Machines: 2016 of Italian technology

Feb 01, 2017

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According to the interim balance made by the Ucima Study Center, in 2016 the turnover of the automatic machines segment is expected to exceed 6.3 billion euros.

The Italian automatic packaging and wrapping machine manufacturers have reinforced their lead position on world markets in 2016, registering a growth close to + 2% in total turnover.
According to preliminary results of the Italian sector association Study Centre, the sector’s turnover should in fact exceed 6,300 million euros, up from 6.197 million at the end of 2015.

Italy doing well. Crucial to the achievement of this important result the excellent performance on the Italian market, which registered a double digit growth of + 10.4% reaching 1,194 million euros. The past twelve months has therefore strengthened the positive trend underway since 2015, when turnover on the domestic market grew by 2%. As Ucima President Enrico Aureli was able to emphasize, «the satisfactory performance of the Italian domestic market constitutes an important testbed for all companies, where the most advanced technologies developed can be tried out». And as Aureli went on to state «we are confident that the positive trend will continue through to next year, thanks to the facilitations provided in the Industry Plan 4.0 launched by the government and by Minister Calenda who once again confirmed the attention being directed towards the Italian manufacturing industry».

Things tougher abroad. Foreign sales put in a less brilliant result, which though remained stable (-0.1% in regard to 2015 standing in absolute terms, at 4.997 billion euros) compared to last year.
The stall is particularly due to the slowdown in the Middle East, Asia and Eastern Europe.
According to the latest available disaggregated data, for the first nine months of the year, the macro region of the Middle East and Asia showed a decline of -7.6%, while in Eastern Europe the drop was -4.5%.
These results were attributed to political instability and socio-economic situation of some important markets: Turkey (-19.6%), China (-47.2%), Algeria (-18.3%), Saudi Arabia (-11.5%).
The Brazilian market is still firmly in a stall at -38.5%.
However, trends on other major markets that seem to have overcome the difficult economic situation, give a much brighter picture: the best performances came from Indonesia (+ 23.8%) and Egypt (+ 15.2%). The Mexican trend was also record-breaking: + 35% on the first nine months of 2015.

Cautious outlook. As for 2017, Ucima’s forecasts are guarded, since “The slowdown in the orders collected on foreign markets over last two quarters will probably be reflected in the turnover of the first half of the coming year. The longterm negative effects of the crisis are still being felt here and there in countries around the world, “says Aureli who with some justification still expects the market to maintain the growth trend registered in the year at
hand.

A word from the President of UCIMA
More services to support the international development of the members, their managerial approach and technological knowhow: These, summing up, the guidelines expressed by Enrico Aureli, president of Ucima since June 2016. A few months on from his election, he reviews the life of the Association, the packaging machine sector and relations with the main markets. l.g.

With what spirit did you accept the four-year term as president of Ucima?
In a pure perspective of service. I accepted the position primarily because I firmly believe in the central role of the Association, and the usefulness of tackling the international challenges facing our companies together in the best way possible. I therefore I wish to carry on fostering the growth of Ucima and its associated companies, organizing and promoting services and tools that are evermore useful for international development, the professional competencies of our co-workers and growth in general. At the heart of my agenda I have placed the strengthening of the SBS training school, the Study Center and communication activities; but also the international development with the participation in fairs, events and networking activities, to communicate the image of excellence of our industry. A focal point will obviously be our policy towards trade fairs, particularly the development - together with Fiera Milano - of Ipack Ima. In terms of major industrial issues, we will work to propose and promote our vision of Industry 4.0, which I would call Supply chain 4.0: a concept of integration and close collaboration between all actors cooperating in the creation of our machines, going from subcontractors, component suppliers, co-workers...

How has the Association changed over time and how do you hope it will change in the future? Lights and shades ...
In recent years, basically since its headquarters were moved from Milan to Modena and the partnership with Acimac, Ucima has “changed its skin”. In terms of the number and quality of services provided, as well as the centrality and the political weight of our industry, great strides have been made. We have become an important reference point for many companies, we have restored the pride of many entrepreneurs in their sector (which has turned into the desire to solidly work together on a number of fronts), we have become the largest organizer of international sector trade fairs. Of course, this process must continue and there is still much left to be done. For example, we have a duty and a real opportunity to broaden our membership base, with the goal of increasing the representativeness of the Association, by including many new small and medium-sized companies that could benefit from the excellent services offered by our operating structure.

The value of the Association’s representation of the numerous medium-to-small concerns, which characterize the profile of the sector: what is the state of the art and at any rate, what are specific initiatives do you propose to encourage their greater involvement?
I am particularly proud - and also grateful to President Lesce who preceded me - in having inherited a healthy association, with an ever-growing number of associates, something, what is more, quite unique in the Confindustria system. But I intend to follow through my commitment in having the membership base grow and exceed the number of 200 units by the end of my four year period of office.
To achieve this, I am counting on the contribution of the companies that are already Ucima associates, who are Ucima’s best ambassadors towards colleagues who are still not acquainted with us. We entrepreneurs are undoubtedly best testimonials for our Association. We would like to convey the idea, very concrete and real, that our Association’s offices should be considered as an extension of those of our companies, in support of our daily toil.

First assessments on the performance of the automatic machine sector in 2016 and forecasts for 2017.
According to the Ucima Study Centre the three-year period 2016-18 we will see a growth trend in exports, albeit slight in certain target areas. The demand for Italian machines destined for Europe appears to be stable or slightly decreasing. Outside the EU the Italian presence will be strengthened with a growth rate that is twice that, over 4%, of our German counterparts. Good prospects are also foreseen on the South American markets and the macro area of Africa and Oceania, where Italy will play a major role, being the main exporting country. The area of Asia however still shows critical features for Italian exports.