Noting a "global economic slowdown in 2011" (economic growth, +3.7%, versus +5.2% in 2010), the association asserted that the world machine tool industry managed impressive growth in production (+27.7%) as well as consumption (+27.5%), and UCIMU members secured the fourth position among nations producing similar products (following China, Japan, and Germany), and the third rank among machine tool exporters (after Japan and Germany.)The total value of 2011 Italian machine tool, robot, and automation system output was €4.762 billion ($5.8 billion), a 13.5% increase over 2010 output. Italian

BOLOGNA, Italy: There’s nothing quite like the harmonized hum of robotics, or the perpetual pounding of punching machines to let one know they’re at a metal production trade-show. Thankfully, those theatrics only add to an atmosphere only matched by exploring shop floors themselves. Only at this year’s Lamiera metal forming and production show, the environment’s a little cleaner, and maybe a touch quieter. (For some Plant Magazine Lamiera 2012 show floor photos, click here) Lamiera is the delegation’s first stop in Bologna, part of a media junket of Italian manufacturing and technology hosted