Despite an economic situation threatening recession, Italian manufacturers of printing and converting machinery report an outstanding + 13% in export sales for the January-September 2011 period. The figures are backed by trade association ACIMGA’s research department based on data by Istat. The best performance was achieved by the sector of converting machinery, which accounted for over 23 % of total sales. It was followed by paper processing (+18.65) and printing technology (+11.20%). With 51.45%, North America was the most receptive region for Italian technology. Extra-EU Europe (+44.89%) and the EU-27 area (+13.93) followed at a close distance. Asia, conversely, showed a negative trend with -12.80%.

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Among the main target countries for Made In Italy products, Turkey and Russia reported astonishing figures: + 150% and +92% respectively. “The sector shows extraordinary reactivity",  said ACIMGA president Felice Rossini. "Our forecasts for the closing of the year (2011) are encouraging: turnover is estimated at over 7% and our exports are predicted to grow by 10% with the trade balance exceeding by 20%."

Likewise, order forecasts for the first months of 2012 are promising. "The packaging industry is our feather in the hat and shows the high technological level achieved by our manufacturers, as testified by the growing interest towards the upcoming events dedicated to this sector including Upakovka Upak-Italia in Moscow and Ipack-Ima 2012 in Milan. Drupa 2012 will also be a chance for us to take stock of market trends at the global level”.

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The only weak element in the sector’s otherwise outstanding performance is domestic sales, expected to drop by 4.7% with imports down by 6%. The new year starts out with Acimga’s participation in Upakovka Upak Italia staged in Moscow on January 24-27 201. The exhibition is dedicated to packaging technology and is organized by Messe Duesseldorf in partnership with Centrexpo, being the benchmark exhibition for the Russian market.

In addition, from February 28th to March 3rd Acimga will bring a group of member companies to Ipack-Ima 2012, the international exhibition of processing, packaging and material handling technology.

Lastly, Acimga will participate in Drupa (May 3-16 2012, Dusseldorf) with a series of initiatives aimed at promoting Italian manufacturers of printing and converting machinery.

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Acimga, founded in 1947, operates through both a national and international network: Confindustria Federmacchine Federazione della Filiera della Carta e della Grafica, Tavolo Filiera della Carta, Eumaprint, Globalprint and the Istituto Italiano Imballaggio.

For more information visit www.acimga.it, or contact the ACIMGA Press Office  (The Italian Manufacturers’ Association of Machinery for the Graphic, Converting and Paper Industry), Ms. Lucia Lamonarca at +39 02319109.1 or by e-mail at llamonarca [at] acimga.it