Product category:
Manufacturing industry news
News Release from: UCIMU
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 19 July 2004
Early signs of Italian machine tool
recovery shown
UCIMU reports Italian machine tool manufacturers increased the orders taken in the second quarter of 2004 by 18.3% compared with the same period in 2003.
Alberto Tacchella, the new president of UCIMU-Sistemi Per Produrre, remarked: "the percent increase on the previous year is positive, but the index number, which refers to the level of orders in absolute terms, is still especially low For there to be a real recovery, all the components of the country system must work in concert." Based on the figures gathered by the Studies Dept
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 30 Mar 2005 at 8.00am (UK)
Related stories
BI-MU Mediterranea scheduled for 2006
Addressing the Mediterranean countries' markets, the next BI-MU Mediterranea exhibition will present the latest developments in machine tools and manufacturing technologies in early 2006.
Bi-Mu show covers latest machine tools
This year's Italian machine tool and production equipment show - the Bi-Mu - will take place in Milan's new exhibition centre located on the outskirts of the city.
of UCIMU-Sistemi Per Produrre, the association of Italian machine tools, robotics and automation manufacturers, Italian machine tool manufacturers increased the orders taken in the second quarter of 2004 by 18.3% compared with the same period in 2003, standing at an index value of 64.7 (base 2000=100).
Apart from the end of 2002, this is the first significant increase since the beginning of 2001 influenced by the effect of Tremonti-bis.
The results must also consider the absolute value of the indices, which have continued on medium to low levels, not only with respect to the particularly positive base year 2000 but also compared with the historic figures.
Further reading
Sheet metal working show set in Italy, 2006
Latest Europe-wide developments in sheet metal handling, forming, welding and finishing will be shown at the Italian 'Lamiera' event in Bologna, in May 2006.
Some 400 companies to exhibit at Lamiera
Some 400 companies have registered for stands at the forthcoming Italian sheet metal work and fabrication show, Lamiera 2006, from Europe, Middle east and the USA.
Italian Bi-Mu machine tool show scheduled
Italy's 25th Bi-Mu machine tool and production equipment show includes the latest developments in welding, assembling, dies and moulds and is supported by a conference.
The second quarter 2004 data presented mainly good growth on the foreign market, where orders increased by 36%.
In absolute terms, the index reached 75.6 points.
Based on ISTAT data relating to the first quarter, Italian machine tool manufacturers found good results on the traditional markets (Germany +17.8% and France +4.6%) and on the emerging markets (China +19.9%, Turkey +53.8%, Poland +10.4%, Russia +74.3%), while sales to the United States and Spain posted losses of 11.5% and 2.9% respectively.
The domestic market posted growth of 2.5%, recording the first increase after five consecutive quarters of heavy losses, preceded, despite a short interruption, by a crisis situation whose onset occurred in late 2000.
Looking back at the first six months of 2004, on a global level, the order index posted an increase of 7.5% compared with the first half of the previous year, attributable to the positive results of foreign orders (14.2%) and the substantial stability (0.1%) of the domestic market.
On the wake of these figures, Tacchella, notes: "The percent increase on the previous year is positive but the index number, with reference to the level of orders in absolute terms, is still quite low.
If we look at the domestic market," - continues Tacchella "The result of the first six months gives us hope for some reversal of the trends.
In order for the signals to transform into a stable and constant recovery, every component of the country system must work together to reinforce the competitiveness of our companies." According to Tacchella, "there are two decisive fronts where we have to concentrate our efforts: innovation, vital to competing on the global market, and investments, essential for reviving national industry." "Only constant technological product innovation together with a real commitment to constantly improving services - notes the president of UCIMU-Sistemi Per Produrre - will enable Italian manufacturers to remain at the top of the world rankings.
We need central government to pay special attention to research and development, whose funding can be onerous for our typically small- to medium-sized companies.
In this vein, the government might modify the tax structure, making IRAP fully deductible for costs incurred for researchers, while waiting for the tax to be abolished entirely." "On the other hand - continues Tacchella - the persistence of a stagnant situation on the domestic market suggests the need to take measures that can encourage new investments.
Liberalizing the amortization and depreciation allowances would ensure rapid depreciation of the machinery fleet of small- and medium-size enterprise and improve the production processes and at the same time, develop and expand the manufacturing industry of production equipment.".
• UCIMU: contact details and other news
• Email this article to a colleague
• Register for the free Manufacturingtalk email newsletter
• Manufacturingtalk Home Page
Search the Pro-Talk network of sites
