GENERAL NEWS
Machine-tool order increase for Italy
In the first quarter of 2025, the index of machine tool orders for Italian manufacturers processed by UCIMU-SISTEMI PER PRODURRE( the Italian machine tools, robots and automation systems manufacturers’ association) registered an 8.5 % increase, compared to October-December 2024.
“ This was exclusively due to the recovery of [ Italian ] manufacturer activity in the domestic market. However, the performance was negative in overseas markets. Orders in the domestic market showed a 71.5 % rise versus the first quarter of 2024. Overseas order intake was down by 18.2 % compared to the same period last year,” said the association.
Riccardo Rosa, President of UCIMU- SISTEMI PER PRODURRE, confirmed:“ The year 2025 has started with an increase in order intake. That is good news and proves that, after a very difficult 2024, short-tomedium term prospects [ could ] be better compared to the recent past. That said, the environment in which we are working is causing many concerns, especially on the overseas front..... This latest [ order ] upturn was very significant.
“ Clarifications on the application of longawaited measures for Transition 5.0 clearly had positive effects: once organisations understood the technicalities and cleared up grey areas, they followed up on purchase intentions which materialised in new and actual orders. This is because, in Italy,
Riccardo Rosa, President of UCIMU-SISTEMI PER PRODURRE.
demand for new production systems is still sufficiently dynamic and [ aligns with ] the objective of upgrading industrial equipment, in digital and green ways. This trend has also been confirmed by companies exhibiting at the LAMIERA exhibition in Milan( 6-9 May 2025), which is completely sold-out,” he added.
He confirmed that, by time of printing, just 11 % of the resources made available for this measure have been used( i. e. a little more than 600 million euros compared to 6.3- billion euros allocated). He also urged Italian government authorities to provide clarity on Industry-4.0 tax credits, to further accelerate Italian domestic demand for equipment.“ The worldwide geopolitical crisis, the two open conflicts close to Italy, the
economic and political weakness of Europe, the automotive crisis and, most of all, the disruptive return of President Trump, are deeply troubling internationally. The U. S. President’ s continuous changes of position concerning a possible tariff policy, differentiated by country and type of goods, have raised the rate of uncertainty to levels not seen in recent history. This requires all players in the economic system to take action [ in the face of these new circumstances ],” continued Rosa.
He confirmed that the United States is the main destination for‘ Made in Italy’ products in the sector, followed by Germany, China, France and Turkey. UCIMU is also monitoring, and will be participating in trade activities, in countries of interest( starting with India, Mexico and South America). UCIMU has support facilities for countries such as Mexico, India and China, and there are ITC and IMT Networks in India and Vietnam. Future exploratory missions to the Balkans are also planned.
Riccardo Rosa also urged the Italian government authorities for full support in the development of an industrial policy, to foster the competitiveness of the Italian manufacturing industry, and in the initiation of talks with the U. S. government on global trade and security. n
www
. ucimu. it / en / home /
Schuler to be renamed ANDRITZ Schuler
More than a decade after acquiring Schuler, a leading manufacturer of presses for the automotive industry, ANDRITZ is taking the next step towards integration. Schuler will be renamed ANDRITZ Schuler. This joint market presence will increase transparency and make it easier for its customers to access integrated solutions, it told ISMR.‘ Schuler’ will remain as a product brand and will continue to be maintained as ANDRITZ Schuler presses. The names of the Schuler Group companies will be given the prefix, ANDRITZ.
“ This integration also documents Schuler’ s transformation from a press manufacturer to an integrated solutions provider in forming and handling technology. This makes it easier for customers to recognize integrated solutions from ANDRITZ and gives them faster access to expertise in the group,” the company told ISMR.
ANDRITZ Schuler press.
“ The number of joint projects with other ANDRITZ companies has increased significantly, because of our battery activities. The customer benefits of our joint presence are evident,” commented Martin Drasch, CEO of Schuler.
International technology group, ANDRITZ, provides advanced plant, equipment, services and digital solutions for a wide range of industries, including pulp and paper, metals, hydropower, environmental and others. Founded in 1852 and headquartered in Austria, the publicly listed group employs about 30,000 people at 280 locations in over 80 countries.
ANDRITZ Metals is, via the Schuler Group, a leading supplier of technologies, plant and digital solutions in metal forming. Its product portfolio also includes automation and software solutions, process expertise and service. In the metals processing segment, the business area offers solutions for the production and processing of flat products, welding systems and furnaces with its own burner solutions, as well as services for the metal processing industry. n
www. andritz. com
ISMR May 2025 | ismr. net | 9