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News Release from: UCIMU
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 26 April 2004
Stagnation continues in Italian machine
tools
The Italian machine tool industry downturn in 2003 and the prudence felt in the year in progress are confirmed by last year's closing figures and the forecasts for neglible growth during 2004.
The downturn in 2003 and the prudence felt in the year in progress are confirmed by last year's closing figures and the forecasts for 2004 In the view of the President, Andrea Riello, the national industry needs a strategic lever of technological innovation and incentive to renew machinery fleets to assist and promote competition
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 30 Mar 2005 at 8.00am (UK)
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Based on the data processed by the Studies Dept.
of UCIMU-Sistemi Per Produrre, orders collected by Italian manufacturers of metal working machine tools, which were reduced throughout 2003, suffered a further setback in the 1st quarter of 2004.
The order index finished at 79.1 (base 2000=100), more or less in line with the first quarter 2003, with a slight variation of +0.1%.
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The overall result was determined by the slight downturn in the orders taken on the domestic market, which decreased by 1.8% for an index value of 67.3, halting the slide that was routinely above 20% in the three previous quarters.
On the foreign front, the index showed a slight increase of 0.9% for an index value of 91.7.
The President of UCIMU-Sistemi Per Produrre, Andrea Riello, had this to say: "The results obtained on the foreign markets reflect yet again that Italian manufacturers are capable of reacting to the weakness in the domestic demand by becoming more flexible and successful on the more attractive, traditional and emerging markets." Based on ISTAT figures relating to 2003, among the traditional sales markets, we find growth in sales in the United States (up 30.8%), despite a very strong Euro, while Italy increased its direct exports to the emerging markets such as China (+32.1%), Turkey (+26.3%) and Russia (+33.3%).
The difficulties experienced by the Italian machine tool, robotics and automation industry in 2003 and the prudence for the year in progress are demonstrated by the actual figures of 2003 and the forecasts for 2004, envisioned by the Studies Dept.
Italian production of machine tools, robotics and automation posted losses in 2003 of 8%, finishing the year with total sales of EUR 4,028 million.
This decrease was hinged on the overall negative trends in exports (-5.1%) and to a larger measure, sales on the domestic market (down 10.3%).
The outlook for 2004 shows slight increases in production with respect to 2003 (up by 0.5%) thanks mainly to the resurgence of exports, that should post an increase of 5.1% while the demand expressed on the domestic market is expected to remain weakened (losing 5.5% on a year earlier).
"The machine tool, robotics and automation industry - remarks Riello - is certainly strategic for the manufacturing industry.
The Italian government has recognized this fact, taking appropriate measures over the years to protect its competitiveness.
Our primary competitive edge, which we should strive to reinforce today, is our technological innovation.
This has permitted Italian manufacturers to attain a leadership position in the world.
The special structure of the sector in Italy, made up of a large number of small- and medium-sized companies, demands that public authorities pay special attention to funding incentives to research and development, which can be particularly burdensome to small concerns.
In addition, the national economic context presents characteristics of stagnation, even crisis, and has for several years now.
This context corresponds to aging manufacturing equipment and has led to serious loss in the competitive edge for the entire Italian industry.
We need to find a solution to this quandary.
A measure that could stimulate replacement of obsolete machinery with newer, more technologically advanced means would have largely positive effects on our sector and the economy as a whole.
One proposal that has been advanced several times is to deregulate amortisation rates on investments.
This deregulation could also be linked to voluntary replacement of worn-out machine tools by the users, which would make a large quantity of scrap parts available to manufacturers.
The recent scarcity of iron on the market has led to substantially higher prices and serious impairment to Italian industries, traditionally dependent on imports of such materials.".
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