The Die Casting business area experienced another challenging year as the global automotive industry remained in a prolonged transition phase. The delay of new vehicle platforms by traditional OEMs and the ongoing diversification of drive systems toward hybrid and range-extended vehicles restrained large-scale investment projects. Nevertheless, the structural megacasting trend continued to gain momentum, for example, especially among European OEMs.

Megacasting enables the replacement of up to 100 structural parts by a single large casting, driving both cost and weight efficiency in vehicle manufacturing. Bühler’s Carat solutions – with locking forces up to 92,000 kN – remain a benchmark in this field. In 2025, Bühler executed major megacasting projects in the United States, Europe, China, and Vietnam, while the first large production cells entered full operation. Traditional die casting, by contrast, remained subdued, particularly in Europe and North America, where demand was affected by overcapacity and high cost pressure. China showed first signs of recovery toward year-end, and India developed positively with several projects under execution.

Despite the slowdown, Bühler retained its global market share in structural and traditional die casting, with its three manufacturing hubs and global service setup ensuring flexibility and customer proximity. Its retrofit business continues to grow, providing custom remanufacturing solutions from sites in Italy, China, and the US.

Leybold Optics continued its solid trajectory, supported by steady demand in precision optics, semiconductors, and emerging solar applications. The business maintained a high level of customer engagement and order intake across key regions, while market decisions in the glass coating sector were delayed. In 2025, Leybold Optics recorded stable service and component sales and achieved order intake growth in its base business despite subdued capital investments. The precision optics segment continued to benefit from strategic partnerships with leading customers in lithography and laser applications, confirming Leybold Optics as a trusted technology partner in high-end coating solutions.