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BIMU/SFORTEC 2008 INTRODUCES THE WORLD TO ITALIAN POWER UTENSILS
“To promote a meeting between Italian supply of power utensils and foreign demand through direct participation of sector professionals.” This was the objective set by the ICE, the National Institute for Foreign Trade, when, again in 2008, it set up a mission for professionals and foreign journalists to meet on occasion of the Bi-Mu/Sfortec Trade Fair that will be held in Milan on October 3-7, 2008. Ensuring the participation of sector press brings international expose to the event that celebrates its half-century edition, this year. In fact, the Bimu was first held in 1958.
This year, there will be professionals and journalists from France, Austria, Spain, Germany, Great Britain, Poland, the Check Republic, Turkey, Russia, China, India, Brasil, Mexico, Canada, the United States, and South Korea, for a total of approximately 80 professionals and 20 journalists. During their trade fair visit, professionals will be invited to participate in focus groups, based on the interests of the Italian companies and of the professionals, themselves.
The exhibition is held every two years, hosted by professional association Ucimu-Sistemi per Produrre. Having reached its 26th edition, the trade fair has become a primary showcasing event for the global manufacturing industry. Traditionally, Bimu is the preferred venue for launching the most advanced components, structural products, assembly-line items, moulds, and welding systems. Held on even-numbered years, the trade fair is the main global sector event, together with the Emo trade fair, held on odd-numbered years. Thanks to an agreement with Anasta (www.anasta.it), the Italian association of companies providing welding, cutting, and similar services, the Bimu/Sfortec 2008 will showcase the best in this sector, now comprising approximately 60 Anasta member operators (there were 11 in 1973, the year the association was founded), largely SME’s. By now, Anasta represents 80% of the Italian market share as well as exports that span throughout the world.
Bimu/Sfortec’s goal for 2008 is to exceed 100,000 visitors, a number almost reached in 2006 with 96,250 attendees, over 5,000 of which were from outside Italy (25% more than the previous edition), and representing 82 foreign countries. The previous edition saw the participation of 1,788 companies, 744 of which originated from 31 foreign markets. First among the main technological divisions that captured the visitors’ attention in 2006 was the removal business, indicated to be the main sector of interest by 18.3% of the visitors. This “preferred” sector is followed by utensils (14.4%), forming (10.8%), robotics, manipulation and assembly (10.8%), components and accessories (10.7%), software (7.6%), metrology (6.7%), subcontracting (5.9%), treating and finishing (5.4%), moulds (5.1%) and welding (4.3%).
But just how influential on global business is Italian production in this sector? The latest data from Ucimu covers 2007 exports of power utensils made in Italy: last year the export record was again broken by a 12.1% increase, equivalent to 2.969 million Euros. Among the best performing divisions in this sector were non-conventional technology machines (laser, spark erosion): up 31% to 194 million euro. Double-digit progress even for removal machines (up 10% to 1.349 million) and for forming machines (up 12% to 1.426 million).
Yet again in 2007, Germany confirmed its position as the primary recipient market for Italian power utensils, taking up 13.5% of Italian export, followed by China (8.1%), the United States (7.3%), Spain (6.8%) and France (6.2%). Among the new markets on the rise: Russia (5.1%), Poland (4.2%), and Turkey (3.5%). Good results were also registered by exports to India (94.7 million, up 64.8%), moving up to 10th place in destination markets. A positive trend was also registered for exports to Central-South America (99.6 million, up 16.1%), driven by sales to Brasil (51.2 million, up 11.3%). Lastly, exports to Africa increased to 78.4 million (up 4.1%), greatly (by 60%) due to demand from North-African countries.
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