The structural characteristics

The structural characteristics of the Italian machine tool, robot and automation manufacturing industry are the same as those observed within the national production system: small-sized enterprises, high propensity to export and high-quality product offerings.

Machine tools

According to the survey conducted by UCIMU-SISTEMI PER PRODURRE, in 2023 (to which the latest data are referred), 57.2% of machine tool manufacturers had a turnover of less than 12.5 million euros and 71.4% employed fewer than 100 employees.

However, it was the more structured firms that contributed most to production and exports: those with more than 100 employees, which represented only 28.6% of the units operating in Italy, produced 78.7% and exported 84.2% of the total.

Similarly, enterprises with a turnover of more than 25 million (equivalent to 27.4% of the total number) accounted for 79.7% of production and covered 84.1% of Italian exports of machine tools.

The geographical distribution of the sector was consistent with that of the Italian production system, confirming that, for manufacturers of machine tools, it is necessary to be close to those customers and suppliers: most of the production units in the sector are located in Lombardy (48.9%), Triveneto (22.2%), Emilia-Romagna (15.6%) and Piedmont (10%). Lombardy contributed 45.2% of the total turnover, Triveneto 21.2%, Piedmont 17.4% and Emilia-Romagna 14.9%.

Piedmont companies have the highest propensity to export (60.7%, compared with 56.4% of the sector average). The main user of machine tools was the metal products industry - which includes contractors, construction elements, other products other than machinery (40.5%) - followed by the automotive industry (18.8%).

Robotics

In 2023, the percentage breakdown between large companies (turnover above 5 million) and small/medium-sized companies (turnover up to 5 million) confirms the predominance of large companies (85.7%).

Lombardy and Piedmont are the regions with the highest density of companies operating in the robotics market, with 50% and 28.6% respectively. Piedmont still has the highest percentage of turnover (48.7%) and employees (64.3%).