The selection process for "Great Nation Craftsmen" for 2026 has launched. In June, the manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) stood at 50.3%, up 0.3% from the previous month; three government agencies, including the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), organized the implementation of the 2026 insurance compensation policy for "first-set" major technical equipment; and DMG MORI completed the expansion of its Stipshausen plant. On the corporate front, Haas held its 2026 Shanghai Open Day and debuted the PMC series; Marposs celebrated its 40th anniversary in China; and the ZEISS "WHAT'S NEW" customer exchange event concluded successfully. Read on for full details.
News at a Glance
Headline: Selection process for "Great Nation Craftsmen" for 2026 launched
Industry: June manufacturing PMI at 50.3%, up 0.3% from the previous month
Industry: MIIT and two other agencies implement 2026 insurance compensation policy for "first-set" major technical equipment
Enterprise: DMG MORI completes expansion of Stipshausen plant
Enterprise: Haas Shanghai Open Day 2026 and PMC series debut
Enterprise: Marposs celebrates 40th anniversary in China
Enterprise: ZEISS "WHAT'S NEW" customer exchange event concludes successfully
01 Selection process for "Great Nation Craftsmen" for 2026 launched
The All-China Federation of Trade Unions recently issued a notice launching the selection process for "Great Nation Craftsmen" for 2026, aiming to select 420 such craftsmen nationwide. This initiative seeks to implement the "Opinions of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council on Deepening the Reform of the Industrial Workforce Construction," cultivate more "Great Nation Craftsmen," and provide robust talent support for advancing Chinese-style modernization.
02 June manufacturing PMI at 50.3%, up 0.3% from the previous month
In June, the manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) was 50.3%, rising 0.3 percentage points from the previous month and returning to the expansion zone. Simultaneous expansion of production and demand: The production index stood at 51.4%, up 0.2 percentage points from the previous month, indicating an acceleration in manufacturing production activity. The new orders index was 51.2%, up 1.3 percentage points from the previous month, signaling a rebound in market demand for manufactured goods.
03 Three government departments, including the MIIT, launch the 2026 insurance compensation policy for "first-set" major technical equipment
Three departments-the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), the Ministry of Finance, and the National Financial Regulatory Administration-recently issued a joint notice to organize the qualification review and fund application process for the 2026 insurance compensation policy regarding "first-set" major technical equipment. The notice specifies that the policy covers all sectors listed in the *Guiding Catalog for the Promotion and Application of "First-Set" Major Technical Equipment (2024 Edition)*. In principle, complete equipment units are supported based on the number of units (or sets), while core systems, key components, and critical supporting parts or basic components are supported based on the number of batches.
Exceptions apply: complete equipment units with lower individual values-such as high-end industrial machine tools, specialized electronic equipment, new agricultural machinery, and precision instruments-may be supported on a batch basis; conversely, high-value core systems and key components-such as aero-engines and marine engines-may be supported on a unit basis.
04 DMG MORI completes expansion of its Stipshausen plant
DMG MORI has completed the expansion of its Stipshausen plant and officially inaugurated the new section, highlighting the strategic importance of ultrasonic machining technology for future machine tool manufacturing and the processing of hard, brittle materials.
The modernized facility of DMG MORI Ultrasonic Lasertec GmbH has added 1,400 square meters of space dedicated to production, logistics, and R&D. The expanded site also houses a training department. Additionally, an outdoor area has been added to the employee cafeteria. Patrick Diederich, Managing Director of DMG MORI Ultrasonic Lasertec GmbH, stated: "DMG MORI is firmly committed to the Stipshausen plant. The expanded capacity allows us to confidently meet strong future demand and creates ideal conditions for further development and technological innovation."
05 Haas Shanghai Open House & PMC Series Launch
On June 26, the "2026 Haas Shanghai Open House & PMC Series Launch" kicked off at the Haas Asia headquarters showroom, marking the official debut of the all-new PMC series CNC machine tools.
As a globally renowned CNC machine tool brand, Haas continuously iterates its products based on local market needs. The launch of the PMC series further expands equipment options for domestic SMEs and precision machining manufacturers, empowering the manufacturing sector to improve quality and efficiency through high-performance, intelligent, and stable CNC equipment.
06 Marposs Celebrates 40th Anniversary in China
On June 26, Marposs hosted a grand "TECH DAY" event at its Shanghai Solutions Center to celebrate 40 years of operations in China. Numerous representatives from industry associations, customer organizations, and partner companies gathered to mark this milestone.
07 ZEISS "WHAT'S NEW" Customer Exchange Event Concludes Successfully
The "AI-Empowered Smart Manufacturing, Services Igniting a New Journey | WHAT'S NEW Customer Exchange Event," hosted by ZEISS, concluded successfully at the ZEISS Industrial Quality Solutions flagship showroom. The event focused on two core themes: AI software empowering smart quality manufacturing and full-lifecycle equipment services.
Through sessions such as an introduction to the ZEISS quality software ecosystem, the launch of the "Quality Service, Smart Future" service system, an overview of the new Volume Inspection AI software, and a presentation on CT solutions balancing quality and efficiency-complemented by live demonstrations of hardware and software for various quality inspection devices-ZEISS comprehensively showcased its innovations in quality software, the upgrade of its localized service ecosystem, and industrial CT service solutions. These efforts help manufacturing enterprises unlock the value of data and assets, enhance quality management efficiency, and build a sustainable core competitive advantage in quality.
