The climate of recent times, characterized by a consistent improvement of all indicators, could not last forever. So, here we are, packing up for the summer break, with some hints and reflections… starting from the first trend emerging in the second quarter of this year, namely the widespread slowdown of orders. The traditional quarterly survey by Acimall , the Confindustria member association, reveals a 9.9 percent decrease compared to the same period of 2017. Let's make it clear that the reference quarter was really one of the best, with significant growth rates, nevertheless we cannot let

The Gimav Studies Centre releases official data on the sector: the growth trend continues for the 8th consecutive year "This marks the eighth consecutive year of growth. The upswing in exports continues, and domestic market indicators are starting to improve as a result of the Industry 4.0 Plan incentives. Our sector is growing, and it's very gratifying to be able to say that the effects of the downward trend that marked the national and international economy in 2009 are definitively behind us now". This was the initial comment by Laura Biason, Director of Gimav, the Confindustria member

Analysing the 2016 financial statements for the ceramic and brick machinery sector, the ACIMAC Research Department used statistical methods to identify the group of top-performing companies. This cluster contains 28 companies (three-quarters of which are based in Italy) consisting prevalently of tile machinery manufacturers (24) along with 3 companies specialising in brick making machinery. As expected, this cluster contains a relatively large number of companies specialising in digital decoration and finishing, although it also includes manufacturers of moulds and drying and firing equipment

Amaplast (Italian trade association, member of CONFINDUSTRIA, bringing together about 170 manufacturers of plastics and rubber processing machinery, equipment and moulds), through its Statistical Studies Center, has completed its year-end balance sheet for 2017, incorporating foreign trade data from ISTAT (Italian Institute of Statistics). Italian market of machinery, equipment and moulds for plastics and rubber (million euros) 2016 2017 ∆ 2017/2016 production 4,230 4,670 10% exports 2,960 3,310 12% imports 850 970 14% domestic market 2,120 2,330 10% trade balance +2,110 +2,340 11% “The order

The year 2017 was extremely positive for the Italian industry of machine tools, robotics and automation , registering double-digit increases for all main economic indicators, except for that of exports that however started growing again after the downturn in 2016. The year 2018 will be just as positive , confirming the excellent situation that the sector has been experiencing. This is in short what was illustrated by Massimo Carboniero , President of UCIMU-SISTEMI PER PRODURRE , during the usual year-end press conference. As shown by the preliminary year's data, processed by the Studies Dept

The 2016 financial data for the Italian ceramic and brick machinery industry analysed by the Acimac Research Department – MECS reveal a further improvement in productivity and profitability. This further average improvement in management indices was set against a backdrop of strong growth in turnover that was maintained for the whole of 2016 and continues today, with turnover growth accelerating further to 18% on an annual basis. Italian turnover was boosted by government incentives as high as 60% (figures for first two quarters of 2017). The extremely favourable economic situation is

According to data elaborated by ACIMIT, the Association Italian Textile Machinery Manufacturers for the period from July to September, the orders index for textile machinery has risen by 6% compared to the same period in 2016. The index has a value of 107.3 points (2010 basis = 100). In further detail, foreign markets have shown a 6% increase, with the index reaching a value of 119.4 points. As for Italy’s domestic front , the increase instead amounted to 8 %, with an absolute value for the index of 51.5 points. “Orders have continued their growth trend, making us confident that we will close

In 2017, substanital growth in foreign markets has been experiencedy by Italian manufacturers of plastics and rubber processing machinery, equipment and moulds. Imports up by 9.1%, exports by 14.6%: these are the results of the first half of 2017 with respect to the same period in 2016 based on the analysis of ISTAT foreign trade data by the Amaplast Statistical Studies Center . The two trends point to further improvement in the positive balance of trade for the sector (by more than 1.1 billion euros), with an increase of seventeen percentage points compared to January-June 2016. While imports

According to data compiled by ACIMIT , the Association of Italian Textile Machinery Manufacturers, the order index for textile machinery during the period from April to June rose by 26% compared to the same period in 2016. The value of the index stood at 117.3 points (basis: 2010=100). Specifically, significant increase in orders was recorded for domestic market, where the index stood at an absolute value of 92.9 points ( +66% over April-June 2016). On foreign markets , the increase amounted to 22% , and the absolute value of the index stood at 123.4 points. ACIMIT president Alessandro Zucchi

Over the first six months of 2017, 5,109 machines have been sold in the Italian market , up 6% compared to last year. In deeper detail, the sector of earth moving machines grows 6% with 4,910 machines sold, while road equipment increases by 9% (199 machines sold). "The Italian market continue to grow, albeit at a moderate pace – says Paolo Venturi, President of Unacea . The announced recovery of the real estate market should be a sign of an increasing confidence in the construction industry; however, political and economic instability remains a perceived concern, both from companies and