In the first quarter of 2022, the index of machine tool orders processed by
Ucimu-Sistemi per Produrre — the Italian machine tool manufacturers’ association — marked a slight decrease (-3%) compared with the period January-March 2021.
The absolute value of the index stood at 164 (base year 100 in 2015). The outcome was due to the reduction in orders from the domestic market, which registered a fall of 15.9% compared with Q1 2021, although this was partially offset by an increase in overseas orders, which grew by 5.3%.
Barbara Colombo (pictured), Ucimu’s president, said: “Business in foreign markets is essential for Italian manufacturers. Therefore, despite the difficulties caused first by the pandemic and then by the war [in Ukraine], it is necessary to develop our business overseas — and not only to recover the ground lost over the last two years.
“The current situation should also prompt Italian machine tool manufacturers to reconsider their priority markets; and even if it is important to keep on exploring new markets, today it is a fundamental requirement to be present and develop business in traditional ones — in particular in Europe and the USA.
“On the domestic front, the slowdown recorded by Italian manufacturers in their national market was due to two reasons. Firstly, the data are compared with the results of the first quarter 2021, which was extremely positive. Secondly, purchases in the last quarter would have enjoyed the incentives of Industria 4.0, whose rates established in the last Budget Law in 2021 were higher than those of the current one in 2022.”
Ms Colombo went on to say that manufacturers are starting to worry about a possible cooling down of investment intentions due to the uncertainty caused by the war between Russia and Ukraine. “The ongoing conflict is already harming machine tool production, and our manufacturers are dramatically extending their delivery times, as they in turn must wait for supplies of electronic components and materials, such as nickel, steel and cast iron.
“Currently, the lead time between the placement of an order, the delivery of a machine and the issuing of its invoice is 9-12 months, instead of the usual 6-8 months. With such extended lead times, the price changes of raw materials may heavily affect the production cost of a machine, thus reducing the margins for machine tool manufacturers. In addition, inflation is increasingly evident and may be further detrimental to profits.”