According to Luciano Anceschi, Vice President of the EUROMAP Association, in 2007, EUROMAP member countries saw a year-on-year increase of 9.4% in the production of main machines (such as injection molding, blow molding, extrusion, etc.), while auxiliary and peripheral equipment increased by 8.8%. The total export volume of equipment manufacturers in member countries grew by 11.4%, with the main machines increasing by 16.8%. In terms of EUROMAP's position in the global export development of major equipment types, its share rose to 54.9%, with Germany maintaining its share unchanged and Italy having a higher share than the previous year.
A Low Point in the Plastics Machinery Industry May Emerge in 2009
Bernhard Merki, Chairman of EUROMAP, pointed out at the conference that it is estimated that European production will grow by about 5% in 2008, with the total output value increasing to 18.2 billion euros, and its share in the global market is likely to remain above 50%. This favorable situation benefits from orders received in 2007 and early 2008. The largest share of main machines (62.8%) is expected to increase by 6%, molds and dies will remain at last year's level, and auxiliary/peripheral equipment will grow by approximately 8%.
Starting from spring 2008, there have been signs of declining orders in multiple细分 industries. According to ASSOCOMAPLAST and VDMA (the Italian and German plastic and rubber machinery associations, whose combined production accounts for 70% of EUROMAP's total production), in 2009, the production volume of main machines is likely to decrease by 3%-5%.
Merki emphasized that the prediction of instability next year is based on cyclical declines after years of growth and does not include possible turbulence in the financial sector. "The consequences of turbulence in the financial sector are almost unpredictable, but the downturn in the financial industry will certainly affect our rubber and plastics industry."
Despite this, Merki believes that European companies in the industry can still succeed through strength. One of these strengths is cutting-edge technology and a focus on high quality, while the ability to manufacture the most energy-efficient rubber and plastic machinery represents the strongest strength of European suppliers. To this end, the association has established several technical committees hoping to establish authoritative and accurate energy measurement methods for individual machine types, allowing external parties to objectively evaluate the energy-saving performance of machines under different conditions.
The Prospects Still Look Good
Although it is expected that the operations of EUROMAP members will be more difficult next year, Anceschi believes that from a long-term perspective, the positive momentum of EUROMAP will continue for a few more years. Although the international financial situation may worsen, reducing the amount of investment funds in the short term, EUROMAP firmly believes that the financial markets will eventually stabilize and return to normal, providing new business opportunities. Secondly, the costs of low-cost competing countries are also rising due to increases in wages and environmental governance costs. This is most evident in China, especially in the eastern coastal areas, where the government's increasingly stringent environmental regulations exacerbate this situation. Meanwhile, China is increasing its penalties for intellectual property infringement. Thirdly, the global plastics industry will continue to grow. For end-users, the quality advantages of plastic products will become increasingly significant, especially their lighter weight which helps save fuel, making it the main reason why the automotive industry has a large demand for plastic components. Additionally, due to the thermal insulation properties of plastics, this is key to achieving energy savings in construction.