Optimism at the eve

Just a few days prior to the K 2010 show, which is opening its doors today, the Association which represents the German plastics and rubber machinery manufacturers (VDMA) raised its sales forecast for the current year from +11% (released in last spring) to +15% over 2009 levels.
This positive mood results from the excellent trend in orders from abroad (+87% last January-August compared to the same period in 2009), principally from Asian markets but also from Latin America. However, the domestic market is also performing very well (+55%).Expectations for next year are likewise encouraging, as sales are poised to achieve growth of 10%. The Italian plastics and rubber machinery manufacturers are quite optimistic as well. According to the most recent survey by the trade association Assocomaplast among its members, even if the domestic market has slackened its recovery - partially due to the end of governmental stimulus measures - orders from abroad have shown a positive trend, especially from European Union countries (+31% for September, mainly from France, Germany and Poland) and South America (+24%), where Brazil continues to set the pace.Regarding 2010, forty-five percent of respondents expect increases in turnover during the second half of the year.