European machine tools emphasize the strengthening of close cooperation between machine tool manufacturers and customers

The European Council for the Cooperation of the Machine Tool Industry (CECIMO), concerned about the declining market share of its members, has used a new market research report, 'Study on the Competitiveness of the European Machine Tool IndustryThe importance of collaboration, building new capabilities, and delivering effective product marketing and service. The study, presented at a roundtable of CECIMO members and European Parliamentarians in Strasbourg, France, in late March, was prepared by a group of entrepreneurial volunteers coordinated by CECIMO, which claimed that it has ” has carried out a comprehensive study of the European machine tool industry. CECIMO is an industry federation composed of machine tool manufacturers' associations in 15 countries, representing about 1,500 machine tool companies in the European Union, the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and Turkey, and its machine tool production share accounts for more than 97% of the European, global 33% or more. The theme of this Strasbourg Roundtable is: 'Made in Europe? Challenges for the EU machine tool industry'. CECIMO said its findings showed that the share of European machine tool production has been declining over the past decade, mainly due to the shift of the machine tool industry to Asian markets. Michael Hauser, Vice President of CECIMO, who also serves as CEO of Tournos S.A., said, “In the past decade, driven by the rise of China, Asia has become a true ‘world factory’. Today, Asia consumes the world’s largest share of machine tools Over 66% of total output, and China alone accounts for 50% of it. Over the past decade, the share of machine tool consumption in Europe in total world consumption has fallen from 40% to 20%, obviously, The share of these losses was shifted to Asia.' CECIMO highlighted the fundamental role of machine tools in industrialization, noting that emerging economies have increased their investment in production systems, which are largely supplied by the European machine tool industry of. Hauser admits, “This is good news for European companies, because their machine tool exports to China and Asia are soaring.” He said, “But the bad news is that our customers are moving out of Europe, and we are forced to follow them. Other markets. For small and medium-sized enterprises with only a hundred employees, expanding into the Asian market is almost an 'impossible task'.' More than 80% of CECIMO's member enterprises are small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which are generally There is a lack of human and financial resources to expand into international markets, as well as management skills and resources to deal with unpredictable risks in emerging markets. CECIMO's research underscores the importance of machine tool companies maintaining close ties with their own customer base, working together on 'joint innovation projects' and establishing effective sales, distribution and service channels. CECIMO also criticized some emerging markets for policies that distort fair trade, such as restricting market access, infringing intellectual property rights, and directly supporting domestic companies. Imports of European machine tools are subject to some market access restrictions, and this trend is expected to continue, the group said. The risk, CECIMO noted, is to 'force European suppliers to retreat into a 'niche market' for premium products...and to distance themselves from customers moving to emerging markets'. According to Hauser, 'Cut off the connection between machine tool manufacturers and their customers, which not only means weakening product sales, but also cutting off the lifeblood of corporate innovation.' Filip Geerts, director general of CECIMO, said, 'lose the key to the machine tool industry.' Engines' sector, means losing the ability to manufacture 'next generation products' and build the future European economy. If Europe becomes dependent on imported production technology and know-how, it will be a fatal blow to European manufacturing, leading to the entire European industry Hollowing.' CECIMO's research report emphasizes that in order to maintain 'manufacturing know-howSuch an effort would be 'a prerequisite for mastering industrial innovation, benefiting from the European production of energy-efficient cars and aircraft, renewable energy power generation equipment, medical equipment for an ageing society, and all other high value-added products.' Geerts encourages the EU and its member states to develop and implement a common long-term European manufacturing strategy for the era of globalization. “The strategy should support SMEs in their internationalization by providing them with capacity-building assistance, market access information and more favourable export financing terms, enabling them to expand into emerging markets and benefit from economies of scale. At the same time, Europe should take various specific measures to increase the innovation capacity and productivity of manufacturers, thereby enhancing their competitiveness in the global market.'