NACE 32.2 – Manufacture of Musical Instruments | Public Tenders

Definition: NACE 32.2 covers the manufacture of string instruments, wind instruments, keyboard instruments, percussion instruments and electronic musical instruments and accessories. The group belongs to Section C (Manufacturing) and Division 32.

Legal basis: NACE Rev. 2 (Regulation (EC) No 1893/2006) · Last updated: April 2026

What does NACE 32.2 cover?

NACE 32.2 (Manufacture of musical instruments) classifies companies that produce acoustic and electronic musical instruments and associated accessories — an industry with regular procurement demand from public cultural institutions and educational bodies.

Group 32.2 covers the following product areas:

Public Tenders: Musical Instruments Public Contracts

Public music schools, state orchestras, universities and cultural institutions regularly procure musical instruments — from student recorders to concert grand pianos.

Typical Contract Types

• Music school equipment: Piano and grand piano procurement for municipal music schools, student wind instruments for beginner courses
• Orchestra requirements: Replacement and supplementary procurement of instruments for city and state orchestras
• Church organs: New construction or restoration of pipe organs in publicly funded church buildings or concert halls
• School wind instruments: Bulk orders of recorders, trumpets and clarinets for school orchestras
• Recording studio equipment: Electronic instruments, mixing desks and recording equipment for public media houses

Relevant CPV Codes for NACE 32.2

Contracting Authorities and Bidders

Public Contracting Authorities

Municipal music schools are the most frequent public buyers of instruments in the mid-range segment. State orchestras (e.g. philharmonics, state operas) procure high-quality instruments, often according to specific artistic requirements. Music academies and universities with music faculties procure teaching and practice instruments. Church congregations and foundations may act as contracting authorities where they are predominantly publicly financed.

Bidders and Suitability Requirements

• Specialist expertise: Demonstrated expertise in the relevant instrument segment (e.g. piano technicians, organ builders)
• References: Comparable deliveries to public institutions in the last three to five years
• Customer service: Evidence of maintenance and tuning services, warranty agreements
• Certifications: Master's certificate in the musical instrument making trade or specialist retail certification

FAQ

Can instrument procurement be combined with advisory and maintenance services? Yes, contracting authorities frequently tender instrument supply including commissioning, tuning and maintenance contract as an overall package. For such mixed contracts, the applicable procurement law follows the main subject matter of the contract.

How is a concert grand piano procured for a concert hall? For high-value individual items such as concert grand pianos (often above EUR 100,000), a formal procurement procedure is required. Due to the limited number of market providers in the top segment, the negotiated procedure with market exploration is often chosen; the specification can include technical minimum requirements and a test-playing clause.

NACE 32.2 in context: Section C and Division 32

• NACE C – Manufacturing: Parent section
• NACE 32 – Other manufacturing: Parent division
• NACE 32.1 – Manufacture of jewellery and precious metal goods: Adjacent group
• NACE 32.3 – Manufacture of sports goods: Further group in Division 32

Last updated: April 2026 All information is provided without guarantee. For legally binding advice, please consult a law firm specialising in public procurement law.