How do you see the current economic situation? What is your vision about the trend in 2024?
For the machine tool sector, 2024 will be a year of adjustment, but also of uncertainty, in particular in these first months. While, on one hand, well-established enterprises are carefully evaluating the market and are ready to invest significantly, on the other hand, the companies seeking financing for their growth are still experiencing a difficult moment and waiting for the incentives available to them to be confirmed by the Government. This situation has been slowing down the market for several months now, but however we are still confident, looking forward to the implementation decrees for the measures 5.0.
Your company will exhibit at 34.BI-MU. What does the exhibition represent for you?
GROB Italy has a special connection with BI-MU: the company was officially introduced exactly during the 2016 edition and therefore this trade show is rich in value for us. Being the Italian key event of the sector, BI-MU allows us to strengthen our market presence, both technically and commercially, in an area – that of Northern Italy – that is very important for our industry. However, we should not forget that this trade fair also plays a leading role internationally and we are sure that our participation will offer us numerous opportunities for growth abroad, supported by the work of our German parent company and the other branches around the world.
What are your expectations for the next edition?
34.BI-MU will not only be the ideal occasion to launch new products, but also the appropriate opportunity to inform in a simple, easy and direct way about the applications for which the best suited GROB solutions can meet visitors’ needs. The attendance will be high and, at a time when investment in machine tools is specifically analysed, we expect knowledgeable and demanding customers, looking for the best solutions for their types of production.
| “… at the fair we will highlight the simplicity of the available solutions and the offering of complete turnkey systems, characterised by high levels of production, integration of automation systems and ease of programming. This is what the sector demands: to have a complete, automated solution with multiple functions from a single, strong company …” |
What will you exhibit at your stand?
Our goal at the exhibition will be to highlight the simplicity of the available solutions and the offering of complete turnkey systems, characterised by high levels of production, integration of automation systems and ease of programming. At our stand, we will give special visibility to our G150 machining centre: this compact and high-performance machine will be available in its automated version with GRC-R12 robot cell, well-known for its flexibility and characterised by fast loading and uploading of parts through an operator-friendly storage system. Moreover, our machines will be presented in operation, a key factor that will enable visitors to experience “live” their quality and functions in different types of processing.
What sectors do you most target in your applications?
Automotive and aerospace are our target sectors. We address these worlds with an agile approach, offering products that are flexible and adapted to specific requirements. As far as the automotive industry is concerned, we have observed a constancy in maintaining some production volumes and introducing new products. Our market mainly consists of Tier 1, the world’s top car manufacturers. With their high investment opportunities, these customers provide good continuity for our business. Aerospace currently represents a focus sector for many companies: in this sense, GROB has significantly invested in the implementation of specific projects, such as the creation of an application centre, the establishment of a dedicated team and the introduction of innovative process applications. No doubt we will continue to work in this direction.
What will most influence your future production?
Our push towards automation is and will be our trump card over time, which will continue to distinguish us from our competitors, who are more oriented towards traditional solutions. This combination between machine and innovation makes us very competitive and able to offer turnkey applications that ensure an excellent achievement of our customers’ targets. This is what the sector demands, especially today: to have a complete, automated solution with multiple functions from a single, strong company. Moreover, some of our customers need tailor-made proposals. Therefore, in addition to standard products, we will continue to focus on devising ad hoc solutions – from the design to the feasibility study, to the choice of the most suitable equipment – to meet all kinds of needs.
Interview released in February 2024.
