The structure of the Italian ceramic machinery sector

At the end of 2011, the Italian ceramic machinery and equipment manufacturing sector showed a small contraction in terms of dimensions with 7 fewer companies, although the number of employees increased. The sector now comprises 150 companies compared to 157 in 2010. The largest contraction was in the category of small enterprises (turnover below 2.5 million euro) with 11 fewer units. By contrast, the category of companies with turnover in excess of 10 million euro increased by 3 to reach a total of 19 companies.

The number of employees increased by 115, from 6,228 to 6,343. The number of executives and company owners fell by 27, while there was an increase of 141 in the number of technical and production professionals, many of whom came from other companies in the sector that had closed down.

As regards internationalisation, the 53 companies majority-owned by Italian groups (share greater than 51%) but operating outside Italy generated a turnover of 550 million euro, 64% up on 2010. Adding the sector's total turnover (1,737.8 million euro) to the 550 million euro generated by companies operating abroad results in an all-time record turnover (2,297 million euro).