Europe strains dates

The Spanish machine tool manufacturers Association (AFM) and the fair of Bilbao, on the basis of the rest of planned meetings and other events scheduled in Bilbao, announced already in the month of may the change of dates of the next edition of the Biennale of machine-tool (see MetalUnivers.com of May 16). At the moment does not seem that the decision has caused major problems and we have no evidence that significant complaints have been received in this regard. But the change increases the tension of the dates, in a year that will require much to companies and professionals who have habit to attend national and international fairs.

The BIEMH takes place from 7 to 12 June 2004 at the new fair exhibition centre of Bilbao, precisely the cause of this delay for failure to complete all works for the usual dates of latest editions of the BIEMH. If we take into account the reality of the European fairs which in one way or another are of interest to the sector of the metal, the scene in 2004 for the traveling is, the less demanding: Fameta (metalworking sector) and Eurotools, from 20 to 22 January in Nuremberg (Germany); BI Mu Mediterranean in Bari (Italy), from 26 to 29 February; Südblech, from March 31 to April 3 in Sinsheim (Germany); Metav, from 27 to 30 April in Munich (Germany); It lamiera from 12 to 15 may in Bologna (Italy); BIEMH from 7 to 12 June in Bilbao; Bimu in Milan (Italy), from 1 to 6 October; Maquitec (Barcelona), from 19 to 23 October in Barcelona; EuroBLECH from 26 to 30 October in Hanover; EMAF (Oporto) in November and Euromold and Turntech in December, in Frankfurt.

Still to be certain that any of them has a strongly local in nature, must also assume that they are interesting in any case to those who operate in these areas. Which makes 2004 a hell for some, from a point of view of wear resulting from such frequency of travel, and even more for those who intend to present at several events.

The eagerness to sell forces to be present in the various Windows of this global economy, but also in enhancing the technological factor. And here, a report by the study service of the Bank of Spain, does not put us in the best position. The Bank of Spain believes that the Spanish economy has certain technological backwardness compared with other countries of the European Union, "and not seen in years more recent significant changes of the Spanish presence in the production in Europe of this type of industries". Although it is also true that "the Spanish production structure presents, in its basic features, a high similarity with the large economies of the EU".