European Machinery

The slowdown in 2009 which European machinery manufacturers had predicted turned out to be a deep slump and hit the branch much more than expected last year by Euromap (Europe's association for plastics and rubber machinery manufacturers). Though the downturn in new orders during the final quarter of 2008 already affected the annual balance sheet of some countries, the overall result for 2008 still was positive. Despite modest increase rates - a gain of 1.2% in total production and of 1.5% in exports - the figures of last year marked record values. While core machinery as well as moulds and dies at 1 and 1.5% respectively almost showed the same pace, peripheral equipment - always lagging behind - was still up at 4.1%. Only flexographic printing machines displayed negative growth at -7%. Euromap"s share in the global market in 2008 remained beyond 50% in world production and even grew to a peak value of 57% in world exports based on a declining overall export volume. In autumn 2009 new order income for plastics and rubber machinery is substantially down in all member countries of the European association. The use of production capacities is much lower than last year.