Machine sector closes at +7.6%

Encouraging figures for the Italian automatic machine sector, confirmed by the reports by the Ucima Study Center: forecast end of the year closure 7.6% up compared to 2012, with a turnover of 5,920 billion euros. A comment by Giuseppe Lesce.
 

The stable presence on world markets continues to feature as a sector strongpoint: exports in 2013 in fact accounted for 83.6% of total sales (with the record result of 4,950 billion euros, +8.6% on 2012). The European Union, Asia and Central and South America are confirmed main markets for Italian technology; the U.S., France and China are the top three countries of destination for the same.
Sales are also growing on the home market: turnover is expected to be about 970 million euros (+3% on 2012).
 
Observations and demands. Satisfied with the results that emerged from the analysis of the Ucima Study Centre, Ucima President Giuseppe Lesce bluntly states: «The figures once again demonstrate that the actual country is much better than the picture transmitted by the press, and it is very far from the inefficiency of our political classes. The goals have in fact been achieved by Italian companies with determination, skill and competence and are all the more important because they have been obtained without relying on an efficient country system. I think - he said - if we could play on a par with our main German competitors, the results would probably be better».
Loud and clear the umpteenth request from Lesce directed towards Italian politicians «so that they might overcome divisions and corporatism and return to dealing in “true politics" and give due support the manufacturing sector, Italy’s mainstay. For this we were very pleased at the resumption of activities of the new ICE-Agenzia, one of Italy’s main source of support for international activities, and we hope that in the coming years the funds available to the agency may return to levels sufficient to ensure adequate support towards internationalisation».
 
Looking towards 2014. The prospects are also good for Italian packaging machine builders in 2014 Lesce declares on this count. «The economic indicators and the figures available regarding the orders placed with Italian companies anticipate a further growth in turnover over the next twelve months. Sector turnover is expected to exceed 6 billion euros and exports 5 billion euros, thus confirming Italian global leadership».
The year will be marked by important events for the sector. Here we in particular cite the first edition of Food Pack, exhibition dedicated to food & beverage packaging held simultaneously with Cibus Tec, Parma, a significant opportunity to reassert Italian leadership in the food sector via a trade show capable of vying with the other international events.