can you give the sentence please, then maybe I (or someone else out there) can think of something!!

workload?

"Für die Auftragsbelastung wird ein echter Auftrag benötigt (kein freies Lager!)"

Can't say it makes me any the wiser...

Right, have absolutely no idea either so will "brainstorm" a bit, could it be: debiting the order in the order books (in other words - a written order is required before this order can be entered into our books) or we require a written order in order to check available capacity (Auftragsbelastung as order load as how much work we have)???????
Don't know if this will help at all, I would favour the first idea, but am not sure.
Where are the Germans when you need them ??????????????

Just to keep the German reputation unharmed ;-)

I can only support Lis with her assumption, which is mine, too, not knowing whether this is the term joel needs. "Belastung", to take it to the extremes, can be a hard debit in the books, or just just a "reminder" in someone's note book.

joel, if this a translation job, my advice is to go back to the ordering party to get clarification.

mehr Inhalt bitte! (ganzen Abschnitt bitte)

thanks everyone!
Werner: I'll get clarification from the client eventually, it's just nice to have some sensible suggestions to give them once they've explained themselves...

Reinhard: that's all I've got I'm afraid.