Sixty-two companies will be taking the best of Italian-made automation and robotics into the home of one of their direct competitors on the international market: China. The occasion for this encounter is the China International Machine Tool (CIMT) trade fair, taking place in Beijing from April 11^th to 16^th. This five-day event has now become a traditional meeting place for buyers and operators in the sector, with representatives present from the top Asian nations. This year, the show is in its 12^th edition, and is sure to offer many new products and innovations.

The Italian companies taking part, coordinated by the Italian Trade Commission, have already shown they are capable of winning their share of a market often seen as distant and “difficult”. Indeed, in the last few years, China has jumped to the top of the world rankings in the metal processing machine tool sector. Production value exceeded 15 billion Euros in 2010, thanks to a remarkable 37% growth, and the Chinese quota of international manufacturing reached 30%. The Italian companies are now focused on widening their own business horizons as far as possible. What better occasion, therefore, than the CIMT fair to present the best of their products and throw down a challenge to their hosts by proposing some new business relationships? An important factor should also be borne in mind: even if the Chinese manufacturers have climbed to the top of the rankings, the demand is so enormous (20.5 billion Euros in 2010, equivalent to 45% of world consumption) that plenty of space remains for businesses from other countries, especially at the higher end of the market.

So what will be on show on the Italian stands? There will be large and medium-sized lathes, drilling-machines with multiple spindles, tools for threading, and components for boring. Also on display will be machines used in making gas turbine rotors, and machines for “bottle boring” which have applications in the aeronautical industry, especially in components for landing gear. In addition, there will be magnetic pallets for “zero point” clamping systems, and automatic loaders for lathes. All of these are extremely innovative, high quality products which will certainly attract the attention of visitors to the 2011 CIMIT fair. When the last event was held, in 2009, attendance figures reached an exceptional 176,000, and there are hopes to do even better this year.

In this way, the opportunities for establishing new businesses relationships are certain to increase, in a field of operations which already appears very positive. Indeed, the ISTAT figures for the first eleven months of 2010 already show that China has become Italy’s number one export market for the sector, with a value of 316 million Euros, a top sales record for the January to November period. Their presence at the 2011 CIMIT event therefore assumes even greater importance for the Italian companies, who are offering the very best of their products. Their aim will be not only to consolidate existing relationships but also to make use of their excellent reputation to win themselves more space on the market.