Last trends in the European Machine Tool industry
The industry of machine tools has been a fast growing market in the last years, led by technological innovation and precision. In 2008, the global production grew by 8% to 24,6 billion €.
Due to its “enabling technology” nature, machine tools have traditionally been a very cyclical sector, with clients deciding to postpone their investments of durable capital goods in periods of economic downturn or of lack of business confidence.
Therefore, production of machine tools in CECIMO countries will be hit in 2009, following the cutbacks in investments already observed in certain industrial sectors in the most developed countries (especially in the automotive sector that may represent up to 50% of our clients in some countries).
In the first quarter of 2009, orders of new machine tools in the CECIMO countries dropped by 53% compared to the same period in 2008. As a result of the global weak demand in end user markets, European consumption of machine tools is expected to drop between 30% - 40% in 2009.
Despite the current difficult economic environment, this is not an issue of competitiveness because CECIMO is still leading the global market for the production of machine tools with a 44% market share. In 2009 and 2010, with 32% of the global consumption of machine tools what happens to the Chinese market is crucial to the European machine tool industry.
CECIMO remains optimistic for its capacity to handle the current turbulences on the longer run. Each past cycle on the downside allowed indeed our manufacturers to become stronger by investing in research and development in order to respond to the always developing needs of our final clients in terms of productivity and innovation.
The current economic downturn is also a good opportunity to develop new business models leading to new key competitive advantages.
Latest figures on the machine tools sector in CECIMO countries (2008) 
The European Machine Tools industry is leader on the global market with a high innovative, diversified and precise offer. Our clients are everywhere in the world, and are active in many industrial sectors, like automotive, aerospace, construction, medical, electronics, etc.
The global market for the production of machine tools amounted to 55 billion € in 2008, 44% of which was produced in CECIMO countries.
Source: national associations + Gardner Group Clik here to download CECIMO statistics synthesis per countries 2000-2008 
67% of the metal working activities in CECIMO countries is in the metal cutting sector (physicochemical processes, machining centres, lathes, grinding and polishing machines) and 33% in the metal forming sector (presses and benches for instance).
Machine tools companies in CECIMO countries exported 71% of their production in 2008, amounting to 55% of total global exports (17,6 billion €). While intra European sales are still dominant with 58% of total export sales,
China, the USA and Russia account for 62% of CECIMO sales to non European countries. Source: national associations + Gardner Group 
The European machine tool industry in CECIMO countries employs 155,000 people and accounts for 1,400 companies. The machine tool is indeed led by small-and medium sized companies and CECIMO is very committed to the European initiatives intending to defend the interests of the SMEs.
