The Italian machine tool, robot and automation industry, one of the national sectors most strongly geared towards export, is distinguished by its unique production system. There are more than 400 firms in the sector, most of which are small or medium-sized, directly managed by their owners and with an average number of employees not exceeding 70. German and Japanese companies in the same sector employ an average number of 200. The limited dimensions of the Italian firms are not an obstacle for them at the international level, however, and they are able to operate profitably abroad.

“We have always been export-oriented,” affirms Giancarlo Losma, president of UCIMU, the Italian sector association. “Around half of the production by Italian manufacturers is destined for foreign markets. This is a structural detail that testifies to the high regard among foreign users for Italian-made products in this sector. Features such as very high technological standards, quality and innovation, production tailored to customers’ needs and attention to after-sales services lead to Italian production system manufacturers being chosen as partners for real project development. This is because the distinguishing feature of Italian makers is precisely their willingness to assist customers right from the design stage, developing solutions that are truly designed according to users’ needs.” One fact is enough to illustrate the quality of Italian-made products in this sector: almost 70% of machine tools produced in Italy are electronically controlled, and 20% of these form part of integrated systems (cells and systems composed of more than three machines). So it is no coincidence that exports grew by 7.5% in 2008, reaching 3,336 million Euros, the highest figure ever recorded. With a credit balance of 1,665 million Euros (+12.9%), the sector has been confirmed as one of those capable of making a positive contribution to Italy’s trade deficit.

The main reference market is Germany, where 14.5% of exported production is sent (with a value of 465 million Euros, a 16.3% increase compared to 2007), followed by China, which bought 9.2% of Italian machine exports, France (6.2%) and Russia (5.2%). 2008 also saw a significant increase in exports to India (+19.6%, with a value of 113.3 million Euros), Brazil (with a value of 112.6 million Euros, an increase in this case of 120.1% ) and Austria (+37.9%, with a value of 82.1 million Euros). The coexistence of reference destinations in both traditional and emerging markets is the demonstration, according to Giancarlo Losma, “of the flexibility and capacity of Italian companies to interpret customers’ requests, which differ greatly one from another”.