For Italian textile machinery, 2012 begins with greater stability than the previous year. In fact, in the first quarter of the year, orders are up by a modest 2% compared to the last three months of 2011. According to joint surveys conducted by ACIMIT, the Association of Italian Textile Machinery Manufacturers, the overall orders index for the January- March 2012 period shows an increase of 2% over the previous quarter with a value of 91.2 points. Nevertheless, there is a different trend between orders in Italy and those in foreign markets. In the Italian market, the index increased 34%

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

Some good news, at last, though long awaited, for the Italian production of machinery and technology to process wood and wood-based materials. According to the Acimall trend survey for the first quarter 2010, we are seeing a consolidation of recovery that started in the last three months of 2009. It’s mainly good news from foreign markets that are bringing cautious optimism also for the near future, still considering that these figures compare to the first quarter 2009 that was the most difficult period of the crisis. According to the statistic sample interviewed by the analysts of the

Italy produces approximately 50% of the machinery used to produce footwear and leather goods around the world and 80% of tanning machinery globally, according to Assomac, an association that represents Italian manufacturers of machines for footwear, leather and tannery industries. Many of the manufacturers are small, with the entire industry employing approximately 6,200 people in Italy. There are three basic tanning centers in Italy, says Peter Helfer, a managing partner at Campex LLC, an Exeter, N.H., a company that sells Italian leather-making machinery in North America. Whole hides and

Italian wind turbine manufacturer Brevini Wind intends to start production on a new facility in Indiana in the third quarter of 2010. The original start date was for the first quarter in 2011, however interest generated at the American Wind Energy Association’s annual conference has lead to a decision to speed up the company’s timetable regarding the project. The Italian company selected the region because of the outstanding technical talent pool as well as a strong base of suppliers and contractors. The manufacturing facility will employ 400 people once opened. In addition to manufacturing