The machine tool begins a slow recovery

While a large number of companies continue immersed in serious difficulties, the sector as a whole has crossed the tipping point in the great fall that resulted in the crisis and displayed a slight and gradual (but still inadequate) improvement of its main indicators, such as Koldo Arandia, President of AFM, the Spanish Association of machine tool manufacturers. "Although we have the certainty that it worse in so far as the demand for machine tool already has passed even a semester we have very hard, probably the hardest of all, the slight revival of the demand which we detect is consolidating and can materialize in terms of industrial activity." "In this situation it is crucial that companies can count on funding to maintain its structure and its activity, and support the new projects and orders."

According to data provided by the Association, the production of machine tools in 2009 machines has suffered a drop of 27.8% connection 2008, while exports, "while also suffered a strong blow, have endured relatively better and have approached the levels of the year 2006". Thus, the high level of internationalisation of the sector, distinguishing mark of the manufacturers of machine tools, has become a key element for their support. The rate of coverage of exports in relation to imports has been promoted to a striking 267,4%. In 2009, more than 75% of the production of machine tools had been allocated to foreign markets. For Arandia: "This figure, despite the dramatic decline in demand in general, shows that our products are competitive internationally".