Skip to main content

Italy must embrace “internationalisation”

Italian construction equipment manufacturers are being urged to embrace “internationalisation” if they are to survive and prosper, after new figures revealed declining domestic but rising export sales in 2011.
January 6, 2017 Read time: 2 mins
Italian construction equipment manufacturers are being urged to embrace “internationalisation” if they are to survive and prosper, after new figures revealed declining domestic but rising export sales in 2011.

Full year road machinery sales in Italy were down 43.6%, and earth moving machine sales by 21.2% on 2010 levels. Sales of concrete machinery (truck mixers, concrete pumps, truck-mounted and stationary pumps, plants, shotcrete) fell by 7% in the last three months of 2011 compared to the third quarter of the year.

The figures were processed by trade association, 2539 Unacea, based on data provided by Istat (The Italian Institute for Statistics).

On a more encouraging note, further Unacea processed Istat figures show exports of Italian earth moving machinery increased by 39%, road machinery by 14% and concrete machinery by 9% in the first 10 months of 2011, compared to the same period of the previous year. Exports of Italian-made tower cranes were also up by 30%, while drilling machine sales rose by 21%. Crushing and screening machinery exports fell by 13%.

Commenting on the figures Paolo Salvadori, president of Le Oru – 2318 IMER Group, said: “The reality is that we have to acknowledge a phenomenon which is no longer cyclical, but structural, that is the transfer of wealth and affluence from Europe to other countries. It is a reality that cannot be eliminated, but managed, first of all, through processes of internationalisation, which does not simply mean selling abroad, but transferring your concept of business to other countries.”

Federico Furlani, managing director of 2595 Simem Spa, said: “The domestic market situation remains invariably negative, while in exports, although there are a few signs of a recovery, we have to deal with competition from ‘emerged’ countries which, like China, are conquering positions in our sector through acquisitions, such as the recent case of  1259 Putzmeister.

“In Italy, recent seismic events could and should act as an effective reminder to return to discussing the quality of concrete and its production process: pre-mixing, automation and process control. From this perspective, we hope that there will soon be a response from the government, because these provisions could contribute to the growth that the country needs so urgently.”

Enrico Prandini, of 2300 Komatsu Utility Europe and vice president of Unacea, said the need to reduce the Italian public debt had limited investment in national infrastructure.

He added: “It risks negating all the sacrifices the population has made: if there is not a return to making investments, the recession will continue to increase the public debt and interest rates on it, sending the economy into a downward spiral."

%$Linker: External 0 0 0 oLinkExternal www.unacea.org unacea false http://www.unacea.org/ false false%>

%$Linker: 2 Internal 2 4824 0 oLinkInternal <span class="oLinkInternal"><span class="oLinkInternal">View more videos</span></span> Video false /event-news/intermat-2012/video/ true false%>

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Merlo’s ripe telehandler
    April 10, 2012
    The 40.30 MCSS is one of two recently launched Merlo telehandlers being shown at INTERMAT 2012. It features a larger chassis and offers a 30metre lift height with a four tonne capacity, compared to fellow INTERMAT model the ‘Grand’ Roto 60.24 MCSS and its 24metre lift and six tonne capacity.
  • New president and CEO for Hitachi Construction Machinery (Europe)
    January 6, 2017
    Hitachi Construction Machinery (Europe) has a new president and CEO in Moriyaki Kadoya, who started at HCME at the beginning of April, 2012. This is the second time that he has worked for the manufacturer in Europe. Speaking at the launch of seven new machines on the firm’s INTERMAT exhibition stand, Mr Kadoya said the European market remains important for Hitachi, with signs of recovery in many countries.
  • New president and CEO for Hitachi Construction Machinery (Europe)
    April 17, 2012
    Hitachi Construction Machinery (Europe) has a new president and CEO in Moriyaki Kadoya, who started at HCME at the beginning of April, 2012. This is the second time that he has worked for the manufacturer in Europe. Speaking at the launch of seven new machines on the firm’s INTERMAT exhibition stand, Mr Kadoya said the European market remains important for Hitachi, with signs of recovery in many countries.
  • Putzmeister unveils faster and more efficient concrete pumps and sprayers
    January 6, 2017
    The new Putzmeister BSA 1407 D stationary concrete pump has been completely overhauled for Bauma says the German manufacturer, and the new machine features an easy-to-clean fibre-glass reinforced hood as well as an improved hopper (RS909), operating data clearly displayed on the unit’s patented in-cab Ergonic Graphic Display (EGD), and a sophisticated electronic fault management system. All of the essential operating elements of the new BSA 1407 D are easily accessible, claims Putzmeister, in an effort to m