Press Conferences: Launch of the Blue Competence Machine Tools Initiative at European Level

17 February 2012, 10:00 am, Brussels

29 February 2012, 10:30 am, METAV, Düsseldorf

CECIMO will be holding two press conferences for the launch of the Blue Competence Machine Tools initiative at European level on 17 February 2012 (Brussels) and 29 February 2012 (METAV exhibition, Düsseldorf). This is the first ‘European’ sustainability initiative launched by a mechanical engineering sector; it aims at raising the sustainability bar in manufacturing technologies and equipment, and reaffirm Europe as a leader in greener manufacturing.

With the decision to join forces under the Blue Competence initiative, participating European machine tool makers commit to apply sustainable practices in process design and product development. The sector is determined to pool its resources and expertise to become the global technology leader in the area of sustainability and to reinforce its role in improving the quality of life in Europe. This is an important step forward to create sound, consistent, and solid criteria and standards for sustainable production and products. Blue Competence directly supports the EU Flagship initiative for a resource-efficient Europe.

Brussels Press Conference

Date and time: 17 February 2012, 10:00 am
Venue: Résidence Palace - International Press Center (Bloc C), Room Passage, Rue de la Loi 155, 1040 Brussels, Belgium

METAV, Düsseldorf Press Conference

Date and time: 29 February 2012, 10:30 am
Venue: METAV exhibition, CCD South, Room 1 (ground floor, close to Hall 1), Stockumer Kirchstr. 61, 40474 Düsseldorf, Germany

For more details on the programme, view the formal Brussels and Düsseldorf press conference invitations.
For confirmation and registration, please send an email to Ms This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , Head of the Technical Department, CECIMO.

CECIMO Study on the Competitiveness of the European Machine Tool Industry to be launched at the European Parliament

21 March 2012

The European machine tool industry represents more than a third of the global machine tool production. Europe is a world leader both in market share and in technology in this strategic key enabling sector. However, in order to remain competitive in a globalised business environment, the European machine tool industry must tackle important challenges regarding training and retaining a highly-skilled workforce, understanding and dealing with the growth of the Asian industry, and living up to the challenge of an ever-increasing race to innovation.

Based on the need for a holistic view of today’s state of the industry, CECIMO produced a comprehensive ‘Study on the Competitiveness of the European Machine Tool Industry’. This Study underlines the strategic importance of the industry in Europe, examines the new challenges that have emerged in the post-crisis period and most importantly, makes key recommendations for enhancing the competitiveness of the European machine tool industry in the globalisation era.

CECIMO is organizing a roundtable debate focused on the findings and recommendations of the report. The event will take place on 21 March 2012, at the European Parliament in Brussels. Details about the event and registration will follow shortly.

To view the full report click here.

CECIMO welcomes Mr Carl Martin Welcker as General Commissioner for EMO Hannover 2013

20 December 2011

Mr Carl Martin Welcker was appointed General Commissioner for EMO 2013, which will take place in Hannover. Mr Welcker will supervise the organization of the world’s premier show for metal working technology and will be driving the promotion of the event, which will include a series of press conferences in major world capitals during the next two years. Welcker’s full-time profession is as president and CEO at Alfred H. Schütte GmbH & Co. KG in Cologne, Germany and has been a CECIMO delegate since 2005. He is also a board member of the German Engineering Federation (VDMA), Vice President of the VDMA and member of the executive board of the Federation of German Industry (BDI).

EMO is the world’s leading exhibition for the machine tool industry and the largest innovation showcase. 2,037 exhibitors from 41 different nations exhibited at EMO Hannover between 19 to 24 September 2001. The show attracted some 140,000 visitors from more than 100 countries. The rate of international participation hit record-breaking rates with 60% for exhibitors and 36% for visitors. EMO 2013 will build on the success of last year’s edition. CECIMO is confident Mr Welcker will lead a very successful event and greatly contribute to the impressive worldwide reputation of EMO.

See full press release here

Market Surveillance on European Commission’s Agenda

24 November 2011, Brussels

On 24 November 2011, the European Commission hosted a conference on market surveillance, organized in collaboration with Orgalime and European Sector Associations, including CECIMO. Gathering a wide range of participants of the machinery sector from all over Europe, this event was an important opportunity for industry representatives to put the topic of market surveillance back on the Commission’s table. This conference allowed for a much-needed debate between EU officials, market surveillance authorities, trade unions and companies on what still needs to be done to improve the legislation implementation on the European market.

This conference addressed several key issues related to market surveillance from the EU Framework to economic growth, to sustainability and best practices. No topic was overlooked and the high rates of participation, together with the quality and number of interventions, marked the success of the event. CECIMO was represented by two panelists: Mr Jean-Camille Urig, CEO of Cinetic Industrie and Vice-President of CECIMO who talked about the importance of effective market surveillance for economic growth and the competitiveness of the machine tool industry, and Mr Michael Hauser, CEO of Tornos SA and former President of CECIMO who underlined the the link between market surveillance and innovation in our sector.

The event was wrapped up with the official launching of a Common Industry Platform for Market Surveillance, which will open the floodgates of communication between all stakeholders on the matter and will work at strengthening the implementation of regulation on the market.

To read the complete CECIMO report click here.

Martin Kapp becomes new President of CECIMO

17 november 2011

The CECIMO Fall General Assembly which met on 12 November 2011 in Zurich elected Mr. Martin Kapp as new President of CECIMO for a period of two years. He has been entrusted the responsibility of leading the European Association which represents 33% of the world machine tool production. Mr Kapp succeeds in this position to Mr Michael Hauser, CEO of Tornos A.S. and Chairman of the SWISSMEM’s Machine tools and Manufacturing Technology group.

His most important goal is to point out to European stakeholders the importance of machine tools for industrial production in Europe. As he stated: “We need to focus on how to boost the competitiveness of the European machine tool industry in facing the challenges of globalization, the fight against climate change, environmental protection, the importance of market surveillance and enforcement, the specific needs of SMEs and the lack of skilled technical labour force. We need to encourage a research and innovation strategy driven by the present and future needs of the market.”

Martin Kapp’s chief occupation is as Managing Partner of the Kapp Group, Coburg. He is the Chairman of VDW, the German Machine Tool Manufacturers’ Association, since 2010. He is also active in the Executive Board of the German Engineering Federation (VDMA) as well as locally in the Coburg Chamber of Commerce and Industry and at the local university of applied sciences.

6 June 2011, Porto

Jose Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission, addressed the CECIMO Spring General Assembly in Porto through a video message on 6 June 2011. Recognizing the machine tool industry as a key enabling industrial sector in Europe, he underlined that innovation in machine tools is crucial to enable Europe’s manufacturing industry to reboot.

President Barroso highlighted that the European machine tool industry is a major exporting sector and the market access strategy of the Commission will help open up newly emerging markets to European machine tool exports. He called on European machine tool manufacturers to work together to maintain their global competitiveness and their leadership position in the world, which will help further optimize the role of the machine tool industry in ensuring new sustained economic growth in Europe.

View the video

CECIMO Magazine: 5th issue - Future of the European industrial base in the new global era

CECIMO magazine - Summer 2011

CECIMO magazine is your primary source of information on the most recent developments in the European machine tool industry. It will help you update your knowledge on the innovations and achievements of the machine tools industry, the EU legislative and political initiatives affecting the sector as well as on the latest news and events.

CECIMO magazine is a biannual journal on the machine tools sector with a special focus on the European level. It is published by CECIMO – European Association of the Machine Tool Industries twice a year, in summer and winter.

Click here to reach the homepage of our magazine and download the latest issue.