The present invention relates to Actinomycetales strains for the improved formation of acarbose. Provided are Actinomycetales strains which are engineered to overexpress dTDP-D-glucose-4,6-dehydratase (AcbB) and/or uridyltransferase (GtaB). Also provided are Actinomycetales strains which are engineered to have a reduced or absent expression of the small carbohydrate binding protein (Cgt) and/or a reduced or absent expression of genes which are essential for carotenoid synthesis. Also provided are tools, methods and means to generate these strains.