For the Italian manufacturers of machine tools, robots and automation systems, the year 2024 is closing with a considerable fall of almost all economic indicators. The year 2025 will not be bright, but however, a weak trend reversal is expected.

This, in brief, is what was illustrated by Riccardo Rosa, president of UCIMU-SISTEMI PER PRODURRE, the Italian machine tools, robots and automation systems manufacturers’ association, during the usual year-end press conference.

Based on the preliminary data prepared by the Studies Dept. & Business Culture Centre of UCIMU-SISTEMI PER PRODURRE, in 2024, production stood at 6,745 million euro, showing an 11.4% drop over the previous year.

The downturn was exclusively due to the sharp contraction of deliveries by manufacturers on the domestic market, which did not exceed 2,255 million euro, i.e. 33.5% less than in 2023 and which were held back by the low investment propensity of Italian users.

The measure of this weakness is expressed by the figure of household  consumption, which collapsed by 34.8% to 3,795 million euro. This trend also impacted the performance of imports, which fell by 36.5% to 1,540 million euro.

The performance of Italian manufacturers on the foreign market was different, as highlighted by the figure of exports, which grew by 6,3% versus 2023, to 4,490 million euro, new record value never achieved before.

According to UCIMU processing of the data from the Italian National Statistics Institute (ISTAT), in the period January-August 2024 (latest available data), the main destination markets for the Italian sector offering of machine tools only were the United States (419 million euro, +17.8%), Germany (243 million euro, +12.3%), China (138 million euro, -15.3%), India (132 million euro, +100%), France (125 million euro, -9.3%).

The export/production figure went up to 66.6%.

For 2025, the expected results should include a return to a positive range, but with very moderate increases. In particular, according to the forecasts compiled by the Studies Dept. & Business Culture Centre of UCIMU, production should increase again in 2025, attaining 6,940 million euro (+2.9% versus 2024).

This outcome should be due to the positive performance of exports – likely to remain stationary (+0.3%) versus 2024 at 4,505 million euro (new record) – as well as to the moderate recovery of deliveries by Italian manufacturers, which should grow to 2,435 million euro (+8% compared to 2024), driven by the revival of domestic demand.

Italian consumption of machine tools, robots and automation should increase to 4,070 million euro, corresponding to 7.2% more than in 2024. Imports should  also benefit from the (weak) recovery in domestic demand, as shown by the forecast figure indicating a 6.2% growth to 1,635 million euro.

The export/production ratio  should decrease slightly to 64.9%.

Riccardo Rosa, president of UCIMU, commented: “After the summer, it became clear that 2024 would be “a completely lost year” for the Italian machine tool industry, which however tried (unsuccessfully) to save the final outcome through overseas activity. This was the situation and nevertheless, our Studies Dept. & Business Culture Centre had to further revise downwards the estimates submitted in September, a sign of the difficulty our companies are facing”.

“Once again, the year that is closing highlights the ability of Italian manufacturers to orient their business rapidly towards the most dynamic areas in the world, starting with the United States, where we have been doing well for many years now. However, looking beyond, the fear that the new US administration may decide to implement a new tariff policy on goods related to our production puts us on alert and forces us to carefully consider our internationalisation activities”.

“Over the last few months, Oficina Italiana de Promotiòn Mexico was established as  a special desk to support Italian member companies of UCIMU and Amaplast, in their knowledge and penetration of the relevant market, also for the Central and North American area”.

“After all, – continued Riccardo Rosa – the big problem for (Italian) manufacturers remains the domestic market which, after consuming at an unprecedented pace, is struggling to restart, also due to the long waiting time for the final adjustments and simplification of Transition 5.0, announced by the Government authorities in November, but not yet made effective”.

“If it is true that the pace in the 2021-2022 period was not sustainable beyond a certain time limit, it is also true that now the value of the Italian market has sharply decreased, returning to the 2016 levels. Too little, I would say. Because of this, important actions and measures are needed”.

“Transition 5.0 is surely a great opportunity, because it prompts companies to think about a new and necessary approach to a proper use of resources, energy saving and sustainable production, as required by the European directives. Enterprises believe in the potential of this instrument, but corrective measures have to be implemented as soon as possible. Otherwise, once again, the opportunity risks remaining only on paper”.

“We particularly appreciate the idea of substituting the obligation of energy-saving  certification for the possibility of combining the new purchase with the replacement of obsolete machinery, (whose depreciation has been completed for at least 24 months). This would mean that a new machine could be purchased under 5.0, if the purchase were related to the replacement of a machine that were at least 7 years old. But we also appreciate the increased tax rates, the possibility of cumulating the measure with incentives for the SEZs (Special Economic Zones) or other incentives financed with non-domestic resources and the extension of the measure to the first four months of 2026”.

“If these adjustments are actually included in the Budget Law, demand should certainly restart to the benefit of the entire manufacturing industry in Italy, which needs to innovate in order to maintain a competitive product offering, also in line with the sustainability directives defined by the European Union”.

“With regard to the Green Deal – added Riccardo Rosa – we cannot but note the position of the European Union, which intends to proceed with the electric transition plan for endothermic engines, with the time frame and procedures currently established: this is severely testing the manufacturing industry in the old continent”.

“What we are currently witnessing, with the closure of some automotive factories and the layoff of thousands of workers, including those in related industries and activities, risks triggering a domino effect that could bring a serious social problem for most of the countries in the area, starting with Italy. We absolutely cannot allow this and thus, I think, it is necessary for all representative bodies of the industrial world to make their voices heard, before it is really too late. This is a game involving entrepreneurs, managers, workers and government institutions for the common interest of defending the industry, which is the basis of the economic system in Italy and Europe”.

“The manufacturing system is an essential element for the well-being of society. For this reason, – concluded Riccardo Rosa – to the government authorities, we reiterate the need to reason, from the beginning of the year, on a new industrial policy programme that may accompany and support the development of enterprises from 2026 onwards”.

2023 has been another positive year for the Italian manufacturing industry of machine tools, robots, and automation systems, which has achieved a new production record, thus extending the favourable trend that should also be confirmed in 2024.

This is in short what was outlined by Barbara Colombo, president of UCIMU-SISTEMI PER PRODURRE, the Italian machine tools, robots and automation systems manufacturers’ association, during the usual year-end press conference.

Based on the preliminary year’s data processed by the Studies Dept. & Business Culture of UCIMU-SISTEMI PER PRODURRE, in 2023 production reached 7,560 million euro, marking a 3.8% increase over the previous year.

The result was driven by the good performance of exports, which grew by 10.3% to 3,825 million euro. The export/production figure went up again, attaining 50.6%.

On the foreign front, according to UCIMU processing of the data from the Italian National Statistics Institute (ISTAT), in the period January-August 2023 (latest available data), the main destination markets for the Italian product offering of the sector were the United States (356 million euro, +26.7%), Germany (217 million euro, +8.8%), China (163 million euro, +34%), France (138 million euro, +32.1%) and Poland (128 million euro, +14.7%).

 On the other hand, the deliveries by Italian manufacturers in the domestic market decreased slightly to 3,735 million euro, 2% less than in 2022.

Deliveries and imports – the latter down by 4.5% to 2,385 million euro – were affected by the decrease, however slight, in consumption, which dropped by 3% to 6,120 million euro.

For 2024, Italian machine tool, robot and automation manufacturers expect a consolidation of the results achieved in recent years: production should be driven by foreign demand, whereas a moderate reduction should be recorded in domestic consumption.

In particular, according to the forecasts carried out by the Studies Dept. & Business Culture Centre of UCIMU, in 2024, production should grow to 7,595 million euro (+0.5% compared to 2023), thanks to the rise in exports, which should stand at 4,070 million euro (+6.4%).

Deliveries by manufacturers to the domestic market should not exceed 3,525 million euro (-5.6%), in line with the drop in domestic consumption, which should reach 5,780 million euro (-5.6%).

Imports should also be affected by the reduced demand for investments in Italy, falling by 5.5% to 2,255 million euro.

The export/production figure should rise again, standing at 53.6%.

Barbara Colombo, president of UCIMU-SISTEMI PER PRODURRE, commented: “Although there are clear signs of a slowdown, the 2023 of Italian manufacturers is closing with a positive sign; the “Made in Italy” production of the sector grew again, setting a new record thanks to the good results obtained by Italian enterprises abroad”.

“All this means that, once again, our enterprises have been able to redirect their product offering towards areas where demand is more dynamic, i.e. foreign markets. Recession risk averted in the United States, considering the geo-political instability we are facing today, Italian companies are principally engaged in covering traditional markets: in addition to the USA, that of EU countries, where, amongst other things, we hope for the recovery of Germany, which has always been a first-rate partner for the Italian mechanical industry”.

“In this connection – pointed out Barbara Colombo – we have recently submitted to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation an operational plan for the two-year period 2024-2025 regarding activities between the Italian and German machine tool industries, aimed at strengthening the cooperation relations between the two world-leading industrial systems in this field”.

Mutual visits to production facilities in both countries, organisation of incoming activities for delegations of German end users visiting Italian enterprises and trade fairs in Italy, organisation of an Italian Machine Tool Forum in Germany to foster and encourage a mutual knowledge of leading manufacturers and users in both countries, as well as market analyses: these are some of the initiatives that make up this programme. Based on past experience – continued the president – and considering the value of the intervention, we think that this programme should be carried out according to a public-private cooperation model, also for economic purposes. Alongside the trade associations of the respective countries, on the Italian side, in addition to Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, in our opinion, Sace, Simest, CDP and ICE-Italian Trade Agency should intervene as well.”.

“In parallel with this, our commitment continues in the most geographically distant and culturally different markets, for which UCIMU has launched important initiatives to support the internationalisation activities of enterprises. Among these, two business networks. The first one is ITC in India, which has been working for eleven years now and which gathered over one hundred participants among trade operators of the sector, end users, institutions and journalists during the last annual Conference, in Pune last November. The second one is the newly established network IMT in Vietnam, launched last September and created with the aim of supporting the penetration of the network companies into the country that represents the gateway to the whole South-East Asian region”.

“On the Italian front – stated President Barbara Colombo – the willingness to invest shown by Italian investors has certainly dropped in 2023. After years of more than exponential growth, the reduction registered this year and that expected for next year however seem acceptable. It is actually a gradual return to normal values after the exceptionality of the previous two years. We collect fewer orders than in the past, but the market is not at a standstill: on the contrary, the Italian market remains one of the most important ones. The Italian manufacturing industry is willing to continue with the digital transition process, which is in full deployment, but everyone is waiting to see what incentives will be available starting from the next few months”.

“For this reason – continued Barbara Colombo – we appreciate the work carried out by our government authorities who obtained the green light by the European Commission to finance, with Repower EU, the Transition Plan 5.0, focusing on the combination of green and digital transformations to support the development of the manufacturing industry according to energy-saving criteria, while also considering the fundamental issue of education and training. Now we wait to see the implementation of the measures that will bring this plan into effect”.

“At the same time – concluded the president of UCIMU – we call on the Government to refine the measures 4.0 in order to extend their use to an ever-wider range of companies. The idea is to free up larger resources for small-scale investments, which are logically the preserve of smaller companies that have generally been, and still are, more reluctant to undertake the digital transition. We are aware that there are scarce economic resources and consider it useful for this purpose to raise the tax credit rate of the first bracket, now set at 20%, while lowering the maximum value of the eligible investment currently set at 2.5 million euro”.

In the fourth quarter 2022, the index of machine tool orders processed by the Economic Studies Department & Business Culture Centre of UCIMU-SISTEMI PER PRODURRE marked a 3.5% increase compared with the period October-December 2021. The absolute value of the index stood at 133.6 (base year 2015=100). This is the new record value for the quarter of reference.

The outcome was due to the good trend of orders collected abroad, as well as to the excellent results achieved in the domestic market.

In particular, the orders collected overseas grew by 2.4% compared with the same period of the previous year. The absolute value of the index was 103.9.

On the domestic front, the collected orders registered a 5.4% upturn. The absolute value of the index at 257 is the new all-time high. Barbara Colombo, president of UCIMU-SISTEMI PER PRODURRE, commented: “This performance is really satisfactory, as it is compared with the result of the fourth quarter 2021, which had already been exceptional. The excellent outcome was mostly due to the accelerated purchasing decisions of end users, who completed their investment processes by the end of the year 2022 to take advantage of the tax credit at 40%, being aware that – as announced by the Government – from January 2023, the tax rate would be halved”.

On the other hand, on an annual basis, the index of orders shows a -7.8% downturn, for an absolute value of 120.1. The decrease was due to the reduction in the collection of orders in the Italian market, (-20.8%) for an absolute value of 144.7. On the contrary, the orders from abroad were on the rise (+2.8%), for an absolute value of 115.9.

Barbara Colombo, president of UCIMU-SISTEMI PER PRODURRE, stated: “If we observe the performance of the order collection over the entire year, it is clear that in any case the “blaze” in the fourth quarter could not counterbalance the fall reported in the previous quarters. This fall was mostly due to the reduction in the orders collected by manufacturers in the Italian market, which is however compared with the boom recorded in the four quarters 2021”.

“After all, – went on the president of UCIMU-SISTEMI PER PRODURRE, Barbara Colombo – we expected this trend, both for the annual index and for the last quarter. In particular, with reference to the 12-month period, the downturn in the domestic market is not surprising: we cannot expect that the Italian market may keep on growing at the pace registered in the last two years. That said, the demand expressed in Italy remains dynamic, because the process of digital transformation is in full swing”.

“Therefore, – affirmed Barbara Colombo – it is necessary to ensure a continuity of the measures 4.0 in effect for over five years, which should continue and, if possible, be increased. While understanding the choice made by the Italian Government that gave priority to the measures aimed at reducing the impact of high energy costs on the whole population, private citizens and enterprises, we stress again that it is necessary to confirm the applicability of the provisions 4.0 under the same conditions established until 2022”.

“In detail, – continued the president of UCIMU – with regard to the measures of “Transition 4.0”, we ask to maintain the 40% rate in the calculation of tax credit also for 2023. From January 2023, the rate will be halved, unless amendments are made. This will only reduce the propensity of Italian end users to invest in new production technologies. It is a risk we cannot afford to run because the upgrade of the Italian industry has certainly started but much is still to be done. At the same time, we also ask for a 3-month postponement, from 31 September to 31 December 2023, of the delivery times for the machines ordered by 31 December 2022 (for which a 20% down payment was already made). In this way, manufacturers could absorb the delays in the deliveries of electrical and electronic components suffered in the production phase”.

“Moreover, in the medium and long term, we also think – concluded  Barbara Colombo – that, in addition to the tax credit for the new investments in digital and interconnected technologies, a further measure should be implemented to be used also in a cumulative way, which might materialise into a tax credit for sustainability. In our vision, this provision should support the actions capable of encouraging the integrated development of new generations of products, also taking into account the impact in terms of environmental footprint”

In the fourth quarter of 2016, the index of machine tool orders, processed by the Studies Dept. of UCIMU-SISTEMI PER PRODURRE, shows a stationary situation, registering a 0.3% increase compared with the same period of the previous year. In absolute value it reached 133.3, thus well over the average 100 established in 2010.

The overall outcome has been determined by the positive results of orders collected in the foreign market, grown by 3.4% compared with the period October-December 2015. The absolute value of the index amounts to 130.3.

A different trend was recorded with regard to the index of orders collected by the Italian manufacturers in the domestic market: after thirteen consecutive quarters of growth, it decreased by 12.1%. However, the absolute value remains very high, amounting to 153.3.

On an annual basis, the index reported an average rise of 1.6% (absolute value 130.8) versus 2015. The performance of foreign orders was certainly not brilliant: they went down by 2.6% (absolute index 130.1). On the other hand, a strong growth was registered with regard to domestic orders, increased by 7.4% (absolute index 131.6), as a testimony to the liveliness of the Italian market.

By making a comparison between the absolute indexes calculated on an annual basis, we observe that 2016 was the best year in terms of order collection with 130.8. This figure shows that all the ground lost during the recession has not yet been regained, but however we are very close to the level recorded in 2008, when the absolute index scored 140.

In this really favourable framework, we have to consider the reduction in the order collection registered in the last quarter in the domestic market. This drop can partly be due to the comparison with the extremely positive performance of the fourth quarter of 2015, which was immediately after EMO MILANO, the world exhibition of the sector that reported record-breaking figures in October 2015. Nevertheless, the real reason is to be mainly seen in the decision of Italian users to suspend the investments, while waiting to understand methods, time and application technicalities of the provisions included in the National Plan “Industry 4.0”, with particular reference to Hyper-Depreciation at 250%.

Massimo Carboniero, President of UCIMU-SISTEMI PER PRODURRE stated: “The preliminary 2016 data presented in December, last year’s index of orders and the collection trend of applications to exhibit at LAMIERA, – the trade show scheduled to take place in Milan next May – highlight the liveliness of the Italian market that has started to invest again in  production systems”.

“Substantially, the decrease recorded since the last quarter does not worry us at all, because – continued Massimo Carboniero – it is clearly due to the waiting effect for the Hyper-Depreciation at 250%. The market is actually flourishing, as we can already see today, not even a month after the re-opening of production activities. The announcement of the Government authorities regarding the National Plan “Industry 4.0” made in September, followed by the subsequent optimizations and explanations concerning the applicability of the measures, together with the uncertainty of the framework due to the result of the referendum, led the enterprises to wait and postpone the orders until the new year. There was also a concern that the provision of the Hyper-Depreciation at 250% could be applicable only with orders placed starting from the year 2017”.

“Now the law has come into effect, but however much is to be done to clear up any misunderstanding and to allow a correct interpretation of its rules, an essential passage to have the provided tools really work as a purchasing incentive”.

“For this reason – asserted Massimo Carboniero – UCIMU-SISTEMI PER PRODURRE has planned a series of special initiatives for its member companies, conceived to analyse the applicability aspects of rules and to fully understand the basic difference between Super-Depreciation and Hyper-Depreciation”.

“As manufacturers we have always had the task to provide, together with the technology, a complete service to make the user’s purchase easy; this activity implies the complete knowledge of the subject included in the Budget Law, with reference to the measures that incentivise the investments in production systems. Actually, – concluded the President of UCIMU – the Italian manufacturers are recognised not so much as “simple suppliers”, but rather as “real partners” by their customers”.

Massimo Carboniero, President of UCIMU: “Great work was carried out by the Government authorities. With the Industry 4.0 Plan, they created a concrete programme of industrial policy, capable of ensuring the competitiveness improvement of the Italian manufacturing industry”.

Cinisello Balsamo, 21 December 2016. The Italian machine tool, robot and automation manufacturing industry closed the year 2016 registering a plus sign for a good part of the economic indicators and gets ready for a 2017 of further growth. This is the scenery in short illustrated by President Massimo Carboniero this morning, on the occasion of the year-end press conference of UCIMU-SISTEMI PER PRODURRE.

As evidenced by the preliminary year’s data processed by the Studies Dept. & Business Culture of UCIMU, in 2016 production increased to 5,480 million euro, recording a 5% upturn versus the previous year.

A definitely positive trend was reported with regard to the deliveries by the Italian manufacturers in the domestic market, grown to 2,205 million euro, i.e. 20.5% more compared with the previous year. On the other hand, export decreased, marking a -3.3% and reaching only 3,275 million euro, due to the weakness experienced in some major destination markets of the Italian product offering.

Based on the ISTAT data processing by UCIMU, in the first nine months of the year (latest available survey), the main destination countries of the “Made in Italy” in the sector turned out to be: Germany 260 million (-1%), United States 247 million (-9.1%), China 222 million (-9.7%), France 158 million (+23.6%), Poland 90 million (+3.5%), Mexico 76 million (+37.1%), Spain 75 million (+8,5%); Turkey 64 million (-4.4%), United Kingdom 58 million (-33%), Russia 57 million (-60%).

Consumption showed a good trend thanks to a 10.1% increase, totalling 3,685 million euro. It is the third consecutive year of double-digit growth, as a testimony to the recovery of the Italian market, which has finally started again to invest in production technologies.

The year 2017 will also be positive for the Italian industry of the sector:  according to the forecasts there will be a growth for all the main economic indicators.

Production will rise to 5,700 million euro (+4%), thus getting closer to the record-breaking value of 6 billion euro registered in 2008.

Exports, expected to grow by 1.7%, will attain 3,330 million euro.  The positive trend of consumption will also go on: it should rise by 6.9 %, to 3,940 million euro, driving the deliveries of manufacturers, which should reach 2,370 million euro (+7.5%), as well as imports, expected to amount to 1,570 million (+6.1%).

Massimo Carboniero, President of UCIMU-SISTEMI PER PRODURRE, commented: “The year 2016 was positive for the Italian machine tool industry, which contributes to the national GDP for almost 8 billion euro considering, besides the production of machine tools, also the production of parts, tools and numerical controls not included in the total Italian machine tools”.

“Furthermore, with production and consumption on the rise, Italy confirms to be interesting in the international stage, not only for the expertise shown by the Italian industries of the sector, but also for its lively demand, which is again flourishing thanks to useful provisions, such as the New Sabatini Law and the Super-Depreciation”.

“Now, with the Industry 4.0 Plan, included in the already approved Budget Law 2017 – stated Massimo Carboniero – the Government gave the country a well-structured and comprehensive programme of industrial policy. Confirmation of the Super-Depreciation at 140%, introduction of the Hyper-Depreciation at 250%, re-financing of the New Sabatini Law, increase from 25% to 50% of tax deductions for R&D activity are the pillars on which the programme is founded”.

“With this plan, Italian enterprises can rely on a series of measures aimed at favouring the improvement of their competitiveness. These measures can further boost the consumption of machinery and innovative technologies for factory digitalisation”.

“In particular – went on Massimo Carboniero – with the re-confirmation of the Super-Depreciation at 140%,  the companies using machinery and production systems may rely on an incentive to renew their total machinery and increase the number of machines installed in their industrial plants, which often turned out to be obsolete based on recent surveys. On the other hand, the Hyper-Depreciation at 250% is aimed to support the enterprises’ technological and digital transformation according to the “Industry 4.0” model. The provision is indeed intended to stimulate the introduction and spread of systems linked to one another within the same factory or between systems of a single factory and other external systems”.

“On the basis of these clear and evident differences,  – added the President of UCIMU – the machine tool manufacturers will have to take active steps to understand and keep up with new and different customers’ requirements in the best way, while providing, if necessary, an upgrade of the supplied technologies, so that they can ensure interconnectivity”.

“This is a great challenge – concluded President Carboniero – but the Italian manufacturers will be able to take it on, also because a good part of machine tools are already set up to support digital systems”.

In the third quarter 2016, the index of machine tool orders, processed by the Studies Dept. of UCIMU-SISTEMI PER PRODURRE, recorded a 5.8% decrease compared with the same period of the previous year. Exactly as it had happened in the second quarter of 2016, the outcome was due to the negative trend of foreign markets.

The index of foreign orders registered a 6.8% drop, compared with the period July-September 2015, showing the weakness of international demand, already evidenced by the latest available export figures.

Actually, even according to the UCIMU processing of ISTAT data concerning the first seven months of 2016 (latest available survey), the exports of Italian machine tools decreased by 4.7%. A sales increase was reported in Germany (+9.6%), France (+37.4%) and Poland (+5.8%), whereas sales slowed down in the United States (-7.9%), second outlet market, and in China (-16.8%), third destination area of the “Made in Italy” of the sector.

On the other hand, the positive trend keeps on with regard to the orders collected by Italian manufacturers in the domestic market, increased by 11% in the observed period. This is the thirteenth consecutive quarter of growth, as a testimony to the positive situation characterising the Italian market, as actually proved by the outcome of 30.BI-MU/SFORTEC INDUSTRY, the biennial machine tool exhibition that took place at the beginning of October at fieramilano Rho.

Over 62,000 entries, 6% more visits by professional operators compared with the previous edition, 1,076 exhibiting enterprises and 90,000 square metres of total exhibition area. This is the outcome of 30.BI-MU/SFORTEC INDUSTRY that, for the first time in Italy, presented the technologies of Industry 4.0 applied to machine tools.

Massimo Carboniero, President of UCIMU-SISTEMI PER PRODURRE stated: “Of course, we are not pleased with the slight slowdown shown by the index: decreases were reported in some important foreign markets, such as the United States, engaged in the final rush of elections, whereas other markets slowed down, for example China, and others had difficulties, for example Russia. However, we don’t worry as our history teaches us that Italian manufacturers are really capable of re-orienting the offering towards the liveliest areas. This time, they are precisely starting from Italy, which is experiencing a definitely positive situation: the demand for machine tools is running due to the need for modernising production plants in the country, supported by several provisions, such as the New Sabatini Law and the Super Depreciation”.

“The effectiveness of these measures, also evidenced by the survey carried out by UCIMU-SISTEMI PER PRODURRE – continued the President Massimo Carboniero – convinced the Government authorities to transform them into the “pillars” of the National Plan “Industry 4.0”, included in the Stability Law for 2017”.

“Confirmation of the 140% Super Depreciation for purchases of machinery, re-financing of the New Sabatini Law, introduction of the 250% Hyper-Depreciation for investments in innovative technologies, increase of tax credit from 25% to 50% for investments in R & D: these are the key points of the Plan, at last bringing the manufacturing industry back to the spotlight of the Italian economic strategy”.

“In this sense – concluded Massimo Carboniero – the National Plan “Industry 4.0” is a real instrument for relaunching the competitiveness of our industrial system. The Association fully agrees on the action of the Government that decided to support the Italian manufacturing industry with concrete measures, encouraging both demand and supply of technology. In other words, these measures will reward all virtuous enterprises: those that want to invest, making up “demand”, as they will enjoy important tax reliefs, and those that make innovation, i.e. “supply”, because, as a consequence, they will find a livelier and more receptive market and will be able to rely on tax credit for R & D activities”.

30.BI-MU (fieramilano, 4-8 October 2016) confirms to be the ideal exhibition to talk about advanced production processing and in particular, about additive technologies applied to the manufacturing industry.

Thanks to the initiative “Additive Technologies Club” promoted by AITA-ASSOCIAZIONE ITALIANA TECNOLOGIE ADDITIVE with the support of UCIMU Foundation, the member companies will take advantage of a privileged stage to meet customers and potential partners, exhibiting their products in appropriate stands or in the showcases of the special dedicated area.

Therefore, visitors will have the opportunity to see first-hand the achievements of this fascinating and innovative solution, while examining its possible applications by a direct exchange of views with the exhibitors.

In addition, the conference session of “Quality Bridge” will host an event aimed at highlighting the connections between the machine tool world and that of Additive Technologies, with the support of important exponents of both sectors.

So far, the members of AITA-ASSOCIAZIONE ITALIANA TECNOLOGIE ADDITIVE who will exhibit at 30.BI-MU are: 3DZ, ALTAIR, CMF Marelli, CREO, DB INFORMATION, EFESTO LAB, ENERGY GROUP, EOS, INDUSTRIE ADDITIVE, ISTITUTO ITALIANO della SALDATURA, LOSMA, MARPOSS, PUBLITEC, RENISHAW, R.F. CELADA, RIDIX, SELLTEK, SIEMENS, SISMA, SPRING, TEC EUROLAB, TIPS, ZARE.

In a recently concluded meeting of UCIMU-SISTEMI PER PRODURRE an excellent 2015, positive forecasts for 2016 and the growth of investments is also confirmed.

The Meeting coincided with the new appointment of the Association’s positions. Appointed to succeed Luigi Galdabini as the President of UCIMU is Massimo Carboniero. General Manager and co-owner of OMERA, leading company in the sector of metal forming machine tools, located in Chiuppano (Vicenza).

The 2015 balance of the Italian machine tool, robot and automation industry is very positive, registering increases in all main economic indicators: production, consumption, deliveries to the domestic market and exports have grown. The forecasts for 2016 are also positive.

As a consequence, the Italian industry strengthened its fourth position in the world ranking of manufacturers and confirmed its third place in the ranking of exporters.

In particular, in 2015, production increased by 7.8% and reached 5,217 million euro. This outcome was determined by the positive trend of the manufacturers’ deliveries, – gone up by 15.3%, to 1,830 million euro – as well as by the recovery of exports, grown again after two years of regression, to 3,387 million euro, i.e. 4.1% more compared to 2014.

The most evident and reassuring figure concerns Italian consumption, which reported a strong upturn for the second consecutive year, thus confirming the recovery of investments in production systems also in Italy. With a 22.3 increase, consumption achieved 3,348 million euro.

This is in short the picture of 2015 illustrated by the President Luigi Galdabini this morning, on the occasion of the Annual Members’ Meeting of UCIMU-SISTEMI PER PRODURRE, which was also attended by the economists Alberto Quadrio Curzio and Marco Fortis, called to discuss the topic “Reforms, Recovery, Relaunch – Europe and Italy.”

The positive trend of the Italian industry of the sector will also continue in 2016, as emerged from the forecast data processed by the Studies Dept. of UCIMU. In particular, in 2016, production will rise by 5.3% to 5,495 million euro. Consumption will reach 3,535 million euro, i.e. 5.6% more compared to the previous year, driving both the manufacturers’ deliveries, expected to grow by 3.6% to 1,895 million, and imports (+8%).

Exports will grow by 6.3% to 3,600 million, again attaining the record levels recorded by the sector. The export/production ratio, decreased in 2014, because of the Italian demand recovery, will attain 65.5%.

With reference to the destination markets for the “Made in Italy” of the sector, in 2015 the United States resulted to be the first market, followed by Germany, China, France, Russia, Poland and the United Kingdom. The latest available survey regarding the period January-March 2016, shows Germany as the leader of the ranking of the destination areas (+11.9%), followed by the United States (+13.6%), China (-20.1%), France (+40.4%), Poland (+34.7%) and Mexico (+56.4%).

Luigi Galdabini, President of UCIMU, pointed out: “The 2015 data processed by the Studies Dept. of UCIMU certainly show a positive picture of the Italian machine tool industry. The export growth, added to the recovery of domestic consumption, surely makes up an excellent outcome, not only for the economic return, but also and especially because this trend proves that today our enterprises are able to produce at least as much as they produced before the recession.”

“However, this doesn’t mean that all problems are over. Beyond the instability conditions of the situation in which we are working, what should worry us more is the situation of the Italian manufacturing industry, whose competitiveness has strongly stepped back in the last few years due to the recession.”

“According to the results from the last survey conducted by UCIMU on the total machinery installed in the Italian metal mechanic industries, in 2014 the average age of the production systems resulted to be almost 13 years, the worst outcome ever recorded in the last forty years.”

“The recovery of Italian consumption that we have been experiencing since last year is positive, but it is surely not enough to regain the ground lost in the last period. For this reason – went on Galdabini – besides the New Sabatini Law  – which from May 2014 to May 2016 enabled investments (not only in machine tools) for a value of 3.5 billion, – it is necessary to implement new appropriate provisions, capable of supporting domestic demand”.

“In particular, the provision of Super Depreciation, already in force since last October, should be confirmed also for the year 2017, as it happened in France, so that it can become a semi-structural provision to “accompany” the country in this phase of economic reconstruction”.

“Finally, – concluded the President of UCIMU – the adoption of an incentive programme would be necessary to encourage  the voluntary replacement of obsolete machinery installed in Italy, so that machines and factories can meet the new requirements of productivity, digitalisation, energy saving and compliance with the EU regulations concerning safety at the workplace”.

The Meeting coincided with the new appointment of the Association’s positions. Appointed to succeed Luigi Galdabini as the President of UCIMU is Massimo Carboniero. General Manager and co-owner of OMERA, leading company in the sector of metal forming machine tools, located in Chiuppano (Vicenza). Vice-President of UCIMU since 2008, Massimo Carboniero will lead the Association in the two-year period 2016-2017.

30.BI-MU confirms to be the ideal exhibition to talk about advanced production processing and in particular, about additive technologies applied to the manufacturing industry.

Thanks to the initiative “Additive Technologies Club” promoted by AITA-ASSOCIAZIONE ITALIANA TECNOLOGIE ADDITIVE with the support of UCIMU Foundation, the member companies will take advantage of a privileged stage to meet customers and potential partners, exhibiting their products in appropriate stands or in the showcases of the special dedicated area.

Therefore, visitors will have the opportunity to see first-hand the achievements of this fascinating and innovative solution, while examining its possible applications by a direct exchange of views with the exhibitors.

In addition, the conference session of “Quality Bridge” will host an event aimed at highlighting the connections between the machine tool world and that of Additive Technologies, with the support of important exponents of both sectors.

So far, the members of AITA-ASSOCIAZIONE ITALIANA TECNOLOGIE ADDITIVE who will exhibit at 30.BI-MU are: 3DZ, CMF Marelli, CREO, DB INFORMATION, EFESTO LAB, ENERGY GROUP, EOS, INDUSTRIE ADDITIVE, ISTITUTO ITALIANO della SALDATURA, LOSMA, MARPOSS, MECCATRONICORE, PUBLITEC, RENISHAW, R.F. CELADA, RIDIX, SELLTEK, SIEMENS, SISMA, SPRING, TEC EUROLAB, TIPS, ZARE.

LAMIERA, the international trade show dedicated to metal forming machine tools and to all innovative technologies related to the sector, will have its new stage in Milan.

From 17 to 20 May 2017, the prestigious and modern exhibition centre of fieramilano Rho will host the new edition of LAMIERA which, besides the new venue, will also have a new date in the international schedule of exhibitions, taking place in the odd years.

Promoted by UCIMU-SISTEMI PER PRODURRE, the Italian machine tools, robots and automation systems manufacturers’ association, and organized by CEU-CENTRO ESPOSIZIONI UCIMU, over the years this event has established itself as the reference point for the operators in the sector of metal forming technologies.

On the basis of the achieved results and by virtue of the prestige gained in the Bologna editions, LAMIERA changes “its course” and moves to Milan, where, first of all, it can take advantage of the international character of the city and of the exhibition centre, a natural attraction for foreign operators. Perfectly integrated in the motorway, railway (high speed) and airway (three airports) systems, fieramilano will be also able to offer interesting synergies with other exhibitions held in the same period and concerning related sectors.

The temporal and logistical closeness of trade shows having related technological repertoires is indeed one of the main assets capable of increasing their value in a considerable way, while bringing benefits to the exhibitors and visitors involved.

“Precisely for this reason – pointed out Luigi Galdabini, President of UCIMU – and in response to the exhibitors’ requests, LAMIERA will take place in a new location and in a new date, with the double aim of further increasing its international character and ensuring its better positioning in the schedule of international events”.

“On the other hand – continued Galdabini – the international character of the city, unique for its urban and extra-urban transportation network, for its connections with foreign countries and for its offering of services, culture and leisure, along with the functionality of the exhibition complex, among the best ones due to its rational layout of spaces and efficiency of services, will give a stronger boost to the event dedicated to one of the most promising manufacturing sectors”.

Corrado Peraboni, Managing Director of Fiera Milano stated: “We are proud to include LAMIERA in the portfolio of exhibitions hosted by Fiera Milano which, thanks to this trade show promoted by UCIMU, can strengthen its offering in the industrial and high-tech manufacturing sector. On the other hand, we are sure that the collaboration with the Italian machine tool manufacturers’ association for this new event will be definitely profitable, as it has been for the last sixty years with BI-MU, the sector biennial trade show, also promoted by UCIMU”.

Sheet metal forming machines, welding, cutting and gas cutting machines, bar and tube working machines, presses, blanking and punching machines, treatment and surface-finishing machines, components and accessories are only a few of the technologies on show.

To complement the event, starting from the 2017 edition, there will be new exhibition areas focused on products and solutions related to the metal forming technologies which do not have dedicated events in Italy yet. It is the case of Fastener Industry that will present the best products with regard to screws, bolts, fastening and clamping systems, and of Blech Italy Service centred on technical subcontracting and services to the industry.

According to tradition, LAMIERA will propose a structured route concerning the topics that may be of interest for the operators of the sector, included in the programme of conferences and meetings of Accademia Lambda: as a real academy, it will also welcome students from high schools, universities and postgraduate specialization courses.

To complete the programme, there will be B2B meetings among exhibitors, end users and delegations of foreign operators invited to take part in the exhibition, within the structured schedule of visits coordinated by the association.