Further information is available at: https://www.ama-sensorik.de/wissenschaft/ama-innovationspreis/
New AMA/VDI study 'Sensor Trends 2030' available online now
Challenges and opportunities for the sensor industry
Berlin, March 27, 2025 – The AMA Association for Sensors and Measurement and the VDI are publishing the groundbreaking study “Sensor Trends 2030”. The 180-page study, prepared by 69 authors from research and industry under the direction of Prof. Dr. Klaus Drese (ISAT Coburg), highlights key developments and challenges in sensor technology. It is clear that technological progress in Asia is increasingly overtaking Europe's innovative strength. This is a development that should make politicians and business leaders sit up and take notice.
Key findings of the study
- Increasing accuracy, decreasing measurement uncertainty: The optimization of measurement precision remains a dominant driver of technological developments.
- Exponentially growing need for information: In the information society, the demand for relevant bases for decision-making is increasing instead of pure measurement values.
- From sensors to sensor systems: Integration and functional expansion facilitate implementation and create new application possibilities.
- Miniaturization and cost reduction: Progress is made specifically where it opens economic advantages or new fields of application.
- Sustainability and energy efficiency: There is an increasing focus on lower energy consumption and resource-saving solutions.
- Artificial intelligence and quantum sensors on the advance: AI-supported pattern recognition and self-learning systems are revolutionizing sensor technology. Patent applications in the field of AI double every 1.3 years.
Opportunities for Germany: Strengthening innovative strength
The analysis of international patent applications shows: Asia has dominated since 2014 with the highest growth rates. Particularly strong growth has been recorded in the areas of material properties and radio navigation. Germany has the opportunity to further expand its innovative strength through targeted investments and funding. “Germany has a strong sensor industry and excellent research institutions,” emphasizes Prof. Dr. Klaus Drese. “It is now important to secure and further expand our position through targeted funding programs and close cooperation between science and industry.”
Download now:
The English-language study “Sensor Trends 2030” is available now. It is aimed at industry representatives, researchers and political decision-makers who want to actively shape the future of sensor technology.
Official link to order the study: AMA/VDI Study: https://sensortrends.ama-sensorik.de/en/
AMA Innovation Award 2025: Jury nominates five teams
Three established and two young companies in the final
Berlin, March 25, 2025 – The AMA Association for Sensors and Measurement nominates five outstanding applications for the AMA Innovation Award 2025. Among them, two winners of the special 'Young Enterprise' award have already been determined: NanoStruct GmbH with its three-minute bacteria test based on SERS technology and Pelora GmbH with its highly precise WayveSpot positioning system.
Strong competition and innovative strength
This year, 27 research and development teams from Germany and abroad submitted their projects for the renowned AMA Innovation Award. The jury, consisting of experts from science and industry, nominated five teams, including three established companies and two start-ups. The final winners will be announced at the SENSOR+TEST 2025 in May and will receive prize money of 10,000 euros, which the jury can also split.
Twelve of the submitted applications came from young companies that have been on the market for no longer than five years, employ fewer than 50 people and generate annual sales of less than ten million euros. Two of these companies particularly impressed the jury:
• NanoStruct GmbH (Würzburg) developed a three-minute bacteria test with SERS (Surface-enhanced Raman Spectroscopy) technology, which uses nanotechnological sensors to identify pathogenic bacteria in food in minutes instead of days.
• Pelora GmbH (Erlangen): Their WayveSpot system enables highly precise location of Bluetooth devices by evaluating Bluetooth advertising packets from standard 4.0 and achieving a localization accuracy in the centimetre to lower decimetre range with a patented algorithm.
These two teams will receive a free trade fair appearance at SENSOR+TEST 2025 in Nuremberg as a special prize for young companies and will remain in the running for the AMA Innovation Award 2025.
The five nominees for the AMA Innovation Award 2025
(in alphabetical order):
Clamp-on ultrasonic transducers for high-temperature flow measurement
Endress+Hauser Flow, Reinach/Switzerland – team spokesperson: Beat Kissling
Development of non-invasive ultrasonic sensors for measuring the volume flow of liquid media in pipelines with temperatures of up to +550°C.
Three-minute bacteria test with SERS
NanoStruct GmbH, Würzburg – team spokesperson: Dr. Henriette Maaß
Revolutionizing food analysis by identifying pathogenic bacteria in minutes using sensors based on nanotechnology.
WayveSpot
Pelora GmbH, Erlangen – team spokesperson: Dr. Erik Sippel
Highly precise location of any Bluetooth device with an accuracy in the centimeter to lower decimeter range using a new type of hardware and patented algorithms.
Industrial acceleration sensor with edge AI processing
STMicroelectronics, Cornaredo/Italy – team spokesperson: Carlo Larghi
Digital acceleration sensor with embedded machine learning core for motion pattern classification for industrial IoT applications.
New temperature sensors for wide-band-gap power electronics
Yageo Nexensos GmbH, Kleinostheim – team spokesperson: Stefan Dietmann
High-performance temperature sensors with intrinsic isolation and improved response time for SiC power electronic modules.
Jury chairman emphasizes the high quality of the submissions
“This year's submissions presented us with a difficult decision. The range and depth of the innovations was impressive, and there were numerous exciting solutions that would have been worthy of an award,” says Professor Andreas Schütze, jury chairman from Saarland University. ”The five nominees exemplify the innovative strength of the industry, and you can read about many more exciting projects in the brochure with all the applications.”
Awards ceremony at the SENSOR+TEST 2025
The winners of the AMA Innovation Award 2025 will be announced on 6 May 2025 during the opening event of the SENSOR+TEST 2025 in Nuremberg.
Further information and an overview of all applications can be found at: www.ama-sensorik.de/fileadmin/2025_AMA_Innovationspreis_Broschuer
Sensor and Measurement Technology: Revenue Decline in Q4, Cautious Optimism for 2025
AMA Association Reports Industry Development in 2024 and Outlook for 2025
Berlin, March 24, 2025 – At the beginning of the year, the AMA Association for Sensors and Measurement surveyed its members on the economic development
in 2024. The survey results provide insights into the current market situation and industry expectations for the year ahead.
Revenue Decline at Year-End, Optimistic Outlook
The sensor and measurement technology industry recorded a four percent revenue decline in the fourth quarter of 2024 compared to the previous quarter (Q3 2024). The year-on-year decline was even more pronounced at eight percent compared to Q4 2023. However, order intake remained stable at the previous quarter’s level. Despite these recent losses, companies remain cautiously optimistic for 2025, expecting revenue growth of three percent.
Export Rate Rises to 56 Percent
The industry's export rate increased by eight percentage points in 2024, reaching a total of 56 percent. While exports to Central European countries saw a slight decline (23 percentage points), international sales markets showed mixed developments.
Investments Remain Stable, Moderate Growth Expected
AMA members maintained their investment levels in 2024, consistent with the previous year. For 2025, they plan a moderate increase of two percent, focusing on future technologies and long-term competitiveness.
Challenges and Opportunities
The industry continues to face challenges such as geopolitical uncertainties and fluctuations in global demand. Nevertheless, many companies are relying on innovation and strategic investments to secure their market position.
"The sensor and measurement technology industry remains confident despite economic fluctuations," says Thomas Simmons, Managing Director of the AMA Association. "While the current revenue declines pose challenges, we continue to see growth potential through technological innovations and stable export development. Our members are making targeted investments in the future to remain competitive in the long run."
Handover at the AMA Association: Philipp Gutmann takes over management
Berlin, February 12, 2025 – The AMA Association for Sensors and Measurement started the new year with a change in management. Since January 1, 2025, Philipp Gutmann has been leading the association as its new managing director, succeeding Thomas Simmons, who shaped the AMA Association for over 17 years. During a transition period, he will support Philipp Gutmann in an advisory capacity to ensure the continuity of the association's activities before he retires.
Philipp Gutmann has extensive experience in the fields of marketing and communications. In recent years, he has primarily supported medium-sized companies and worked in various industries, including automotive, electronics and healthcare. He has worked for companies such as Mercedes-Benz, Siemens, Infineon, Airbus Defence & Space, MAN and Pfeiffer Vacuum. In doing so, he gained extensive insights into the challenges and opportunities of the industry and specialized in strategic communication concepts, brand management and technology transfer. He also has experience in working with start-ups and in promoting innovation projects. Through his many years of working with small and medium-sized companies, he has a deep understanding of their requirements and developments.
“For over 40 years, the AMA Association has been promoting the exchange between industry, science and politics in the field of sensor and measuring technology. I look forward to continuing this work together with our members and setting impulses for the future of this key technology,” says Philipp Gutmann.
Sensor and measuring technology: sales stagnate, incoming orders slightly down
AMA Association reports industry figures for the 3rd quarter of 2024
The sensor and measuring technology industry recorded no change in sales in the third quarter of 2024 compared to the previous quarter. However, compared to the third quarter of 2023, sales fell by ten percent. Incoming orders fell slightly and were two percent below the level of the previous quarter.
Berlin, January 27, 2025 – The AMA Association for Sensors and Measurement (AMA) has published the results of its quarterly survey of the approximately 450 member companies. In the third quarter of 2024, the industry was unable to generate any growth in sales compared to the second quarter. Compared to the same quarter of the previous year, the industry recorded a decline in sales of ten percent.
Incoming orders declined slightly, falling by two percent compared to the previous quarter. The book-to-bill ratio of 1.0 indicates that the economic situation has stabilized at a low level. This ratio between incoming orders and sales shows that the industry was able to balance demand despite economic challenges.
“The results of the third quarter of 2024 reflect the tense economic situation in some of our customer industries,” comments Thomas Simmons, managing director of the AMA Association, on the figures. “The stagnating sales and the slightly declining incoming orders show that the industry is holding firm under the difficult conditions. The stable book-to-bill ratio indicates that sensor and measurement technology continues to be a reliable partner for the user industries, even though they are currently struggling with uncertainties.”
The members of the AMA Association look ahead to the coming quarter with cautious optimism. In the preview of 2023 for 2024, the industry still hoped that the economic situation would improve again by the end of 2024, as the inventories built up during the pandemic would have been significantly reduced again. The figures now show in the analysis that we are dealing with a lasting weakness in sales.
“Despite the declines compared to the previous year, there are positive signals that show that the industry's innovative strength continues to be appreciated,” explains Simmons. “Our focus on efficiency, precision and sustainability strengthens our position as a key industry in the long term. Trends such as artificial intelligence, automation and new technologies in areas such as alternative energy sources will further increase demand for innovative sensor technology. However, with an export share of around 48%, the sensor and measuring technology industry remains dependent on stable economic and political conditions.”
The industry is cautious in the face of economic uncertainties but remains optimistic that momentum will return in the medium term.
