According to Metales y Máquinas, based on the study ‘The New Industrial Order: Costs, Geopolitics and Smart Transformation in Spain’, prepared by Advanced Manufacturing Madrid, the Spanish manufacturing industry is facing a period marked by uncertainty, but also by new opportunities for growth. The analysis identifies the main challenges affecting the sector’s competitiveness and outlines the priorities on which companies are working to adapt to a constantly changing environment.
One of the most prominent headlines is that 71% of Spanish industrial companies consider the defence sector to be an opportunity for growth, either directly or through ancillary sectors. According to Metales y Máquinas, 22% of companies are already working in this field or on dual-use products, while another 24% are considering entering it as a diversification strategy.
The study also shows that inflation and rising costs remain the main concern for businesses. Seven out of ten professionals cite this factor as the main challenge to their operations, ahead of international geopolitical tensions (42%) and energy costs (30%). In this scenario, the majority of organisations have opted to combine partial price increases with internal efficiency measures to protect their margins, while only a minority have significantly passed these increases on to their customers.
International uncertainty is also reshaping companies’ strategies. As Metales y Máquinas points out, 36% of organisations are diversifying suppliers and seeking more stable or geographically closer markets, while relocating production remains a minority practice.
The report also reflects a critical view of current industrial policies. Half of the professionals consider that the existing measures are insufficient to address the sector’s challenges, and 26% believe they are not sufficiently aligned with the industry’s real needs. Among the main demands are a greater push for innovation and digitalisation, greater regulatory stability, policies that encourage the attraction and development of talent, and measures to improve energy competitiveness.
Indeed, energy remains one of the factors that most affects industrial competitiveness. According to the study, 72% of companies recognise that energy costs have a moderate or very significant impact on their operations. This situation has prompted a growing number of companies to invest in energy efficiency, storage systems and alternative energy solutions, making energy a strategic element for ensuring future competitiveness.
Digital transformation continues to advance. According to data collected by Metales y Máquinas, artificial intelligence is gaining ground, particularly in administrative, commercial and internal management processes. However, its implementation in production processes remains limited, and 31% of companies admit that they have not yet applied AI systematically. Organisations that have already embarked on this journey above all highlight greater operational agility and a better capacity to respond.
Beyond technology, the study concludes that talent will be the main differentiating factor in the industry of the future. The difficulty in finding workers with digital skills and technicians specialised in advanced systems has become one of the main obstacles to industrial transformation. For this reason, many companies are strengthening in-house training, professional development programmes and collaboration with universities and vocational training centres. In fact, 22% of organisations are already driving their teams through upskilling processes towards roles with higher technological value.
Despite the context of uncertainty, the outlook remains moderately positive. According to the study, 64% of companies view their current situation favourably, although they identify the main risks as the economic slowdown in their markets, geopolitical tensions and the difficulty of attracting and retaining skilled talent. Planned investments will be concentrated mainly in automation, robotics, artificial intelligence and the expansion of production capacity.
However, the study highlights that the availability of skilled talent is perceived as the most determining factor in ensuring the industry’s competitiveness, even ahead of the ability to adopt new technologies.
These conclusions highlight that the turning and precision machining industry is facing a transformative scenario that demands foresight, innovation, and adaptability. In this context, Decomeeting 2026, which will be held on the 5th of November, becomes a key event for sharing knowledge, analysing the trends that will shape the future of the sector, and identifying new business opportunities.
The event will bring together companies, professionals and experts to reflect on the major challenges facing the industry, from competitiveness and internationalisation to digitalisation, talent and new markets, with the aim of providing tools and knowledge to help companies face the challenges of the coming years with confidence.
