MoldMaking Technology

APR 2017

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moldmakingtechnology.com 39 VDMA reports that Germany's precision tooling industry grew by 3 percent to around 9.9 billion euros in 2016 and is expected to rise another 3 percent in 2017. This growth was mainly driven by the tool, die and moldmaking sector, which outperformed the other precision tooling subsectors (cutting and clamp- ing tools) last year with a sales growth of 5 percent. Similar to the cutting tools sector, where exports to the U.S., China and the United Kingdom declined compared to 2015, tool, die and moldmakers deliv- ered only half the amount of their products to the U.K., according to VDMA. Demand from across the Atlantic decreased by 6 percent, while Mexico devel- oped to become the fourth largest export market for Germany's toolmakers, driven by large international automotive projects. "The mood among Italy's machine tool builders is equally positive for 2016, as it contributes almost 8 billion euros to the national GDP, and production increased to 5,480 million euros, recording a 5 percent upturn versus the previ- ous year," says Massimo Carboniero, president of Italy's machine tool builders association (UCIMU). Carboniero also reports that, according to 2017 forecasts, production will rise by 4 percent, which is close to the record-breaking value of 6 billion euros registered in 2008. 2016 data for Spain's machine tool and advanced manufacturing technologies sector indicate a turnover in excess of 1.5 billion euros, increasing by 1.8 percent over 2015 figures, according to Antxo López Usoz, president of Spain's Machine Tool, Accessories, Component Parts and Tools Manufacturers' Association. "And due to longer project maturity times, part of this turnover will materialize in 2017," Usoz says. Finally, the latest Eurozone Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI), which is based on original survey data collected from 3,000 manufactur- ing companies in Germany, France, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Austria, the Republic of Ireland and Greece, and published by London-based IHS Markit, a company providing information and analysis for decision-making in business and government, supports these positive forecasts. "Eurozone manufacturing is off to a strong start to the year, enjoying the fastest rate of expansion for almost six years in January. Rates of growth of new orders, exports and employment have all hit multi-year highs, with the depre- ciation of the euro playing a key role in helping drive new sales in export mar- kets," says Chris Williamson, chief business economist at IHS Markit. Optimism about the year ahead has risen to the highest since the region's debt crisis, according to Williamson, suggesting that companies are maintaining a buoyant mood despite the heightened political uncertainty caused by Brexit and looming general elections in the Netherlands, France and Germany. CONTRIBUTOR Barbara Schulz is Gardner Business Media's European correspondent. She can be reached at bschulz@gardnerweb.com. FOR MORE INFORMATION German Engineering Federation / vdma.org Portuguese Association for the Mold Industry / cefamol.pt International Special Tooling and Machining Association / istma.org German Machine Tool Builders' Association / vdw.org Italian Machine Tool Builders Association / ucimu.it/en IHS Markit / ihsmarkit.com • Compact w/ Multiple Mounting Options • Greater Max Pressures & Stroke Range • Quality Control: Better Steel, Extra Seals, & 100% Pre-Tested • The Only Small Block Cylinders with Integrated Switches We Only Make MOld Cylinders injection Molding is in Our dna For Sales and Support in North America contact: Call: 909.941.0600 www.albaent.com Design custom cylinders and download 2D & 3D files, catalogs & tech manuals. Register Now at: VegaCylinder.com Configure Your CYlinders

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