Riccardo Rosa, President of UCIMU-SISTEMI PER PRODURRE, stated: "This latest UCIMU index survey also confirms the positive trend in order intake. Despite this, concerns remain, as the context is worsening as the months go by."
In the second quarter of 2025, the machine tool order index compiled by the UCIMU-SISTEMI PER PRODURRE Study & Business Culture Center showed a 22% increase compared to the April-June 2024 period. In absolute terms, the index stood at 64.4 (base 100 in 2021).
This result was driven by the increase in order intake on both the foreign and domestic markets.
In particular, orders collected on the domestic market increased by 70.3% compared to the second quarter of 2024, for an absolute value of 54.0.
On the foreign market, order intake increased by 9.5% compared to the same period of the previous year. The absolute value of the index stood at 74.6.
The results will be presented during the First Economic Day organized today by UCIMU with the aim of illustrating to member companies (over forty accredited companies) the types and methods of use of the data processed by the Centro Studi & Cultura di Impresa.
Riccardo Rosa, President of UCIMU-SISTEMI PER PRODURRE, stated: "This latest UCIMU index survey also confirms the positive trend in order intake that Italian machine tool manufacturers have been experiencing for four consecutive quarters. Despite this, concerns remain, as the underlying conditions are worsening as the months go by."
"Looking at the absolute indices," Riccardo Rosa continued, "the weakness of demand, particularly domestic demand, is still evident. The increase recorded by manufacturers on the domestic market is particularly significant because it compares with a truly disastrous quarter (the second of 2024), the worst in the last 10 years with the exception of 2020, which coincided with the outbreak of the pandemic."
"On the international front, President Trump's latest statements and the content of the letter sent to the President of the European Commission announcing new tariff rates for EU-sourced products are certainly disheartening. Once again, we manufacturing entrepreneurs must hold our nerve and await developments, knowing full well that the US president's attitude is, to say the least, unpredictable. A war on Made in Europe exports would be a severe penalty not only for the Eurozone but also for the US and its people in particular. Therefore," added Riccardo Rosa, "we trust in the Brussels authorities' ability to engage in dialogue and bring Trump back to a reasonable negotiation. At this point, however, we can no longer ignore an alternative plan in case the dialogue fails to yield the desired results."
"This is because the continuation of this situation fuels uncertainty, which, I must reiterate, is the primary factor blocking investment in production technologies, not just in the US market. The situation is now widespread, impacting all the supply chains in which we operate, in all those markets that export goods to the other side of the ocean; I'm thinking of the automotive, mechanical engineering, and components industries".
"Given the enormous effort companies are making to diversify their markets and outlet sectors, we urge European authorities to accelerate the planning of free trade agreements with countries experiencing, or about to experience, a long period of development, starting with Africa and parts of Asia. At the same time, we urge strong action to reduce red tape for economic players residing and operating in the Old Continent, thus unlocking the full potential that our true internal market, the EU, can still offer."
"Closely related to this is the automotive sector. We ask Italian government authorities to advocate in European forums for the need to rethink the timing and methods of ensuring the environmental neutrality of the sector that has supported Europe's development more than any other.
We are not opposed to the transition to alternative forms of mobility to internal combustion engines, but we believe this transition must be approached without prejudice: by upholding the principle of technological neutrality, setting emissions reduction targets, and leaving businesses free to choose the technologies to achieve them. This is also because, in assessing the sustainability of this transition process, economic and social impacts must be considered not only environmental but also social. And, in a situation complicated by the trade war, the risk of industrial desertification is increasingly real. We absolutely cannot allow this".
"On the domestic front," concluded President Riccardo Rosa, "hoping that Transition 5.0 can still be extended beyond December 31st, thus allowing machine tool manufacturers and machinery manufacturers in general to receive a further round of orders, we emphasize the need to open a discussion table on the needs of manufacturing companies as soon as possible, after the August break, to better guide the lines of industrial policy for the coming years, given that the measures we have at our disposal, 4.0 and 5.0, are coming to an end. We reiterate UCIMU's willingness to participate in the working groups, which we hope will lead to a new, necessary plan to support the evolution of the country's manufacturing sector, to Confindustria and the government authorities."
Amb 2026: collaborative processes drive automation
Central topic: Automation: Patrick Schwarzkopf (VDMA) discusses collaborative processes, artificial intelligence, and automation for SMEs using no-code solutions. As manufacturing companies strive to make their processes more efficient and flexible, automation solutions play a key role, especially in areas where people and machines are increasingly collaborating. AMB 2026 addresses this key topic with a practical approach and demonstrates how collaborative processes are evolving across the entire metal cutting process chain. In this interview, Patrick Schwarzkopf, Director General of the VDMA Robotics and Automation Association, analyzes the key factors driving this evolution and provides an overview of the developments companies should keep an eye on. Automation as one of the three central themes: Collaborative processes are gaining increasing importance AMB : The robotics and automation industry is forecasting a 5% decline in revenue by 2026; nevertheless, pressure on manufacturing companies to automate their processes continues to grow. Why is now the right time to focus on collaborative processes, and what factors are driving companies to take this step? Patrick Schwarzkopf : It's true, we're still observing a marked caution in investments, due to several reasons: from geopolitical tensions to the well-known challenges related to the competitiveness of production sites. However, the trend toward automation remains unchanged. Demographic change will become even more evident in the coming years; this will make it necessary to automate an increasing number of activities to support the remaining qualified personnel. Only in this way can we remain competitive. The interaction between humans and machines will be crucial. The extremely rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI), particularly generative AI and so-called physical AI, opens up new possibilities, for example through agent AI (Agentic AI) and through the much simpler use and programming of automation solutions. AMB : For a long time, automation was primarily designed for large-scale production. Today, however, robotic solutions are a viable option even for small series. How far has this evolution come, and what does a small business actually need to introduce automation into its production process? Patrick Schwarzkopf : Automation for SMEs is making enormous strides. Technological developments in recent years have been extraordinary and have significantly reduced the barriers to entry for small and medium-sized enterprises. Typical scenarios are "low volume, high mix," characterized by low production volumes and a high degree of product diversity. In these contexts, it is crucial that programming can be performed quickly, easily, and without significant staff effort. Numerous no-code solutions exist today for this purpose, requiring no programming knowledge. Automation workflows can be configured via graphical interfaces with drag-and-drop functionality, while robot trajectories can be taught through manual guidance (hand-guiding) and memorized at the push of a button. Major manufacturers have long been offering solutions specifically designed to meet the needs of SMEs. Pragmatic configurations, such as a robot working overnight, are often sufficient, thus enabling a significant increase in productivity. The obstacle is often less technological than cultural: many companies continue to believe that automation is inevitably too complex or too expensive. This belief is now obsolete, because solutions already exist and are easily observed at specialized trade shows like AMB. A useful reference point, for example, is Go4Robotics, the online platform of the International Federation of Robotics (IFR). AMB : As programming and operation become easier, direct collaboration between humans and robots is also becoming increasingly practical. Today, the two increasingly work side by side, without the need for protective barriers: it was precisely the development of AI-supported sensor systems that made this approach truly feasible. What concrete changes does all this mean for the shop floor, and how should companies rethink processes and the role of people? Patrick Schwarzkopf : Collaborative robots (cobots) are now well established. In many applications, however, the term "coexistence" is more accurately used: humans and robots operate without barriers, enabling direct and safe interaction. We are now seeing a further level of even closer collaboration with humanoid robotics. AI is making extraordinary progress in this area: robots are increasingly capable of interpreting their surroundings and acting autonomously and appropriately. Although significant pioneering work is still needed, humanoid robots are gradually emerging from research laboratories and are already finding their first experimental applications in industrial settings. It will still be some time before this technology reaches full maturity for widespread use. At the same time, however, humanoid robotics is accelerating the evolution of close human-machine interaction, for example through the ability to communicate verbally with robots. AMB : Many of these developments are best appreciated by observing them live. In September, AMB will bring together the entire metalworking ecosystem in Stuttgart: manufacturers, users, and researchers under one roof. What contribution can this unique combination make to the wider adoption of collaborative automation? And why is a visit to the trade fair essential for all metalworking companies considering the introduction of automation solutions? Patrick Schwarzkopf : A look at the data clearly highlights its significance: according to the International Federation of Robotics (IFR), machine tending—the automatic loading and unloading of workpieces on machine tools—is one of the main applications of robotics. Over the past decade, new annual installations of robots for handling tasks on machine tools have increased from 14,500 in 2015 to 19,000 in 2024. Preliminary data from the IFR indicate that the trend will continue with significant, double-digit growth in 2025. The use of collaborative robots (cobots) has also increased significantly in recent years: in 2024, approximately 65,000 cobots were installed worldwide, representing 12% of all industrial robots. The most significant increases are being seen in mobile robotics, which enables the flexibly connecting different production machines, for example through mobile manipulators, i.e., mobile platforms equipped with a robotic arm. It's hard to find such a comprehensive, focused, and industry-specific overview as that offered by a specialized trade fair. At AMB, you can see and experience firsthand the automation solutions for metalworking by chip removal. AMB : Thank you for the interview, Mr. Schwarzkopf. Focus on automation at AMB 2026 in the Oskar-Lapp-Halle (Hall 6) Automation will be a key focus at AMB 2026 in nearly every exhibition hall: from machine tool manufacturers with automation systems to solutions for tools and clamping technology, such as automatic setup. A special highlight will be the Oskar-Lapp-Halle (Hall 6), which will house the "Automation and Handling Technologies" area. Numerous exhibiting companies—including FANUC, KUKA, Cellro, RoboJob, Wassermann Technologie, and many others—will present their latest solutions for production and process management. It's worth checking out the exhibitor list, as here, trade visitors can experience firsthand how robotics, collaborative automation, Industry 4.0 approaches, and the IIoT (Industrial Internet of Things) are evolving metal-cutting processes, introducing new solutions and driving innovation in the industry. About AMB Since 1982, AMB has presented the highlights of the international metalworking industry. "Where Metal Comes Alive" will once again be a fixture on the industry's agenda in 2026, this year from September 15 to 19. It is the international marketplace and meeting place for metalworking, showcasing the latest products, technologies, innovations, services, and concepts in all their facets. AMB is supported by the VDMA Präzisionswerkzeuge (Precision Tools), VDMA Software and Digitalization (Software and Digitalization), and the VDW Verein Deutscher Werkzeugmaschinenfabriken e.V. (German Machine Tool Builders' Association).
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