Noting a "global economic slowdown in 2011" (economic growth, +3.7%, versus +5.2% in 2010), the association asserted that the world machine tool industry managed impressive growth in production (+27.7%) as well as consumption (+27.5%), and UCIMU members secured the fourth position among nations producing similar products (following China, Japan, and Germany), and the third rank among machine tool exporters (after Japan and Germany.)The total value of 2011 Italian machine tool, robot, and automation system output was €4.762 billion ($5.8 billion), a 13.5% increase over 2010 output. Italian

Italian exports of graphic, paper and converting machinery have increased by 4.82% in the first quarter of 2012. Imports are also showing an impressive + 9.94%. Such are the figures published by the Research Center of trade association ACIMGA based on Istat data. The same source reveals that the USA remains the first buyer of Italian machinery with a 68.8 % increase, followed by Germany and China – over the last quarter, the latter has doubled its orders. “We are relieved to see the plus sign in front of these figures, in sharp contrast with the general economic scenario, especially in

If we can believe the numbers, as would usually be the case, for Italy's machine producing industry, the year 2011 ended on a rather pleasant note. It's true that the beating we all took in 2008/2009 has taken a long time to heal, but growth over the last two year is turning out to be much more than a flash in the pan. Overall production rose by 13.2% in 2010 over 2009, and another 12.2% in 2011. As we know, most of the credit goes to exports, which shot up by 15.8% in 2010 and 16.4% in 2011, while domestic consumption, even though it posted a promising +8% in 2010, slowed to a trickle last

According to recent statistics from Istat, the Italian Statistical Agency, elaborated by Unacea, a newly formed association representing the Italian construction equipment industry, Italian exports of construction machinery and equipment grew by a stunning 23% with respect to the previous year. For 2011, the total value of the Italian export of construction machinery and equipment worldwide surpassed 2,226 million Euros. The biggest growth was registered within the earthmoving machinery sector (+42%), followed by tower cranes (+23%), drilling and boring machines (20%), on-road construction

The value of Italian textile machinery production for 2011 registered a 9% increase compared to 2010, from 2.4 to 2.6 billion euros. A similar increase was recorded for exports (+10%), which reached a value of just over 2.1 billion euros. Exports remain the driving force behind the sector growth in Italy. The dynamism of major textile markets combined with the ability of Italian machinery manufacturers to assert themselves on a global scale, has contributed to sustaining Italian exports. Fully 25% of the sector's sales abroad are directed to China, with Asian markets generally accounting for

As 2012 gets underway, manufacturers in a diverse number of sectors hope that improvements witnessed in 2011 will continue. One of the sectors that had shown signs of growth and optimism for that matter, over the first three quarters of 2011 was fluid power. Based on statistical information collected by the US Department of Commerce, the sector over the last several years, has witnessed a renewed interest from the downturn it experienced in the 2008-2009 recession. US imports within the fluid power sector amounted to $11,5 billion within the first nine months of 2011 - an increase of 33.58%

Exports of Italian machinery have risen 37% during the first quarter of 2011, compared with the same period last year, according to the Association of Italian Textile Machinery Manufacturers (ACIMIT). Compared with growth during 2010, the number of Italian exports has increased by 27%. Italian machinery manufacturers will be looking to build on this success at ITMA in September. Approximately 320 companies are expected to exhibit at the event across 20,000sq m or 25% of total space in terms of exhibitors and surface area. The Italian contingent comprises of 73 manufacturers from the spinning

The 2010 figures reported by Italian packaging machinery manufacturers show that the industry has put the crisis firmly behind its back. The sector's turnover totalled 3,759 million euro at current prices, 16,4% up on 2009, when it slumped to 3,229 million euro. Last year's turnover even surpassed that of 2007 (3,610 million euro) and was not far short from the record figure of 3,827 million euro achieved in 2008. The excellent 2010 performance also enabled the Italian packaging machinery industry to strengthen its international leadership position and secure a 25,7% share of the world market

ASSOCOMAPLAST, the Italian Plastics and Rubber Processing Machinery and Moulds Manufacturers Association, will be exhibiting at the upcoming PLAST-EX Show, taking place in Toronto, from June 21 to 23 - Booth 2425. Founded in 1960, ASSOCOMAPLAST represents and promotes 170 leading Italian plastics and rubber machinery, ancillary equipment and moulds manufacturers. ASSOCOMAPLAST organizes PLAST 2012, the benchmarking trade show for plastic and rubber machinery and equipment in Europe, in 2012. ASSOCOMAPLAST is a partner of the Machines Italia project since its inception in 2001 and collaborates