In the first quarter of 2021, Italian machine tool manufacturers saw their order books begin to grow again, with a 48.6% upturn in the first three months of the year compared with Q1 2020.

The overall outcome was mainly due to the ‘excellent performance’ of the domestic market, where Italian manufacturers registered a 157.9% increase in orders. Export orders rose by 30.5%.

Barbara Colombo (pictured), president of wUCIMU-Sistemi Per Produrre (the Italian machine tools, robots, and automation manufacturers’ association), said: “The data recorded in the first quarter are surely positive and allow us to take a little breath after months of great difficulty.

“That said, the registered increases must be carefully considered, as they they are compared with the results obtained in the first part of 2020, which was a very difficult period, because from the end of February last year we had to face the first effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.”

“At the end of 2020 we saw that the domestic market had started to improve. It is now performing well, boosted by the incentive measures for investments in new production technologies established in the ‘Transition Plan 4.0’.”

Even the indications for the foreign markets are positive, albeit they are picking up at different speeds: China and the USA highlight a very dynamic business activity, whereas the countries of the euro area have just started to pick up.

“Market indications, along with the progress of the vaccination campaign that seems finally to be in full swing, even in Italy, raise hopes for the success of EMO Milano 2021, where the exhibiting companies will present their products to the world’s manufacturing industries.

“To date, the exhibition secretariat has received applications to exhibit from 28 countries worldwide; the leading international players have already confirmed their participation — aware of the enormous potential offered by the event.”