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Nimble Flexibility: Providing Niche Tooling Services

Nimble Flexibility: Providing Niche Tooling Services

Dietmar Kogler, managing director, Arno Werkzeuge SE Asia, speaks to APMEN on how his company provides specific tooling services for manufacturers in the region.

With Southeast Asian manufacturers predominantly specialising in the automotive industry, how does German cutting tools and inserts company Arno provide services for the sector?

What are your thoughts on the Southeast Asian Market for Arno Tooling Services?

We are fairly new in the Southeast Asian market, as we started our own subsidiary in end 2014. Compared to the larger companies, we are more of a niche product company. Our approach is, therefore, more focussed and different, we are looking for smaller companies where we can go in with our strengths.

We also do some cost-per-part projects, which is a bit different. This means to say that we do not want to sell a “cut-and-go” product. We want to give them a solution and break it down to a cost-per-part analysis. The customer does not pay for the tools anymore; he pays per produced part instead.

The markets are quite similar in Southeast Asia; Most are dominated by the Japanese, especially into the two-wheeler or four-wheeler business. Many business goals then depend on the automotive industry: if things are good, business goes up; but if things are not so good, sales goes down.

But this does not affect us much, because we are more niche-orientated and we are not going into mass production. Since we are a newcomer, we do not have much to lose; we can actually have everything to gain. And so far, the past two and a half years were quite successful to us. We also have good partnerships in almost all markets, and we still have the potential to grow.

And what about the company’s goals for the next few years?

I think that within the next three years, the company will be very much recognised in the region as a niche-orientated solution provider. This is because as a smaller company, we are much more flexible than the bigger ones, and a lot of companies want such a supplier.

The trend in Europe is that you tend to see big companies consolidating their suppliers. We do not see that trend here, and because of this, we will be one of the companies that will have an advantage because we are more flexible and niche-oriented.

Of course, you have to have a different strategy and approach. Just to give you an indication: we have roughly 50 million euros turnover with 170 staff worldwide. While the turnover is quite good per head, but if we want to compete directly, then there is no chance in terms of manpower and pricing.

Therefore, we look at products where we have a standard where others do not. If a customer tells me, “I need something that is not standard, I can consume 20 a month”, we can provide that as a standard. Other companies are looking at 1,000 a month, so that amount is not interesting for them. But it is interesting for us. This is our general strategy worldwide, and we are copying and adapting that to the local market here in Southeast Asia.

We also do not supply a lot to the automotive industry in Europe. But in Southeast Asia, we go into the automotive sector. This is because yet again, we are not going for mass consumption, but by picking out the niche markets here.

What are your company’s strengths in Tooling?

Our company strength is in grooving and parting off. Grooving and parting-off are one of our key products, and in the past, the coolant was always external. But the drawback is that when you go deep, the coolant will not reach the cutting edge.

So we developed a through-coolant system for the parting-off tool called the ACS cooling system. We have two versions. The first has a cooling system at the cutting edge. The other has an additional coolant jet targeting the insert flank for underneath. There are dual functions for this: You provide cooling and also chip control. We also found out that with this cooling system, tool life can actually be up to double the original.

This is suitable as our tools do not need a top-end machine tool to be attached to. This is especially suitable in Asia, as manufacturers here will typically buy one machine tool for a specific purpose. This is different in Europe, where they will invest in a high-end machine tool for different purposes.

The customer just needs to tell us where they need the hole, and we make it accordingly to his specifications. With that, you can put it on the machine, and get through coolant with little effort.

We also work with machine tool makers, and we have special holders for companies like Daewoo Doosan, DMG Mori, Miyano, Nakamura and Tornos. We are investing a lot in direct mounting as well. The tool goes direct on the machine; it is very rigid with through coolant, so the output is more. If something happens, you do not have to change the block, you can just change the module.

What other area does your company specialise in?

We do have a wide range of high-positive inserts. In the past, these used to be used for machining aluminium. But with all the new coatings available, there is used for medical applications and even for work where you need to have very fine surface finishing. They can also be used for small parts machining.

 

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Turning And Grinding Solutions For Machining Automotive Gears

Turning And Grinding Solutions For Machining Automotive Gears

Innovation in transmission design means that today’s transmissions are generally getting smaller, while simultaneously offering more gear ratios. In what ways have machining automotive gears improved? By Markus Isgro, marketing communications, Emag

The production of a large volume of parts with extremely high quality has been a key feature in the production of automotive transmissions for decades. Developments in both the marketplace and technology, however, are continuing to change production at a very fast pace. For example, the demand for cars has been rising. This Turning And Grinding Solutions increase in quantity is pushing the production volume of gears even higher.

At the same time, the competition from new market participants in Asia is intensifying. What can the transmission builders of OEMs and suppliers do in their production areas to address these developments?

Multifunctional machines that perform an array of hard machining processes on the transmission components in succession are able to provide such a solution. Emag, with expertise in turning and grinding, have provided an option called the VLC 200 GT. This machine was developed for the chuck machining of automotive gears.

Innovation In-Transmission Design

The automobile industry is continuing to spend more money on research, and annual increases of between seven and eight percent in this area have long since become standard. OEMs and suppliers in Germany alone recorded more than 34 billion euros (US$36.5 million) in development expenses in the past year, according to a study by the German Association of the Automotive Industry.

One of the main focal points of this dynamic innovation is transmission design. Today’s transmissions are generally becoming smaller (and therefore lighter), but can simultaneously offer more gear ratios and therefore have more gears and gearing components. This produces optimum speed ranges and reduces fuel consumption.

Each individual gear must be manufactured extremely quickly and very precisely. Given the high unit volumes, the production technology is virtually always a concern for production planners. They try to find solutions that reduce processing time and unit costs, while still continuing to increase the quality of the parts.

Nearly 20 years ago, the first pick-up machine for the combined turning and grinding machining of chucked parts was developed. Its key feature was the combination of the two machining processes in rapid alternation, based on the shape of the workpiece and the quality required.

Building on this, the VLC 200 GT has focused on enhancing productivity, especially in the machining of automotive gears. Guido Hegener, managing director of Emag, explained the approach: “The high unit volume and quality requirements of gears make them ideally suited to our approach.”

Complete Process, Including Dressing

To start, the machine is loaded at high speed by the integrated pick-up spindle. Once the spindle with the part reaches its machining position, the process starts with hard pre-turning of the shoulder and the bore hole in quick succession.

Only a few micrometres of material are then left to be removed from the gear. That means the subsequent grinding process, using either aluminum oxide or CBN grinding wheels, takes significantly less time.

Meanwhile, the machining quality also benefits from the combination of turning and grinding: when there is only a small amount of material remaining to be ground away after turning, the specifications for the grinding wheel can be based more precisely on the end quality required. As a result, surfaces with an average peak-to-valley height Rz of less than 1.6 micrometres can be created.

In addition, this multifunctional technology offers users a multitude of possibilities, such as internal and external grinding spindles, scroll-free turning tools, block tool holders, and a 12-station tool turret, which can all be installed as required.

Tool Cost Savings

There is an additional advantage in terms of tool costs because during this process the grinding wheel wears down more slowly and therefore does not need to be dressed as often. When it does need dressing, the machine has a separate diamond-coated dressing roll designed specifically for this. To ensure sustained process reliability and high machining quality, the integrated measuring pin is used to check the diameter and length of the clamped component at the end of the process.

Operator comfort and ease of access were also important priorities, so large doors allow easy access to the machining area. The tools and clamping devices are easily accessible and can be changed quickly and conveniently.

Automated Option

With a small footprint and the ability to flexibly integrate into interlinked factory systems, the machine can be incorporated into a plant’s production system with the aid of a variety of automation systems.

One option for this is the TrackMotion system. This automation system handles the transportation from machine to machine with functions such as part gripping, positioning, and flipping of the workpiece.

“On the other hand, there is also the option of using the machine as a stand-alone machine with simple O-belt automation. This is an appealing alternative for many customers in the Asian markets especially,” Mr Hegener added.

The VLC 200 GT uses a variety of process combinations for the hard machining of checked components

The VLC 200 GT uses a variety of process combinations for the hard machining of checked components.

Dr Guido Hegener, managing director of Emag.

Dr Guido Hegener, managing director of Emag.

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Quality Is Profitable: Faster Machining Time With Tool Holders

Quality Is Profitable: Faster Machining Time With Tool Holders

In order to increase the productivity of the milling process in a die and mould company, one cannot concentrate only on the high-performance Faster Machining centres. Contributed by Haimer

Die and mould company Langer GmbH & Co found out that proper usage of tool holders could reduce the total Faster Machining times on several applications almost in half.

The company, located in Illmensee, 17 km north of Lake Constance in Germany, is a die and mould producer with approximately 140 employees. The services that they offer include the development and production of prototypes of serial tools for injection die moulding, up to the sampling of pre-series and small series production.

Injection Die Moulding

The die and mould department’s 60 employees focus on finishing the tools for injection die moulding in the quickest possible time while reaching the high-quality requirements of the automotive industry.

The data to be transcribed out of the design department into high-quality tools out of aluminium-wrought alloy or profile steel of type 2312 and 2767 is the job of the company’s NC Machining team. Their team leader, Jörg Lehmann explains that along with the machines, tool holders and tools are the main factors that affect machining times. In his department, there are six modern, three to five-axis machining centres from DMG, Mikron and Hermle.

Langer was not satisfied with the current shrink fit chucks they were using, however. After a few shrink cycles, those shrink fit chucks were no longer giving the required clamping forces.

Theory And Application

An important feature of shrink fit chucks is a tight-fitting bore that holds the tool in the longest range possible. The entry chamfer of the shrink fit chuck plays a very important role, as this is where the protruding length and the rigidity of the tool are decided. Shrink fit chucks from various producers allow the entry chamfer to be five to 10 mm long.

As a result, there is often no clamping in this position, and the protruding length of the tool is unnecessarily increased. This can also similarly happen on the back end of the fit, where the chuck often has too much material turned out. There are also no clamping forces that hold the tool here. Due to these factors, the range of the fit is relatively short.

Mr Lehmann Faster Machining tried the chucks from Haimer and shared his observations. “The chucks offer a lot of mass in the upper range, which reduces vibrations and the slim form in the lower range enables machining in tight contours,” Mr Lehmann said.

Made For Mould & Die

The company Faster Machining developed the Power Mini Shrink Chuck especially for the requirements of five-axis milling in the mould and die industry, where they are suitable due to their special combination of a slim tip and strong base.

A prominent feature of the chuck is the slim outside three-degree angle contour, which is the draft angle that is used in injection die moulding. The chuck has a strengthened contour at the bottom end of the chuck. Due to this, the shrink fit chuck can cut in deep mould cavities but is rigid enough to absorb heavy side forces occurring at five-axis machining.

“We can go for much higher cutting values and save time with pre-work, for example, groove milling in steel. Here we use a two mm diameter ball cutter to pre-finish first to 1/10 of a millimetre. We can reach the desired result in one finishing pass. The machining time is then reduced by up to 50 percent,” said Mr Lehmann.

Optimal Surface Finishing

Faster Machining Mould and die makers often use high rpm in order to achieve optimal surface finishes. When milling in deep cavities or pockets however, it is important that the chips are properly washed away. That works only when the coolant stream hits the right point with high pressure.

Haimer recognised this problem in its production. The company’s previous solution was the Cool Jet System, which integrated coolant bores into shrink fit chucks and other tool holders. Through the use of two or three nozzles, the coolant is transported directly onto the tool cutter.

The company used this approach to develop the Cool Flash system, which can be integrated into shrink fit chucks. At the top of the shrink chuck, a disc is inserted onto the Cool Jet bores, which has a small ring gap left open with slots opposite to the tool shaft. The coolant is not fed through points but is transferred in a ring form to the cutter and can lie around the tool like a coating. The coolant then clings and slides on the miller shaft, also at high rpm, as a coating over the chip flute to the cutting edge. The shrinking process is not an issue and the system does not involve any assembly.

Faster Machining  High-Speed Cutting

In order to have high-quality finishing results, the milling cutter must be cooled externally to flush chips out of the way, but many milling cutters may not have an internal bore for the coolant due to stability reasons.

In Langer’s testing of the new system alongside the typical flush cooling from the coolant hose, Mr Lehmann said that the system has allowed for speeds of 20,000 rpm, compared to previous tests which started to have wide dispersion at 6,000 rpm.

“Where we used to have to decrease feed rates by critical operations such as pocket milling, we can now work in normal speeds. There aren’t any chips that get stuck and the millers do not break. In addition to the Faster Machining increased process stability, we also save on coolant usage compared to the flush cooling from outside,” said Mr Lehmann.

The Faster Machining proper shrink fit machine is also required for the shrink fit chucks. An inductive shrink fit machine can be adjusted to the length and diameter of the chuck. Due to this only the clamping range of the chuck is heated, which considerably reduces the cooling time, among other things.

The proper shrink fit machine is also required for the shrink fit chucks. An inductive shrink fit machine can be adjusted to the length and diameter of the chuck. Due to this only the clamping range of the chuck is heated, which considerably reduces the cooling time, among other things.

Faster Machining From left to right: Joerg Lehmann, team leader NC machining, Langer,and Oliver Lechner, Haimer.

From left to right: Joerg Lehmann, team leader NC machining, Langer,and Oliver Lechner, Haimer.

The Faster Machining finishing was made in one pass and met all quality requirements.

The finishing was made in one pass and met all quality requirements.

The Faster Machining Cool Flash System enabled cooling and chip-removing effect up to 20,000 rpm.

The Cool Flash System enabled cooling and chip-removing effect up to 20,000 rpm.

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Green Light For Accelerated Automotive Turning

Green Light For Accelerated Automotive Turning

An interesting approach towards Accelerated Automotive Turning the external turning of steel parts in high volume offers opportunities for manufacturers in the automotive industry. By Håkan Ericksson, global product specialist at Sandvik Coromant

Manufacturing engineers in the automotive industry have tried almost everything to extract the last drops of productivity from their conventional turning processes. Although these processes are evolving by making small gains on an almost constant basis, a different approach looks set to help turning shops take a step forward.

With a different take on turning conventions, PrimeTurning from Sandvik Coromant offers opportunities for manufacturers tasked with the external turning of steel parts in high volumes. The methodology can not only address many of the common challenges faced by automotive original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and suppliers, but also provide potential gains.

Automotive Turning Predominance

Steel turning dominates many automotive applications, including the production of transmission shafts and shift sleeves, and flange and post ends on engine crankshafts, for instance. Hub units, constant-velocity joint components and drive pinions are among further examples. In a market as notoriously competitive as automotive, all of these parts share a common requirement: To maximise productivity without compromising quality.

The question is how can this still be achieved? Turning is a mature process that has been edging forwards for a number of decades but without a major step-change of note. Sure enough, more rigid machines have been matched with ever-improving workholding and cutting tool solutions, but the methodology of turning itself has not evolved.

The upshot is that turning has become a bottleneck in comparison with many other manufacturing processes which have advanced at a faster rate.

Turning On Its Head

In contrast to conventional longitudinal turning, the new turning methodology allows the tool to enter the component at the chuck and removes material in the opposite direction. Turning “backwards” in this manner allows a small entering angle to be applied, which in turn can provide productivity gains.

Experienced operators are aware that small entry angles permit increased feeds, but in conventional turning are restricted to around 90 deg in order to reach the shoulder and avoid the long, curved chips that small entering angles characteristically generate. In contrast, the new process provides reach at the shoulder and allows for entry angles of 25-30 deg, with chip control and maintained tolerances.

Of course, some machine shops have already tried turning from chuck to part end with small entry angles, but the problem has always been chip control. With the new methodology, however, there are chip breakers, edge preparation and a machining strategy that can account for chip thickness and a gradual release of cutting forces when entering the workpiece. As a result, speed and feed rates can effectively be up to doubled Accelerated Automotive Turning.

The small entry angle and higher lead angle create thinner, wider chips that spread the load and heat away from the nose radius, resulting in increased cutting data and/or tool life. Furthermore, as cutting is performed in the direction moving away from the shoulder, there is no danger of chip jamming, a common unwanted effect of conventional longitudinal turning.

This is good news for automotive manufacturing engineers under pressure to reduce cycle times and cost per part in order to stay competitive. The methodology also has additional benefits to offer, such as reducing downtime through fewer set-ups. This is because the new process allows for all-directional turning, which means that turning conventionally from component end to chuck can be performed using the same tools. This is supported by newly developed inserts that have three edges/corners: one for longitudinal turning, one for facing and one for profiling.

The specialised insert is designed for light roughing, finishing and profiling Accelerated Automotive Turning

The specialised insert is designed for light roughing, finishing and profiling

Efficient Edge Utilisation

Conventional longitudinal turning uses the corner radius and a small part of the insert side to create the chip, whereas the new methodology uses just the side to create a thin and wide chip. For facing operations, conventional methods continue to rely on the corner radius, thus further increasing wear. In contrast, the new methodology uses the other side of the insert, delivering edge utilisation and longer tool life.

Traditional turning methods always use the corner radius when turning, which leads to concentrated heat, excessive wear and unfavourable chip forms that are difficult to break, while the new methodology generates the heat in a wider and different area so that heat can move away from the cutting zone. The chip is also straight and easier to form.

All-directional turning presents possibilities for automotive shops to perform existing operations in a more optimised manner. Tests show that the new turning process is typically best suited to short and compact components, although all-directional turning inserts mean that slender parts can also be processed (conventionally) using a tail stock. With specialised Coroturn inserts, feed rates up to 1.2 mm per revolution and depths of cut up to 4 mm can be achieved, depending on the application.

Turning Code Generator

To Automotive Turning highlight the potential gains on offer to automotive manufacturers through a combination of the new methodology, specialised inserts and a new code generator. Numerical control code changes can be viewed as problematic to many machine shops. With the aim of simplifying adoption of the new process, the specially-developed code generator facilitates changing from conventional toolpath programs to the new methodology.

Furthermore, it helps to maximise output through the application of optimised parameters and variables, and ensures process security with suitably adjusted feed rate and entry radius data.

Turning Hubs

The Automotive Turning new methodology is suitable for use on CNC turning centres and multi-tasking turn-mill machines, and early customer tests have yielded results. For instance, when turning a hub made from cast steel (SAE/AISI 1045) on a Gildemeister CTV 250 CNC turning centre, a machining company in Brazil was able to achieve significant benefits.

Using the same cutting speed (300 m per min), the adoption of the specialised inserts allowed feed rates to be increased from 0.25 mm per revolution to 0.4 mm per revolution, and depth of cut from 1.5 mm to 3 mm. The result was a 59 percent increase in productivity and 55 percent more tool life. With over 120,000 hubs a year being produced, the overall impact on profitability is expected to be considerable.

The new methodology will thus appeal to automotive OEMs and their tier 1, 2 and 3 suppliers that know their cutting data and its current limitations.

As cutting is performed in the direction moving away from the shoulder, there is no danger of chip jamming Accelerated Automotive Turning.

As cutting is performed in the direction moving away from the shoulder, there is no danger of chip jamming.

 

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Industry 4.0: Is The Italian Machine Tool Industry Ready For The Challenge

Industry 4.0: Is The Italian Machine Tool Industry Ready For The Challenge

With new technologies and new skills Industry 4.0, Marco Taisch explains how enterprises in Italy will adapt.

Marco Taisch, professor of operations management and advanced and sustainable manufacturing at the School of Management of the Politecnico di Milano (Polytechnic University of Milan), is committed at the forefront with regards to the issue of Industry 4.0 and of IoT application to the manufacturing industry.

Q: Industry 4.0 is also defined as the “fourth industrial revolution”. What is the real meaning of “revolution” in this case?

Marcho Taisch (MT): One of the most revolutionary aspects of Industry 4.0 is, first of all, the impact it has had on the Italian economic stage. In a very short time, this new approach allowed the brining of the manufacturing industry back to the centre of attention of Italian institutions and economic players with an explosive effect, to say the least.

As far as the definition is concerned, many people consider Industry 4.0 as a real revolution; others see it as a pronounced effect.

In my opinion, Industry 4.0 combines technological innovation, which materialises in the spread of IoT technologies within factories, with a deep organisation change. In other words, the real revolution is primarily cultural: processes, tasks, professional profiles are changing and so are the 
required skills.

Q: If professional profiles are changing, should fundamental training processes be updated?

MT: Of course. There are very good universities capable of offering appropriate training to young people, enabling them to enter the work market and become real resources for enterprises.

In any case, technological training is made not only in polytechnic universities and other kinds of universities. It is important that even technical institutes should work on programmes, so that they may be as close as possible to the requirements of the industry. The industry is dramatically accelerating its development through digitalisation.

Q: Let’s come back to technologies and to the impact of Industry 4.0 on the Italian industry.

MT: Italy is the second-largest manufacturing country in Europe. To maintain and, if possible, even to improve this position, it is necessary not only to pass through a generic traditional innovation, but on the contrary, there must be a process of factory digitalisation. The aim is to facilitate and support the spread of the enterprises’ connectivity.

In practise, this means the creation of smart manufacturing, such as the production of products and services with the support of information technologies, and the creation of new business models. This is an intense programme which can, however, definitely be sustained by the Italian enterprises — provided that in the approach to this issue our peculiarities are respected.

Q: Could you please elaborate?

MT: The Italian manufacturing industry is recognised worldwide for its quality and strong customisation of product offerings. However, the “Made in Italy” characterisation is missing and we must enhance the importance of this part.

As a country we can work towards a digitalised manufacturing industry for advanced design, where the leading role is played by people who must adequately be trained and updated. We must concentrate on this aspect.

On the other hand, in some sectors, for example that of machinery and production systems, there is already a lot of innovative technology related to Industry 4.0, at least partially. The challenge is to increase the connectivity level, for example that of machines, so that they can increasingly collect, treat, process and allow data sharing — 
even remotely.

Q: Are enterprises able to do this by themselves?

MT: Starting from the assumption that the innovation level is not homogeneous, it is reasonable to suppose that some companies need assistance. For this purpose, universities, professional associations, territorial and extra-territorial institutions have already taken active steps to provide “information” in a wider sense, with particular attention given to SMEs.

Q: What are the real opportunities for SMEs to get informed?

MT: In a situation of communication overload, there is no denying that it may become difficult to be oriented. However, I would stress that there are numerous opportunities to reasonably debate and closely verify the possible applications of the new Industry 4.0 approach also with regard to our industry. Relying on qualified people considerably simplifies the selection process.

What are the opportunities to get information? Meetings, collection of annotated, specific information material specific studies are all appropriate. Demonstration events are also suitable, but it has to be stressed that in order to be most effective, such events must be set in the context and thus studied according to the enterprises’ requirements.

Q: As you are professor of the Manufacturing Group in the School of Management at the Politecnico di Milano, could you illustrate the topics to which you are presently committed and how you are working?

MT: The Manufacturing Group is a work group composed of about 40 people dealing with the analysis of issues concerning planning and management of manufacturing systems and operations. A particular focus is on energy efficiency and sustainability in the manufacturing industry and in the industrial services, on product and asset life-cycle management.

Q: Can we consider demonstration events?

MT: Exhibitions are, first of all, events to do business, thus they are events that companies really need. If they are organised with particular attention and by qualified operators, exhibition events can be real opportunities for updating, understanding and analysing in-depth topics that are not yet well-known.

In Italy we have a lot of good trade shows, even regarding Industry 4.0. Among them,  there is Motion And Mechatronics, whose philosophy, in my opinion is certainly innovative, because it combines the business aspect with specific thematic insight.

The trade show is addressed both to those who work, plan and build within a factory as well as those who manage it. This concept convinced me to accept the appointment as leader of the Technical-Scientific Committee for the event.

Q: A last question: what are your expectations for the future of Industry 4.0?

MT: I am very confident, because I see a harmonic teamwork between institutions, associations, and the research world. Now, the ball is passed to companies. The Industry 4.0 plan is an excellent opportunity for enterprises to take advantage of it, who can understand that purchasing technology is not enough, and that it is necessary also to work on skills.

 

Rising Italian Machine Tool Industry For 2017

The Italian machine tool, robot and automation manufacturing industry closed the year 2016 positively on various economic indicators, said Italian Machine Tool, Robots, Automation Systems And Ancillary Products Manufacturers’ Association (UCIMU) president Massimo Carboniero. He added that the year 2017 looked to be a year of further growth.

As evidenced by the preliminary year’s data processed by the Studies Department and Business Culture of UCIMU, production in 2016 increased to 5.48 billion euros (US$5.91 billion), recording a five percent upturn versus the previous year.

Uptick In Domestic Market

A definite positive trend was reported with regard to the deliveries by the Italian manufacturers in the domestic market, grown to US$2.38 billion, a rise of 20.5 percent compared with the previous year.

On the other hand, export decreased by 3.3 percent, reaching only US$3.54 billion, due to the weakness experienced in some major destination markets.

Based on the Italian National Institute for Statistic’s data processing, in the first nine months of the year, the main countries for export was as follows:

Image01

Consumption showed a positive trend with a 10.1 percent increase totalling US$3.97 billion. It is the third consecutive year of double-digit growth, showing signs of the recovery of the Italian market, which has also started again to invest in production technologies.

“The year 2016 was positive for the Italian machine tool industry, which contributes to the national GDP for almost eight billion euros (US$8.63 billion) considering, besides the production of machine tools, also the production of parts, tools and numerical controls not included in the total Italian machine tools”, Mr Carboniero said.

Interest In 2017

The year 2017 will also be positive for the Italian industry of the sector: according to the forecasts, there will be a growth for all the main economic indicators.

Production is predicted to rise four percent to US$6.15 billion, closer to the record-breaking value of US$6.47 billion registered in 2008.

Exports are expected to grow by 1.7 percent to attain US$3.59 billion. The positive trend of consumption will also go on: it should rise by 6.9 percent to US$4.25 billion, driving the deliveries of manufacturers.

“Now, with the Italian Ministry of Economic Development’s Industry 4.0 Plan which was included in the already-approved Budget Law 2017, the Italian government has given the country a well-structured and comprehensive programme of industrial policy. With this plan, Italian enterprises can rely on a series of measures aimed at favouring the improvement of their competitiveness. These measures can further boost the consumption of machinery and innovative technologies for factory digitalisation,” Mr Carboniero said.

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● 3D Systems And GF Machining Solutions Expand Partnership
● Marposs Supports The DIGIMAN Project
● EMO Hannover 2019 Boosting Investment Levels With Array Of New Technologies
● Adapting Cutting Tools To Changing Trends

 

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