According to statistics provided by the association, Assocomaplast, Italian imports and exports for the sector recorded new gains in the first half of 2012 with respect to the same period in 2011. Italian exports for the sector, marked a substantial increase (+11%) exceeding 1.23 billion euros overall. This has produced measurable improvement in the balance of trade, which has reached figures well in excess of 900 million euros. Regarding the principal types of machinery exported, extruders, accounting for roughly 12% of the total, continue to record double-digit growth, approaching twenty

Becoming More Globally Competitive Mr. Perez, the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Manufacturing and Services at the International Trade Administration, details the programs and policies that the ITA has implemented to strengthen U.S. manufacturers' global competitiveness and to enhance U.S. exports. This presentation was filmed at the "Fast Forward: Strategies for Solving Manufacturers' Most Challenging Problems" Machines Italia conference in Plymouth, Michigan on June 21, 2012.

Amafond, the trade association of Italian equipment manufacturers and suppliers to the metalcasting industry, on the occasion of the 12th edition of the GIFA Show (June 28 - July 2, 2011), published a new directory of its members. "Italian Foundry Technology Machinery & Products Directory, a 176-page volume, heavily bound and in full color, is available upon request to foundries and diecasters. More than 85 companies are extensively profiled and illustrated in color, with details of their capabilities and achievements presented in both English and Italian. Full company contact information is

ASSOCOMAPLAST, the Italian Plastics and Rubber Processing Machinery and Moulds Manufacturers Association, will be exhibiting at the upcoming PLAST-EX Show, taking place in Toronto, from June 21 to 23 - Booth 2425. Founded in 1960, ASSOCOMAPLAST represents and promotes 170 leading Italian plastics and rubber machinery, ancillary equipment and moulds manufacturers. ASSOCOMAPLAST organizes PLAST 2012, the benchmarking trade show for plastic and rubber machinery and equipment in Europe, in 2012. ASSOCOMAPLAST is a partner of the Machines Italia project since its inception in 2001 and collaborates

In particular, there was an above-the-average turnabout for the Italian injection moulding machines. In fact, the survey carried out by ASSOCOMAPLAST Secretariat, referred to the first half of 2010, highlighted the jump for sales in Italy and abroad not only - as easily imaginable - in comparison to January-June 2009 but even to the first half of 2008: sales recorded a 10,5% growth and even more considerable (about +33%) is the increase for sales on the domestic market, in the biennial comparison too. The above mentioned results are also confirmed by the latest monthly surveys carried out by