The BIEMH will contribute to the recovery of industry and the domestic market

2015 closed with a good turnover, stable exports and an increase in orders.

The first quarter of 2016 has started with a scenario riddled with uncertainties, which, even so, will permit maintaining the turnover.

A BIEMH full of exhibitors wishes to decisively contribute to improving the consumption of production equipment.

In definite figures, the Machine-tool sector has improved its estimates for the close of 2015, ending the year with an average increase in turnover of 7.82%. Practically all the subsectors have registered growth. Some have been quite outstanding, as is the case of tools (+25.3%), machining (+15.7%) and metal forming (12.4%), and others less so, but equally positive as occurs with metal cutting (+4.3%). The total figure of the sector in 2015 amounted to 1.47 billion Euros, of which 940.2 million corresponded to machine-tool, 183.1 million Euros to components and equipment, 124.1 to other machines, 108.2 to tools, 68.4 to machining and other services, and 57.4 to accessories.

The international scenario remains especially complicated, something that has not improved a great deal over the last few months. Antxon López Usoz, President of AFM Advanced Manufacturing Technologies warns about the current uncertainty in the markets: “Our companies’ order portfolio is still sufficient, enabling them to maintain good activity levels.However, the lack of stability in some countries is greater than ever.More specifically, the decrease in demand has been emphasised even more in the Asian continent, with a faltering American market and a situation in Europe that is still far from firm”.

Exports in 2015 closed with a ranking that was headed by the United States for the first time (12.6% of the total exports), followed by Germany (10.4%), China (6.7%), Portugal and Italy (both 6.6%).

However, the state of the exports remains strong, with an increase of 1.9%. It has been the domestic market that has made a decisive contribution to the increase in figures. The total volume exported from Spain in 2015 was 1.11 billion Euros, compared with 1.09 billion in 2014. Of this figure, 69.5% corresponds to machine tools with 771.8 million Euros.

“There is no doubt about the considerable recovery of consumption although we believe that Spain still has a long way to go as the figures are still 35-40% lower than those of the best years," Lopez Usoz adds.

In 2015, there was an increase in consumption of machine-tools in Spain of 35%, which was in addition to the 25% increase that the market underwent in 2014, and although the initial figures were very deteriorated, this improvement has given some respite to national manufacturers (+67.5% of domestic sales) and to importers (+26.1%).

Antxon López Usoz states: “We hope that the improvement in consumption in Spain will be maintained and, to confirm this, the BIEMH will be an excellent thermometer.We have a fair that is full of technology, solutions and innovative proposals for our customers.All that is left is to fill the halls and booths with visitors, and the expectations are positive".

Orders and forecast for 2016

In 2015 there was a 12.8% increase in orders, ensuring activity levels for the first half of this year. Despite a somewhat slower start to 2016 (-10% in orders respect to 2015), in line with a scenario that has deteriorated and has become rather more complicated. However, the information we have regarding the future does not point to important descents, and there may be an upturn during the second half of the year. By countries, it is observed that the tendency discerned in exports is here to stay, with a relative moderation in the pull of United States, which will become the 3rd or 4th largest market. In Spain, a maintenance or even a slight growth of capture is expected. Bearing all of this in mind, we hope that the total year will show turnover growth figures of around 5%.

BIEMH 2016, an edition full of novelties

The exhibition capacity of BEC will be practically complete with the coming BIEMH (Pavilions 1, 2, 3, 4B, 5 and 6) and it will be the largest and best fair since 2008. With 1,424 confirmed exhibitors, more than 2,400 products and more than 1,000 machines, everything is ready in Bilbao to receive a wave of tens of thousands of national and foreign visitors, from 30 May to 4 June.

12th National Innovation Award

BIEMH 2016 will host the twelfth National Award to Innovation in Advanced Manufacturing Technologies, organised by AFM with the collaboration of BEC and BEAZ, incorporating two new categories related to Additive Manufacturing and Industry 4.0. Thus, innovations in machine-tools, components, accessories and tools will be rewarded, as well as those related to additive manufacturing and to the integration of 4.0 concepts into industry, from among these presented at the 29 BIEMH.

The candidates to the 2016 award are the companies Danobatgroup, Ibarmia, Industrial Augmented Reality (in collaboration with Sicnova Group), Madaula, Metrología Sariki, Mizar Additive Manufacturing, Nicolás Correa, Soluciones Sicnova, Trimek, Veedor Solutions and Zayer.

ADDIT3D, 1st professional additive manufacturing and 3D fair

This year, BIEMH also hosts the first professional fair on additive manufacturing and 3D, ADDIT3D, with the confirmed participation of 42 exhibiting firms from the areas of systems and machinery, raw material, research and development, industrial applications, consumables, services, software and scanners. ADDIT3D will also offer an extensive programme of conferences with titles such as “Hybrid machines that combine traditional machining and laser cladding: A future technology”, “Technology that can save lives”, “From additive manufacturing to corrective surgery of bone lesions”, or “Additive manufacturing in the aeronautic industry: Applications and success cases”.

WORK INN, industrial employment and training fair

Parallel to BIEMH and ADDIT3D, the first edition of a new initiative is going to be held: WORKinn, a forum to provide employment guidance in the industrial sector, which will take place from 31 May to 3 June. The aim of WORKinn is to become a meeting place between companies offering jobs and young people seeking employment, facilitating labour insertion into the industrial sector and helping companies find the profiles that adapt to their needs.

Source: afm.es