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News Release from: UCIMU
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 19 July 2005
Exports uphold Italian machine tool
output
The production of Italian machine tools, robots and automation manufacturing industry, after two years of fall, is growing again having risen by 2.5% to EUR 4,130 million compared to 2003.
According to Alberto Tacchella, President of UCIMU-Sistemi per Produrre: "Concrete interventions by the Government authorities are necessary, as our country can not renounce its manufacturing vocation." The 2004 balance of the Italian industry of machine tools, robots and automation is substantially positive Despite the unfavourable business cycle, the Italian industry of the mentioned field has confirmed its third position in the world classifications of the sector for production as well as for exports
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 30 Mar 2005 at 8.00am (UK)
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According to 2004 final balance results, presented this morning by Alberto Tacchella, President of UCIMU-Sistemi per Produrre, in the presence of Luca di Montezemolo, President of Confindustria (Italian Manufacturers Confederation), the production of Italian machine tools, robots and automation manufacturing industry, after two years of fall, is growing again totalling EUR 4,130 million (+2,5%) compared to the previous year.
There has been a good performance of exports, with a 12.2% growth amounting to EUR 2,077 million, which pulled the sales of Italian manufacturers, at least partially compensating the negative results in the domestic market.
In fact, there has been a prosecution of the negative trend of deliveries by the Italian manufacturers on the domestic market decreased to EUR 2,053 million (-5.7%), due to a drop in demand (-2%).
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The ratio of export on production has increased from 46% in 2003 to 50.3%, so that the quota of the 'Made in Italy' destined to foreign markets is again over the half.
The most important outlet markets of Italian production have turned out to be Germany, taking over 12.6% of the total exports, Spain (9.4%), the United States (9%), France (8.9%) and China (8.4%).
In particular, sales registered a recovery in Germany (EUR 248 million, +19.1%), Spain (EUR 184 million, +18%) and France (EUR 174 million, +2.3%).
Positive results also concern export to the United States (+7.6%), to the United Kingdom (+4.9%), to Austria (+42.2%) and to Poland (+14.3%).
Among the developing countries, the most significant increases in the sales of Italian production systems were recorded in Russia (+89.5%), which resulted to be the sixth most important outlet market, Turkey (+34.8%) and China (+14.8%).
The trade balance has recorded an 18.8% increase, amounting to EUR 1,044 million.
According to Alberto Tacchella, President of UCIMU: "The final balance of the year 2004, even if it has a positive sign, should be analysed very cautiously, at least for two reasons.
The first one," states Tacchella.
"Concerns the increase in production still resulting very low, especially considering that the year 2003, the comparison year, was absolutely disappointing for the manufacturers of production systems.
The second reason," continues Tacchella, "Regards the discrepancy between the positive trend of exports and that of deliveries on the domestic market, still negative.
"These data," stresses Tacchella, "Are confirming the substantial stagnation regarding our sector, as well as the entire economic system of our country which needs a real relaunching in order to keep up with the foreign competitors.
Concrete and, most of all, not generic interventions are necessary, as our country can not renounce its manufacturing vocation.
In this sense," states Tacchella, "There are four strategic levers, on which the challenge of competitiveness is based: Internationalisation, Innovation, Investments, Image.
If the entrepreneurs must do their share, modifying their way of making business, the country-system must absolutely intervene with adequate, concrete measures." As far as internationalisation is concerned - points out Tacchella - manufacturers need to face their limited enterprise size that is an obstacle to the structured presence in foreign markets, by an aggregation among enterprises with common targets.
With this purpose, we hope that our country-system may operate for the accomplishment of measures to make these processes fiscally neutral and, on the other hand, for the development of means, such as, for example, the private equity funds, capable of supporting enterprises in their size growth, thanks to the financing of necessary investments.
Innovation," says Tacchella, "Surely represents the real strategic lever to keep up with the traditional competitors and enlarge the qualitative gap enjoyed by the 'Made in Italy' of the sector in comparison with the production offered by competitors from the developing countries.
Thus, it is a priority for our enterprises to achieve a steady dialogue between industry, research institutes and universities, in order to create a 'virtuous' circle capable of encouraging the direct transfer of ideas from the academic world to that of manufacturing industry.
"In consideration of a negative business cycle, it is even more necessary," affirms Tacchella, "To safeguard instrumental mechanics as it generates investment goods, favouring enterprises and investments in production means, as a developing 'fly-wheel' for the whole country.
For this purpose, a decisive, vigorous manoeuvre is needed that takes into account the abolition of IRAP, an unfair, penalising tax, and the liberalisation of depreciation allowances.
Finally," concludes Tacchella.
"Image that nowadays is a priority asset.
We, the entrepreneurs, have the task to learn to better communicate, but without a structured support behind, all our efforts will be useless.
For this reason, we ask our country-system to create a strong national image by a continuous and efficient planning of campaigns for the promotion of the "Made by Italians".
This strong national image should also be able to bring out the peculiarities of specific productions.".
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