FACE TO FACE
Above and right : Examples of Produtech products .
ISMR : What are your views on the current global business climate for sheet metal professionals ? What about the climate in 2022 ?
FM : Currently the market , specifically for sheet metal processing machines , is experiencing an important recovery thanks to the containment of the COVID-19 pandemic by the vaccination programme . This enables a return to a level of mobility and access that means we can visit customers , install systems and travel to provide technical assistance .
In addition , Italian Industry 4.0 tax incentives have prompted sector operators ( who use machines that produce metal components ) to make new investments . The overseas market is also providing strong opportunities , thanks to the financial support that many governments are pouring into their economies . Therefore , the current market situation for the sheet metal sector is positive and is recovering from the negativity of the past period .
For the future , of course , everyone hopes that COVID-19 does not return to full strength and the pandemic does not spiral out of control . It would be useful , as requested by many in Italy now , for government investment incentives and support for the economy to become structural and accompany the economic recovery , giving continuity to growth so that we can recover fully from the COVID-19 crisis . We are confident that this growth trend , now evident in 2021 , will continue in 2022 and make it possible for manufacturers to recover . and little-known systems that need to be seen in operation and require the presence of potential buyers in exhibition and demonstration areas , which the pandemic has prevented .
Sold systems need to be installed by specialised technicians , but our technicians ( like many others ) were subject to travel restrictions and therefore it was often impossible to install and operate systems delivered to customers . It is also difficult to provide assistance , if not remotely . All these difficulties have prompted potential customers to suspend their machinery purchases and the result , for us , has been a strong contraction in orders . The innovative and technological characteristics of our systems entail a level of investment which , in times of economic and social uncertainty , meant that potential customers opted for prudent measures and postponed investments of this type to better times .
Our response to this situation , and the consequent reduction in work , was to use
the greater availability of time to train our collaborators / personnel on Industry 4.0 , extend and enhance the digitisation of company production processes and continue ( indeed , increase ) our research and development activities . We wanted to become stronger and ready to manage the phase of economic recovery that we hoped would arrive . This has now happened and today we are reaping the rewards of these demanding and courageous choices .
ISMR : How has the COVID-19 crisis affected your company ’ s operations and which steps have you taken in response ?
FM : The crisis generated by COVID-19 has negatively affected the entire manufacturing sector and has heavily hit Produtech ’ s activities . The severe limits imposed on mobility have strongly influenced our relationships with customers and potential buyers . This is because we offer innovative
Produtech ’ s EffiCOIL combined punching / forming and fibre laser cutting line .
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