Italian design is everywher in Milan, including the Fiera Milano the exhibition halls for the BI-MU 2012 metalworking trade show.

While media coverage of the ongoing European economic crisis depicts Germany as the sole strong market, in machine tools, Italy remains fourth in machine tool production globally (third in exports), ahead of Korea, Taiwan and the United States.

Data compiled by the Italian industry association, the UCIMU-SISTEMI PER PRODURRE (USPP) shows that in 2012 Italian production in the sector reached 4,930 million euros – a 3.5 per cent increase compared with the previous year.

The strong result was driven by very good exports performance, which grew by 12 per cent, reaching 3,650 million euros. The main Italian machine tool export markets were: China, the U.S, Germany, Russia, France, Brazil, Turkey, India, Poland and Mexico.

Sales grew in China (+9.5%) to 299 million, the United States (+42.5%) to 264 million, Russia (+31.3%) to 131 million, France (+9.9%) to 128.7 million, Turkey (+52.2%) to 107 million, India (+1.2%) to 99.6 million, Poland (+36.2%) to 94 million, and Mexico (+93.9%) to 81.4 million.

An opposite trend was recorded in Germany (-1.4%), which is still the third largest export market of the sector for Italy, with sales reaching 259 million euros.

Domestically, Italian machine tool consumption decreased by 13 per cent, reaching 2,220 million euros, with imports declining 10.4 per cent, for a total value of 940 million euros. When tracked as import to consumption ratio versus export to production ratio, however, the import figure rose by 1.2 per cent, while the export ratio gained 6 percentage points.

Overall, the figures suggest that the Italian machine tool industry is much stronger than some domestic economic data suggests.

Size was no object at BI-MU with many massive horizontal and vertical centres on display.

This was confirmed at the recent BI-MU 2012 trade show. The 28thedition of the show was held October 2nd to 6th, 2012 at the trade and conference centre Fiera Milano in Milan.

There were 1160 companies exhibiting, with 53 per cent of exhibiting firms being Italian.

All aspects of the industry were on display, from cutting and machining tools to stamping, sawing and bending equipment along with automation and software.

Luigi Galdabini, president of USPP, said, “In spite of the difficult situation, and the recession affecting most countries of the Euro Zone, (the show) was successful in maintaining its size, even exceeding targets with a cautious optimism that gives good hope for the near future.

“Looking beyond the numbers, in line with the previous edition it was the impression of the companies interviewed on the stands that confirmed the good results of the event, which after 2010, a year of deep crisis, shows us a sector that has started again to invest in innovation, and believes in the recovery of the Italian market. Recovery is expected for the second half of 2013,” he added.

The 2013 forecasts indicate a slowing down in the Italian machine tool, robot, and automation system manufacturing industry, however production is expected to increase by 1.2 per cent reaching 4,990 million euros.