Good news for machinery manufacturers and their automation providers — machinery production in the Americas has experienced strong growth since 2002 with total output forecast to reach $180 billion by 2010, according to the latest statistics from IMS Research, Austin, Tex. Europe has also seen consistent growth, with total output forecast to surpass $461 billion by 2010. Growth in both markets is attributed to rising demand from India, China, and South America, as well as continued expansion in the U.S. and Europe.
In the Americas, food, beverage, and tobacco machinery, machine tools, and robotics manufacturing were the areas of strongest growth, while packaging and printing machinery production grew slowly, and textile machinery production fell behind. In Europe, food, beverage, and tobacco machinery, material handling equipment, and woodworking machinery were top growth areas. In general, high-tech machinery production, such as equipment used in the machine tool and robotics industries, has done well. However, machines that are easier to build have suffered, with increased competition from emerging markets in China and India.