GENERAL NEWS
UCIMU flags machine tool trends
In the second quarter of 2025, the index of machine tool orders, processed by the Studies Dept. & Business Culture Centre of UCIMU-SISTEMI PER PRODURRE, recorded a 22 % rise compared to the period April- June 2024. The outcome was due to the increase reported in order intake, both in the Italian and overseas markets. Domestic market orders highlighted a 70.3 % upturn versus the second quarter of 2024. Orders in overseas markets were up by 9.5 %, compared to the same period last year.
Riccardo Rosa, President of UCIMU- SISTEMI PER PRODURRE( the association for Italian machine tools, robots and automation), stated:“ This latest measurement of the UCIMU index also confirms the positive trend in order intake, which Italian machine tool manufacturers have been experiencing for four consecutive quarters. Despite this, concerns remain because the [ background ] conditions are worsening as the months go by …”
He highlighted the weakness of demand in the domestic market( Italy) and called for the European authorities“ to speed up the planning of free-trade agreements with countries that are experiencing, or are going to experience, a long period of development( starting with Africa and some areas of Asia).
Rosa also demanded strong action to limit bureaucracy and voiced hopes that“ Transition 5.0” tax incentives could be extended beyond 31 December 2025“ to enable manufacturers of machine tools and machinery, in general, to collect a further round of orders.”
“ As soon as possible, after the August holiday, [ discussions must open ] on the requirements of manufacturing companies, to better direct the lines on which to build industrial policy in the next few years, given that measures 4.0 and 5.0 are about to end. UCIMU is ready to take part in the working groups, which we hope will lead to a new plan to support the evolution of the manufacturing industry in Italy,” he added.
Future forecasts
2024 was a complicated year for the Italian manufacturing industry of machine tools, robots and automation systems, which experienced a heavy drop against almost
Riccardo Rosa, President, UCIMU.
UCIMU Members Meeting.
all economic indicators. Only exports recorded a moderate increase. Nevertheless, the Italian industry in this sector once more claimed its place as one of the main players internationally, said UCIMU, where“ it ranked fifth in the world production rankings and fourth in the export rankings.”
UCIMU has issued forecasts for 2025 that indicate a slight improvement, compared to 2024. UCIMU presented 2024 results for the industry at its recent Members’ Meeting, which was also attended by Antonio Gozzi, President of FEDERACCIAI( the Federation of Italian Steel Companies). The exports-toproduction ratio increased from 55.5 % in 2023 to 67.5 % in 2024.
“ In 2024, the main export markets for the Italian product offering were: United States(+ 10.9 %); Germany(+ 1.6 %); China(-16.3 %); France(-17.6 %); Turkey(-10.3 %); India(+ 58.3 %); Mexico(-9.9 %); Poland(-21.5 %); Spain(+ 21.1 %) and Sweden(+ 71.4 %). A decrease was reported in the utilisation rate of production capacity, whose annual average changed from 86.2 % in 2023 to 77.3 % in 2024. The same trend was also recorded for the order portfolio, which stood at 6.5 months of guaranteed production versus 7.3 months in the previous year,” confirmed UCIMU.
In 2025, UCIMU expects the Italian machine tool, robot and automation industry to register a slight recovery.
“ All indicators should return to positive territory, but the increases are likely to be extremely small. Exports are expected to grow again(+ 1 %). Deliveries in the domestic market should increase again(+ 5.9 %) supported by the slow recovery of domestic consumption, which should rise + 5.5 %. Imports should also grow by + 4.9 %,” it added.
“ What is extremely penalising is uncertainty, the real deterrent to investment in production technology, whether linked to the trade war long threated by President Trump or, even worse, linked to instability in the Middle East. All this proves how geopolitics has now forcefully entered our daily lives and the activities of our companies. We must all get ready to learn how to read the change and interpret events through the exchange of views and dialogue with colleagues and institutions as well as by relying on the representative organisations to which we belong,” commented Riccardo Rosa.
“ We must also invest in the professional training of our staff and young people, who are the future of our companies. State-ofthe-art machines need people capable of managing, programming and using them. Therefore, UCIMU has strengthened, and will do so even more in the future, its commitment to the UCIMU Academy, a project that is dedicated to reducing the mismatch between job demand and supply. This includes the development of partnerships with high schools, universities and ITS’ s( Higher Technological Institutes) Academy Foundations relating to the world of metalworking( talent hotbeds for our factories),” he concluded. n
www
. ucimu. it
ISMR September 2025 | ismr. net | 7