The 30.BI-MU/Sfortec Industry, the biennial exhibition of machine tools, robotics, automation, auxiliary technologies, subcontracting and services for the industry, held at fieramilano Rho in Milan, Italy, last month, presented the product ranges of 1,076 enterprises, 41 per cent of which were from abroad, representing 33 countries and exhibiting on a total area of 90,000 sq m.

The outcome of the trade fair, promoted by Ucimu-Sistemi Per Produrre, is definitely positive, as evidenced by the entrance data: the event totalled 62,576 visits. Among these, 59,554 were from sector professionals, 6 per cent more in comparison with those recorded in the previous edition. Some 3,022 students were registered versus 5,714 of the 2014 edition, because schools were admitted only by invitation and according to the programme of the initiative Pianeta Giovani (Planet of The Young), which enabled the registered classes to go on a guided tour in the halls, said the organisers. 

The total number of sector professionals’ visits included 2,418 entries of foreign operators coming from 75 countries. The figure was 17 per cent higher compared with that recorded in the previous edition of BI-MU. The increase was certainly contributed by the initiative organised by Ucimu-Sistemi Per Produrre, the Ministry of Economic Development and Ice-Italian Trade Agency, which involved about 20 foreign delegations, for a total of about 200 operators, invited to visit the biennial machine tool exhibition. Over 2,000 meetings were arranged at the stands among operators and exhibitors.

Beyond these data, 30.BI-MU/Sfortec Industry will be remembered for its prestige and comprehensive presentation of solutions on show. Besides the traditional, international product offering of machine tools, robots, automation and auxiliary technologies, BI-MU actually proposed an unprecedented travel through additive technologies, Industry 4.0, fluid-power systems and mechatronics. 
 

Carboniero: positive atmosphere

These technologies were shown in the innovation areas: Additive in Manufacturing, Fluid Power, Focus on Mechatronics, The World of Surface Finish and Sfortec Industry accompanying the traditional trade fair.

Promoted by Ucimu-Sistemi Per Produrre, CIS-Interassociative Subcontracting Committee, and Anfia, Italian Association of the Automotive Industry and in cooperation with CDO-Compagnia delle Opere, Sfortec Industry offered a new interpretation of the technical subcontracting and services’ exhibition. 

“In fact, the event, which saw the visit of the President of Confindustria, Vincenzo Boccia, who attended the inauguration and of the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Economic Development in charge of internationalisation, Ivan Scalfarotto, presented an interesting overview of the technological trends characterising the sector, then highlighting the possible applications concerning the issue of “Industry 4.0,” asserted Massimo Carboniero, president of Ucimu-Sistemi Per Produrre.

A comprehensive and varied list of workshops and meetings was proposed in the programme of Quality Bridge: 12 sessions, scheduled over the five exhibition days and involving 660 operators. The initiative of Planet of The Young was also particularly appreciated: it allowed the registered schools to visit the trade show, accompanied by young tutors illustrating the exhibited technologies.

“Moreover, the exhibition took place in a positive atmosphere, thanks to the favourable situation of the Italian market and to the expectations of the provisions set forth in the National Plan Industry 4.0, which will be part of the 2017 Stability Law,” said Carboniero.

“We are sure that the possibility to take advantage of measures, such as the 140 per cent Super Depreciation, 250 per cent Hyper-Depreciation and New Sabatini Law, also for next year, will be a further boost to the already lively Italian demand for machinery and technology, as evidenced by the large attendance of visitors that crowded BI-MU,” says Alfredo Mariotti, general manager of Ucimu-Sistemi Per Produrre.


THE INNOVATION AREAS 

Additive in Manufacturing: Organised by AITA, Italian Association of Additive Technologies, “Additive in Manufacturing” was the area dedicated to the presentation of some mechanical pieces and objects manufactured with Additive Technologies. The attending exhibitors were at the visitors’ disposal to illustrate the details of the applications. The strong development of these production technologies and their more and more frequent use also in the sector represented by BI-MU, together with the formula of the “dedicated area”, have favoured an increased presence of exhibitors who turned out to be twice as many as those participating in 29.BI-MU.  

The initiative is included in a wider project called “Club of Additive Technologies”, carried out with the support of the Ministry of Economic Development and ICE-Italian Trade Agency: besides the exhibition space, it proposes meetings and discussions among experts, developers and end users, scheduled in the conference programme of Quality Bridge.
 

Mariotti: boost to the Italian demand for machinery and technology

Fluid Power: Within 30.BI-MU, a new themed area was created and dedicated to power-transmission systems and components. In cooperation with Assofluid, Italian Association of Manufacturing and Trading Companies in Fluid and Pneumatic Power Equipment and Components, “Fluid Power” proposed a wide range of systems and components for mechanical and fluid-dynamic power transmission, representing the production of about 50 companies exhibiting at the show.

Created as requested by 20 per cent of the visitors of the past edition of BI-MU, who had declared their interest in the sector, as well as following the suggestion of the same exhibitors, interested in finding excellent partners for their own machines, “Fluid Power” was an opportunity of professional training and updating on the exhibited technologies, through workshops, conferences and events of technological matching.

Focus on Mechatronics: Organised in cooperation with AIdAM, Italian Association of Automation and Mechatronics, and IMVG, Italian Machine Vision Group, “Focus on Mechatronics” was a display area where smart solutions were proposed that were capable of optimising the management of machines and industrial processes, enabling high dynamic performances and operation flexibility to industrial plants and making the investment in production innovation safer and more efficient. 

In this area, the following product offerings were shown: assembling techniques, industrial robots, artificial vision, industrial automation, mechatronic components. The solutions on show can be applied to all industrial fields, such as for example: automotive, production of metal-processing machinery and plants, electrotechnics and electronics, pharmaceutical, cosmetic and medical sectors, food and packaging, chemistry, plastics, optics, production of home furnishings, transportation, telecommunications, production of sensors.

The World of Surface Finish: According to tradition, BI-MU hosted the area dedicated to illustrate the offering of machines and industrial plants for thermal treatments, surface treatment and finish, representing the production of about 20 enterprises, an overview of technologies complementary to mechanical productions, which, in 2014, drew the interest of 18 per cent of visitors.

Sfortec Industry: Promoted by CIS-Interassociative Subcontracting Committee, Ucimu-Sistemi Per Produrre and ANFIA, – Italian Association of the Automotive Industry, now officially belonging to the Committee – “Sfortec Industry” was the area organised in cooperation with CDO-Compagnia delle Opere and dedicated to technical subcontracting and services for the manufacturing industry. On show there were the product lines of more than 50 enterprises.

TRADE STATISTICS

In 2015, while the world production of machine tools increased by 7.3 per cent, to nearly €71,500 million; the world consumption went up by 7.7 per cent, slightly over €70,200 million ($76,414 million), the Italian industry strengthened its fourth position among world manufacturers, thanks to its increased production and confirmed its third place among exporters, said Carboniero.
 

BI-MU: attracting large numbers

In 2015, the Italian production of machine tools, robots and automation systems amounted to €5,217 million, reporting a 7.8 per cent upturn versus 2014. Consumption grew by 22.3 per cent to €3,348 million, due to the positive trend of imports (+31.9 per cent, for a total of €1,518 million) and of deliveries in the domestic market (+15.3 per cent, for a total of €1,830 million). The market share which was covered by foreign machines accounted for 45 per cent. 

A less dynamic, but always positive performance was recorded with regard to exports, which went up by 4.1 per cent to €3,387 million; the export/production ratio went down from 67 per cent in 2014 to 65 per cent. The trade balance decreased by 11.1 per cent, reaching €1,869 million. 

The positive performance of the Italian industry of the sector impacted the level of use of production capacity, whose yearly average further grew from 76 per cent in 2014 to 76.6 per cent. On the rise was also the order portfolio, with 5.9 months of guaranteed production versus 5.6 months in 2014. The selling prices of machines have increased by 0.9 per cent.

EXPORTS 

The Italian exports of machine tools only (that is, without considering robotics) have started to rise again: in 2015 they went up by 4.1 per cent to €3,199 million. The quarterly trend was positive in the first nine months (+2.1 per cent in the first quarter, +14.2 per cent in the second and +1.6 per cent in the third quarter), then slowing down in the last part of the year (-0.2 per cent in the fourth quarter).

In 2015, the Italian shares in the major markets generally dropped, owing to the reduced growth of Italian exports compared to the world consumption. In China, the Italian share accounted for 1.4 per cent of total sales, slightly down by 0.1 point versus 2014. In the US, the Italian manufacturers met 5.9 per cent of the demand, gaining 0.2 points compared to the previous year. The Italian share in the German market grew by 0.4 per cent, amounting to 6.5 per cent of the local consumption.
 

BI-MU: showcasing innovation in industry

In India, the Italian machines were able to cover 5.1 per cent of the demand, however losing 0.7 points versus 2014. On the contrary, in the Russian market, a traditional destination area for Italian exports, the Italian share went up by 0.6 points to 11.3 per cent of the total consumption. The Italian manufacturers were affected by the serious recession of Brazil and surrendered half point, however maintaining a respectable share of 10.8 per cent.

The analysis, conducted on the geographic distribution of Italian exports in the last decade, shows how, despite the change of the world scenario, the “Made by Italians” has been able to meet the customers' needs, time by time penetrating the most active areas of the international stage.

The European Union (EU) remained the first destination area for Italian sales, but the export share, taken up by this area, decreased from 49.4 per cent in 2006 to 43.5 per cent in 2015. Non-EU Europe also lost weight from 12.1 per cent to 11 per cent.

North America, third destination area, showed a share rise from 10.7 per cent to 15.8 per cent of the total amount exported by Italian manufacturers. This outcome was due to the recovery of the manufacturing activity in the countries of the area.

A more reduced growth was reported in the share of exports to Asia, second destination area, changing from 21.1 per cent to 22.3 per cent, as well as in the share absorbed by South America (from 3.2 per cent to 3.7 per cent). 

Among the minor markets, the weight of Africa remained stable (from 2.8 per cent to 2.9 per cent). In 2015, exports to the EU registered a 19.3 per cent upturn to €1,392 billion ($1.514 billion). The first EU market was, as usual, Germany (€373 million, +11.1 per cent), followed by France (€182 million, +24.8 per cent), Poland (+23.3 per cent), the UK (+49.5 per cent) and Spain (+14 per cent).

The sales to the rest of the European continent recorded a contraction, (-10.1 per cent, for a value of €356 million). In detail, a decrease was recorded in the exports to Russia (€167 million, -3.6 per cent), Turkey (€92.4 million, -18.3 per cent and Switzerland (€56.8 million, 2.3 per cent).

Exports to North America registered a 3.3 per cent expansion, attaining €506 million. Again in 2015, the US were the first destination market for the Italian sector offering, with €389 million (+5.1 per cent). The sales of the “Made by Italians”also went up by 11.8 per cent in Canada, whereas a negative performance was reported in Mexico (-7.9 per cent).

Again heavy losses were recorded in South America, which reduced purchases from Italy by 15.5 per cent to €117 million. Once again, Brazil confirmed to be the leading country of the area, importing Italian machine tools for €65.5 million (-20.3 per cent). Argentina also purchased less (-29.3 per cent), whereas Peru (+53.2 per cent) climbed to third place among the countries belonging to the South American area, with regard to purchases of the Italian sector offering.

Exports to Asia, second destination market for the “Made by Italians”, dropped by 7 per cent, to €714 million. East Asia accounted for the largest share of the total exports to this area, importing Italian machine tools for an amount of €426 million, i.e. 3.9 per cent less than in 2014. In detail, sales recorded a downturn in China (-6.8 per cent, €339 million) and in South Korea (-11.9 per cent), whereas deliveries to Japan scored a strong upturn (+61.1 per cent).

In Southern Asia, exports decreased by 5.9 per cent to €85.6 million; the contraction experienced in the area was due to the negative performance of sales to India, down by 6 per cent to €79 million.

A strong fall was reported in the sales to the Asean area, which lost 30.7 per cent, amounting to €67.8 million. The worst performances were recorded in Thailand (-44.3 per cent) and in Singapore (-56.3 per cent), whereas there was an opposite trend for the deliveries to Indonesia (+9.9 per cent) and to Vietnam (+43.1 per cent). The Middle East showed a decrease in the purchases of Italian machine tools, (-1 per cent, €135 million). At the top of the ranking were again the countries of the Gulf region: United Arab Emirates (+8.9 per cent, €37.5 million) and Saudi Arabia (+6 per cent, €35 million), followed by Israel (+12.3 per cent) and Iraq (+54.6 per cent). Sales to Oceania also went down (-24.4 per cent), amounting to €22.9 million.

Exports to Africa started to grow again (+8.7 per cent, €91.8 million), driven by the good performance of sales to Algeria (+32.9 per cent), South Africa (+20.6 per cent) and Tunisia (+16.2 per cent). On the contrary, the outcome of exports to Egypt resulted to be negative (-15.1 per cent).