Like many other countries, Italy's machine tool industry has experienced significant drops in machine orders, from both traditional and emerging markets, for most of 2009. However, the end of 2009 looks a tad better, with an ever-so-slight uptick in machine orders expected. Still, the level of orders is predicted to remain well below normal for the start of 2010.
During a recent press conference at EMO, the European manufacturing tradeshow held this year in Milan, Dr. Giancarlo Losma, president of UCIMU, the Italian Machine Tool, Robots and Automation Manufacturers' Association, discussed a few actions that could help to jump start the machine tool industry. Of those, he suggested that there has to be a "harmonization" of economic actions between all European Union countries. On the Italian front, he called for a government sponsored machine-scrapping program, the motivation being that over 20% of machine tools in Italy are more than 20 years old. This program is actually being considered by the Italian government.
Yet, through trying economic times, Italy has a firm hold on its fourth-in-the-world ranking (after Germany, Japan and China) in terms of machine tool production; it ranks third for export sales, after Japan and Germany. And, according to Dr. Losma, the size of Italy's machine tool companies has a great deal to do with maintaining these standings.
Italy's machine tool industry is quite fragmented, and most of its machine tool builders are small to medium-size family-owned companies. Their average employment total is only 50 people, as compared with, say, large German builders with average labor forces of 200 employees.
Being smaller and family owned has its benefits. Italian builders are agile and can quickly respond to changing customer needs. They are also reactive in terms of research and development and investing in technology to remain competitive on a global level. Going global is keeping the Italian machine tool industry strong.
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Italian machine tool builders such as Pama are surviving by meeting the needs of large-part machining. |
"The Italian machine tool market is changing. It's more global, and Italian builders are now making headway into countries such as the United States, China, Germany and Russia," commented Ettore Batisti, president and CEO of machine tool builder Pama Spa (
www.pama.it).
Batisti added that different markets, countries and sectors within those countries can have different machine and part surface specifications. He mentioned on market trend that has many Italian builders cashing in: is the surge in large part machining, especially within the energy (wind power), oil and gas, aerospace, and ship building.
Pama specializes in big boring and milling machines, both table and floor types. Most are standard machines but with special components matched specifically to certain markets and customers. For example, the company's Speedram series of machines can be built with vertical strokes from 6.56 ft. to as high as 26.25 ft.
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