Riccardo Rosa, president of UCIMU: “Thereturn of the order index to a positive sign after sixconsecutive quarters of decline is welcome news. Nevertheless, thesituation remains complicated”.

In the third quarter 2024,the index of machine tool orders, compiled by the Economic Studies Department & Business CultureCentre of UCIMU-SISTEMI PER PRODURRE, returned to a positivesign, recording a 7.9% increase compared to the period July-September 2023. The absolute value ofthe index was 52.7 (base year 2021=100).

The orders collected overseas reported a 10.7%upturn, compared to the same period of the previous year. The absolute value of theindex was 94.4.

On the domestic market, ordersmarked a 4.3% rise, compared to the third quarter of 2023, for an absolute value of 13,7.

Riccardo Rosa, president of UCIMU, stated:"The return of the order index to a positive sign after six consecutivequarters of decline is welcome news, because it actually interrupts a trendthat has accompanied the sector for too long”.

“Despite this - continued Riccardo Rosa - thesituation remains complicated for at least two reasons. Firstly, because “theplus sign” is the result of a comparison with one of the quarters characterisedby the weakest order intake ever, i.e. the period July-September 2023, which, inabsolute terms, is only slightly higher than that recorded in the same quarterof 2020, the year that was plagued by the pandemic. Therefore, it is clear thatwe are still at a very low level”.

“Secondly, because – added President Rosa – by observing this quarterly outcome in more detail, a sharp separationappears between the performance of the sector of sheet metal forming and sheetmetal processing machines and that of metal cutting machines”.

“I think, this is the first time - continuedthe president of UCIMU - that we are proposing a consideration with this levelof detail (including technical detail), but actually, never before has it beenso evident that the sector represented by UCIMU is moving at two speeds.On one hand, the metal forming companies that are able to work in many marketsand, most of all, to capture the demand expressed by many profoundly differing sectors.On the other hand, the metal cutting companies that are facing particularly complicatedcontextual problems. Among the reasons for the great difficulty the metalcutting industry is encountering, we can certainly include the strong foreigncompetition, mainly from Asia, and then the great uncertainty of the automotiveindustry that has paralysed investment in new production technologies, asproven, among other things, by the crisis that the entire German economy isexperiencing”.

“Also owing to this, we think, it is essentialthat, on international tables and in particular in Europe, our Governmentauthorities keep on pointing out the need to develop policies in support of theindustrial transition,  brought about bythe change of direction in a sector that has driven the economic and socialdevelopment of the Old Continent more than any other, namely the automotive. Weshould devise instruments that can accompany the reorganisation of the Europeanmanufacturing industry, so that, while respecting the criteria of greenmanufacturing, it can continue to guarantee activity and employment in thecountries of the Union. These are fundamental elements, together with theprotection of the environment, for the well-being of the population”.

“The electric car is fine, as the president ofConfindustria, Emanuele Orsini, reminded us at the Assolombarda Assembly, but -added Riccardo Rosa - why not also consider a broader range oftechnologies that, correctly mixed, could make the new mobility model reallysustainable? I believe that an openness on this point could certainly give newimpetus to the entire supply chain”.

“While hoping that our representatives inEurope will intervene on this point, we reiterate to Minister Adolfo Urso theimmediate need for simplification of the Transition 5.0 measure, so that it canbring out its effects by supporting new investment in energy-saving technologies”.

“Finally, apart from the current situation -concluded the president of UCIMU - entrepreneurs expect our Government toimmediately start a round table for dialogue, involving sector representatives,on the industrial policy measures that should accompany the Italianmanufacturing industry from 2025 onwards, because, at the end of next year,both Transition 4.0 and 5.0 will come to an end. Not much time is left. We haveto act right now, if we want to support, even in the near future, thedevelopment and growth process of our industry”.

Cinisello Balsamo, 23 October 2024

Contact:

Claudia Mastrogiuseppe, head of ExternalRelations and Press Office Management, +39 0226 255.299, +39 3482618701 c.mastrogiuseppe@ucimu.it  

Massimo Civello, External Relations and PressOffice Management, +39 0226 255.266, +39 3487812176 press2@ucimu.it

Filippo Laonigro, Technical Press Office, +39 0226255.225, technical.press@ucimu.it