The analysis by Assocomaplast, the Italian trade association, belonging to CONFINDUSTRIA, which groups together some 160 manufacturers of plastics and rubber processing machinery) of the latest ISTAT, the Italian National Institute of Statistics, figures for Italian foreign trade shows that, in the first half of 2013, imports in the sector were somewhat weak compared to the same period in 2012 whereas exports held relatively firm, as summarized in Table 1. The downturn in imports is a symptom of a domestic market that still struggles to recover. However, a potentially promising sign, on this

After a still-positive trend in January and February (in the wake of the +5.9% result at the end of 2012), the first quarter of 2013 instead closed with a downturn for Italian exports of plastics and rubber processing machinery, according the Italian National Institute of Statistics - ISTAT figures processed by Assocomaplast (the Italian trade association belonging to CONFINDUSTRIA, which groups together some 165 manufacturers). In fact, foreign sales in this sector fell 4% compared to January-March 2012, set against a 9-point drop in imports. The result is on the whole not surprising, given

THE BIOTECH SECTOR IN ITALY: A GROWING AND PROMISING REALITY Vigorous growth and an excellent innovation capacity. These are the principal characteristics of the Italian biotech sector. In view of the tender age of this industry such characteristics are, in some respects, very surprising. Thanks to them, Italy has managed to meet a challenge that would have been unthinkable a few years ago: to finally appear on the radar screens of the major biopharmaceutical and biotechnological companies and venture capital operators. There are tangible facts behind this phenomenon: new enterprises emerging

Assocomaplast (the Italian trade association belonging to CONFINDUSTRIA, which groups together some 165 makers of machinery, molds and equipment for plastics and rubber) has issued its report on the sector's performance in 2012 – based also on the Italian National Institute of Statistics - ISTAT foreign trade statistics. Even more than in the past – and more markedly than in other Italian mechanical equipment sectors – production output was driven by exports, with an upward trend that, despite levelling off over the year, enabled Italian equipment manufacturers offset extremely weak domestic

During the fourth quarter of 2012, Machines Italia together with IndustryWeek magazine conducted its survey on the usage of automation in the manufacturing sector. This Survey had as its objectives the following: Examine the use of automation and robotics among manufacturers; Investigate the use of and perception of Italian machines; Determine future purchasing plans and the important factors and players in the decision-making process. The methodology was straight forward as IndustryWeek's Penton Research emailed invitations to participate in the online survey to the print subscribers of its

Preliminary 2010 data drawn up by ACIMIT (the Association of Italian Textile Machinery Manufacturers) show a decisive recovery under way for Italy’s textile machinery sector, in the wake of a 2009 which had been marked by a conspicuous drop in production. In terms of value, Italy’s textile machinery production recorded an 18% increase with respect to 2009, from 1.9 to 2.3 billion Euros. Exports drew a similarly favourable increase, at +19%, reaching a value of just under 1.8 billion Euros. Obviously, these gains in sales and orders are a physiological consequence of the minimum levels of the

CHICAGO – The Italian Trade Commission's Chicago Office (ITC), represented through its project Machines Italia, will be one of the major sponsors of the World Business Forum 2010 (October 5 th and 6 th). On the second day of the Forum (October 6th) during the official program itself, Dr. Luca Majocchi, former CEO of Unicredit, one of Italy's major commercial banking institutions, and currently managing director of Meccano SpA as well as an advisor to FEDERMACCHINE (Italy's National Federation of Associations of Manufacturers of Capital Goods Intended for Industrial and Handicrafts

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

Some good news, at last, though long awaited, for the Italian production of machinery and technology to process wood and wood-based materials. According to the Acimall trend survey for the first quarter 2010, we are seeing a consolidation of recovery that started in the last three months of 2009. It’s mainly good news from foreign markets that are bringing cautious optimism also for the near future, still considering that these figures compare to the first quarter 2009 that was the most difficult period of the crisis. According to the statistic sample interviewed by the analysts of the