STRECKER Interview: Welding Market Outlook

STRECKER’s outlook: strong 2025 performance and big plans for wire 2026

Interview with Sales Director Sigrun Möbus

For STRECKER, 2025 turned into one of the strongest years in recent memory — a turnaround from early uncertainty to broad market demand. We spoke with Sigrun Möbus, Sales Director at STRECKER, about market trends, product innovation, skills shortages, and what visitors can expect at wire 2026 in Düsseldorf.

A strong finish after a cautious start

2025 has been an intense year for STRECKER. How has the year evolved in terms of market demand and customer activity?
At the beginning of 2025, we were uncertain how demand would develop, as we noticed a bit of reluctance to invest among our customers. This changed completely in the second quarter, as we started to receive many new orders from a variety of business areas. This also included the field of customized special machine construction, which has always been very important to us. At the end of 2025, we could look back on one of the company's strongest financial years in terms of sales.

Trends in wire and cable welding

From your perspective, how is the wire and cable welding sector currently evolving in terms of applications and technical requirements?
STRECKER has always seen itself as a partner to the wire and cable industry, and we are more than willing to assist our customers with new products and support them in optimizing their process chains. There has been a lot of investment in the cable industry in particular in recent years. The trend is towards ever larger cable cross-sections, and this is also driving us forward.

Currently, our largest conductor cable butt welding machine — the MK1200-FPC — has a working range for copper conductor cables of 185–3000 mm² and aluminum conductor cables of 185–3500 mm². The next bigger welder for up to 4000 mm² or even 4500 mm² is in the planning stage.

Demand drivers by sector and geography

Considering end-use applications such as energy, automotive, electronics or cable manufacturing, which sectors are currently driving demand, and how does this demand differ geographically?
In contrast to the steel industry, which we feel continues to struggle with declining demand, we see a high willingness to invest in the copper processing industry. This is particularly true in cable production. The energy transition has brought us new customers from completely different industries. Southeast Asia is a driving market here, and to a slightly lesser extent, Central Europe as well.

Addressing skills shortages

There is ongoing discussion about skills shortages in manufacturing. How relevant is this issue for you and your customers today?
The shortage of skilled workers is also a major issue for us, not only in production but also in administration. Recruitment has been taken to a whole new level, and we are exploring new and, admittedly, unusual avenues such as the use of various social media platforms, commercials in local cinemas, etc.

Expanding the portfolio with new cold welders

You have recently introduced the new KSC400 and KSC500 cold welders. What market needs or application challenges led to the development of this new machine design?
STRECKER has had a whole range of cold welding machines in its product range for many years. Nevertheless, many customers have not really associated us with this technology, seeing us more as specialists in electric hot welding. We want to change this and are therefore promoting this product range more intensively than before. All the more so as we are gradually giving all cold welding machines a ‘facelift’ and bringing them up to the latest technical standards — such as the KSC400 and KSC500 models.

True to the motto: Hot or cold — one welding expert = STRECKER.

What to expect at wire 2026

In 2026, the wire and cable industry will once again gather in Düsseldorf for the “wire” fair. What can visitors expect from STRECKER at the show?
At wire 2026, we will be exhibiting more than 20 butt welding machines representing a cross-section of welding machines from our product portfolio for a wide variety of applications for joining wires and profiles of all kinds, strands, or conductor cables. Cold welding, especially with the improved KSC400 and KSC500 models, will be a central theme at the booth. Our dedicated employees look forward to lively and interesting exchanges with long-standing customers and new contacts.