Industrial goods industry trends
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Industrial goods industry trends 2026+
The industrial goods sector faced unprecedented disruption in 2025. Sweeping tariffs reshaped global trade, with US manufacturers navigating rates that peaked at 145% on Chinese goods and 25-50% on steel and aluminum.
Companies front-loaded inventory, redesigned supply chains, and spent over half their leadership time on crisis management rather than long-term strategy.
Yet, 2025 also accelerated a critical shift toward autonomy. Agentic AI moved from pilot programs to production floors. These systems now manage quality control, optimize schedules, and coordinate supply chains without human intervention. Siemens achieved 90% touchless processing in industrial operations. Three-quarters of manufacturers expect AI agents to handle routine production decisions by 2028.
The labor shortage intensified this transformation. Over 3.5 million physical task roles will remain unfilled by 2030 as frontline workers retire. Physical AI (humanoid robots and autonomous systems) began filling critical gaps in unstructured factory environments.
The winners in 2026 will be those who scaled AI infrastructure in 2025. Those who treat agentic systems as core operations, not experiments. Those who built supply chain resilience while competitors were still reacting to tariff headlines.
This industrial goods trend report examines the key factors shaping the industry.
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New and declining trends for 2026
The trends tracked in this year's report reflect how 2025's disruptions reshaped what matters in industrial goods. Two trends dropped from our analysis as market forces made them strategically irrelevant. Magnetic levitation bearings couldn't justify their cost premium, and programmable matter remains confined to research labs.
In their place, we've added trends that directly address 2025's defining challenges. Demand for sustainable equipment surged as regulatory pressure converted from aspiration to enforcement. Advanced recycling technologies graduated to strategic necessity as resource nationalism made virgin material sourcing both expensive and unreliable. Companies that can reclaim and reintegrate materials now have competitive advantages that pricing power alone can't overcome.
Three trends received significant updates to reflect their maturation. Energy-storing structural parts evolved from novel components to essential architecture as electrification mandates made passive structures obsolete. Soft robotics components expanded into mainstream applications as labor shortages made adaptable automation non-negotiable. Robotic inspection swarms shifted from data collection to coordinated systems that diagnose problems and prioritize maintenance.
These changes reflect a sector that stopped optimizing for incremental improvement and started rebuilding for a different operating environment entirely.
Capital goods trends
The Capital Goods segment is evolving with smarter, more efficient, and sustainable machinery. Innovations like AI-driven maintenance, digital twins, and renewable energy equipment are improving productivity and reducing downtime. Environmental regulations and customer demand for eco-friendly solutions are accelerating these changes.
Geopolitical shifts and rising material costs are pushing manufacturers to localize production and use recycled materials. Government policies supporting green energy and ESG mandates are driving sustainable designs. These trends create challenges but also open opportunities for innovation and growth in the sector.
We highlight the three most critical capital goods trend developments in the following. Download here the complete list of all 135 trends, affecting the industrial goods industry 2026+.
Graphene-Infused Machinery Components
Summary: Graphene enhances machinery components' durability, conductivity, and heat resistance.
Current Situation: Graphene, a material 200 times stronger than steel, is being integrated into machinery parts like bearings, seals, and electrical contacts. These components exhibit improved durability, reduced friction, and enhanced thermal conductivity. Current applications are experimental and focus on high-performance environments such as aerospace and energy, where material properties can significantly improve efficiency. However, high production costs limit widespread adoption.
Expected Development: In 6-8 years, breakthroughs in graphene production will make it scalable for industrial applications. Graphene-enhanced components will become standard in high-stress machinery, reducing wear and energy losses in heavy-duty equipment. Applications will expand to turbines, compressors, and electrical machinery.
Challenges: High production costs and difficulties in uniformly integrating graphene into large-scale industrial components remain significant barriers.
Time to Impact: 6-8 years
Potential Impact: Very High
STEEP Segment: Technological
This year’s trend development
Emergence of Self-Healing Materials in Machinery
Summary: Self-healing materials extend machinery lifespan by autonomously repairing damage.
Current Situation: Self-healing materials, including polymers and composites, are being tested for use in machinery components. These materials repair minor cracks or abrasions autonomously under specific conditions, such as heat or stress. Applications are currently experimental, with use cases in critical parts like seals and coatings where failure could disrupt operations. Adoption is still in its infancy due to high costs and limited material strength in industrial settings.
Expected Development: Within 4-6 years, self-healing alloys and coatings will be integrated into heavy-duty machinery to reduce maintenance needs. As costs decrease, they will become standard in equipment exposed to high wear or extreme conditions, minimizing downtime and maintenance costs.
Challenges: High R&D costs and durability issues in extreme environments slow commercialization. Scaling production for industrial-grade applications remains a significant barrier.
Time to Impact: 4-6 years
Potential Impact: Very High
STEEP Segment: Technological
This year’s trend development
Demand for Sustainable Equipment
Summary: Social pressure for eco-friendly, energy-efficient machinery is growing.
Current Situation: Customers and employees are advocating for sustainable practices, pushing companies to design machinery with reduced emissions and energy consumption.
Expected Development: Expanding sustainability certification standards and increased adoption of green manufacturing for machinery and equipment.
Challenges: High costs of R&D for sustainable innovations and limited availability of eco-friendly materials in capital goods.
Time to Impact: 2-4 years
Potential Impact: Very High
STEEP Segment: Social
This year’s trend development
Raw material trends
The Raw Materials segment is transforming as governments enforce stricter regulations for ethical sourcing and sustainability. Technologies like waterless processing and carbon capture are reducing environmental impacts, while the push for recycling and circular economies is growing.
Rising global demand, trade tensions, and resource nationalism are reshaping supply chains. Innovations like advanced recycling and urban mining are gaining traction, making raw material sourcing more localized, sustainable, and efficient while addressing market and environmental challenges.
We highlight the three most critical raw materials trend developments in the following. Download here the complete list of all 135 trends, affecting the industrial goods industry 2026+.
Rare Earth Recycling Technologies for Sustainable Resource Use
Summary: Advanced recycling methods aim to recover high-purity rare earth elements (REEs) from electronic and industrial waste.
Current Situation: Rare earth recycling technologies, such as advanced electrochemical separation and solvent-based extraction, are emerging as viable solutions to address supply chain vulnerabilities and reduce environmental impact. Current applications are limited to small-scale projects focusing on extracting rare earths from e-waste like magnets and batteries. These methods show potential but remain costly and inefficient compared to traditional mining.
Expected Development: Over the next 4-6 years, improvements in separation efficiency and cost reduction will make rare earth recycling more accessible for industries like electronics, renewable energy, and automotive manufacturing. This will create a circular economy for critical materials, reducing dependence on mining and mitigating geopolitical risks.
Challenges: High costs, inconsistent material quality from recycled sources, and the need for standardized recycling infrastructure globally.
Time to Impact: 4-6 years
Potential Impact: Very High
STEEP Segment: Technological
This year’s trend development
Biomimetic Mining Processes for Eco-Friendly Extraction
Summary: Biomimetic techniques use biological organisms to extract metals, offering a sustainable alternative to chemical-intensive mining.
Current Situation: Microorganisms and enzymes are being tested to extract precious metals like gold and rare earths from low-grade ores or mining waste. This process, often called "bioleaching," reduces the need for hazardous chemicals like cyanide. Adoption remains limited to experimental projects, with research institutions leading the way.
Expected Development: Over the next 6-8 years, these processes could become mainstream in resource extraction, particularly for recovering materials from challenging ore bodies or industrial waste. Governments and companies are likely to support biomimetic methods as part of broader sustainability goals.
Challenges: Scaling biomimetic processes is slow due to biological limitations and the need for precise environmental control. Regulatory approval and public acceptance of bio-based mining are also hurdles.
Time to Impact: 6-8 years
Potential Impact: Medium High
STEEP Segment: Ecological
This year’s trend development
Advanced Recycling Technologies
Summary: Innovations in recycling processes to recover high-purity raw materials from complex waste streams.
Current Situation: Techniques like solvent-based recycling and chemical depolymerization are in pilot stages for materials like plastics and composites.
Expected Development: Scaling these technologies could significantly reduce reliance on virgin raw materials and lower environmental impact.
Challenges: Economic feasibility, regulatory approvals, and public acceptance.
Time to Impact: 4-6 years
Potential Impact: High
STEEP Segment: Technological
This year’s trend development
Components, supplies, and parts trends
The Components, Parts, and Supplies segment is evolving with advances in programmable materials, modular designs, and eco-friendly manufacturing. Companies are adopting recyclable materials and digital tools like IoT to improve transparency and efficiency, meeting both regulatory and consumer demands.
External factors like fluctuating material costs, trade barriers, and stricter export controls are driving localized production and diversified supply chains. Social pressures for transparency and sustainability are further shaping the segment, pushing it toward smarter, greener, and more resilient practices.
We highlight the three most critical components, supplies, and parts trend developments in the following. Download here the complete list of all 135 trends, affecting the industrial goods industry 2026+.
Energy-Storing Structural Parts
Summary: Components that serve dual purposes, such as structural support and energy storage (e.g., batteries).
Current Situation: Research in battery materials that double as mechanical supports for vehicles or devices.
Expected Development: Integration into EVs and lightweight machines, reducing weight and enhancing functionality.
Challenges: Complex material development and safety concerns with multifunctional components.
Time to Impact: 6-8 years
Potential Impact: Very High
STEEP Segment: Technological
This year’s trend development
Emergence of Microfluidic Cooling Systems
Summary: Microfluidic components are revolutionizing heat management in high-performance and miniaturized systems.
Current Situation: Microfluidic systems, using channels on the microscale to manage fluid flow, are being developed for precision cooling in electronics and industrial machinery. Current applications are limited to research environments and niche industries like high-performance computing, where efficient heat dissipation is critical. These systems promise to dramatically improve the lifespan and efficiency of components by maintaining optimal operating temperatures.
Expected Development: In the next 4-6 years, microfluidic cooling systems will become a standard solution for advanced electronics and compact machinery. Their adoption in industrial robotics and IoT devices is likely as they become smaller, cheaper, and more effective. This will enable more powerful components in a smaller footprint without overheating risks.
Challenges: Manufacturing microfluidic systems at scale and ensuring their reliability under industrial conditions remain significant barriers. Cost-effectiveness in mass production is another concern.
Time to Impact: 4-6 years
Potential Impact: High
STEEP Segment: Technological
This year's trend development
Soft Robotics Components
Summary: Development of flexible, soft materials for robotic actuators and parts to enable safe interactions.
Current Situation: Prototypes in manufacturing lines for handling delicate items like electronics or food.
Expected Development: Broad use in precision industries, including healthcare and logistics automation.
Challenges: Durability and precision of soft materials in harsh industrial conditions.
Time to Impact: 4-6 years
Potential Impact: High
STEEP Segment: Technological
This year's trend development
Industrial service trends
The Industrial Services segment is evolving rapidly with a focus on technology and sustainability. Predictive maintenance, eco-friendly materials, and renewable energy servicing are transforming traditional practices. Companies are adopting circular economy models to meet stricter regulations and reduce environmental impact.
Political and economic shifts are driving regionalization, with localization policies and green energy incentives shaping strategies. Stricter safety mandates and workforce reskilling are improving operations, while subscription-based models and resilient supply chains enhance flexibility. The segment is becoming more efficient, sustainable, and regulation-ready.
We highlight the three most critical industrial service trend developments in the following. Download here the complete list of all 135 trends, affecting the industrial goods industry 2026+.
Cost Optimization via Service Automation
Summary: Automation in industrial services reduces labor costs, increases efficiency, and enhances service delivery in maintenance, inspections, and repair operations.
Current Situation: Robotics, AI, and automated monitoring tools are being deployed in industrial services to handle repetitive or high-risk tasks. Automation is improving efficiency in areas like inspections, predictive maintenance, and supply chain management. While larger companies have begun implementation, smaller firms face barriers like high initial costs and a lack of expertise.
Expected Development: In the next 2-4 years, automation will become a standard across industrial services as costs decline and adoption scales. Advanced AI systems will perform real-time diagnostics, robotic systems will handle complex servicing tasks, and automation will increase productivity while reducing labor-intensive processes.
Challenges: High upfront costs, resistance from the workforce, and integrating automation into older, legacy systems.
Time to Impact: 2-4 years
Potential Impact: Very High
STEEP Segment: Economic
This year’s trend development
Zero-Contact Servicing
Summary: Advanced robotics and imaging enable zero-contact servicing in sterile or hazardous industrial environments, improving safety and precision.
Current Situation: Zero-contact servicing uses non-invasive methods, including robotic arms and imaging technologies, to repair or maintain equipment in sterile or hazardous environments like biohazard zones or high-temperature facilities. Current applications are in niche industries such as healthcare manufacturing and nuclear plants, where human access is limited or risky.
Expected Development: Over the next 4-6 years, advancements in robotic dexterity and imaging will enable broader adoption across industries. Zero-contact methods will improve servicing precision, reduce contamination risks, and enhance safety in extreme environments, making them indispensable in high-risk sectors.
Challenges: High costs of robotic and imaging technologies, limited capability for handling complex repairs, and regulatory approval for safety-critical industries.
Time to Impact: 4-6 years
Potential Impact: High
STEEP Segment: Technological
This year's trend development
Robotic Inspection Swarms
Summary: Coordinated swarms of micro-robots inspect large industrial assets simultaneously, increasing speed and coverage while reducing downtime.
Current Situation: Micro-robot swarms are used experimentally to inspect pipelines, turbines, and machinery interiors, offering faster and safer inspections in hazardous or inaccessible areas.
Expected Development: Improved AI coordination will enable swarms to autonomously adapt to inspection challenges, minimizing human oversight and enhancing safety.
Challenges: Complex programming for swarm autonomy, risk of robot failure, and regulatory challenges for autonomous industrial robots.
Time to Impact: 6-8 years
Potential Impact: High
STEEP Segment: Technological
This year's trend development
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