Emissions Directive: exemption share for tractors and earthmoving machinery expanded
A text outlining the prospect of bringing to market a larger share of machinery not yet compliant with the latest norms on engine emissions was drafted in Brussels yesterday. Final approval of the document by the European Parliament is expected for early July. A crucial role for a progressive and rational transition to the new parameters have been played by Italian industry representatives in the National Manufacturers Confederation, Confindustria, system.
The European Parliament vote in a plenary session at the beginning of July is expected to approve the text of a proposal for allowing the progressive sale of machinery which does not yet comply with new emission requirements. Agreement on the text of the proposal to put to the vote was reached in a meeting held yesterday by representatives of the European Commission, the Parliament and EU Council. The proposal is for allowing manufacturers to market a share of their non-road machinery, earthmoving and construction machinery, equipped with engines which do not conform to the new emissions Directive. The share named for non-road vehicles is a number equal to 37.5% of average sales in years past and that set for tractors in a previous agreement is 40% of these average sales.
An alternative to this flexible share criteria is the possibility of adopting also “fixed quantity” criteria not linked to average sales but set for non-road as well as tractors at a share of 2.5 times the quantities now allowed under the Directive in effect.
The percentages of exemptions allowed in the document, much more advantageous that those set previously at 20% for the flexible quota, were the result of intense work carried out over the past few months by Confindustria and Unacoma/Comamoter, the association which represents the manufacturers of agricultural and earthmoving machinery, in conjunction with Italian ministries, the Italian permanent representation in Brussels and Antonio Tajani, the vice president of the European Commission, and his cabinet.
Aware of the state of crisis in this mechanics sector, the European Commission and now also the European Parliament and Council of Ministers are providing companies lacking funds because of the steep drop on sales in the wake of the economic crisis in recent years with an instrument for rescheduling investments over longer periods.
Unacoma President Massimo Goldoni commented, “The issue will be concluded only with the parliamentary approval of the document but we are satisfied with the affirmative cooperation we have developed with the EU organizations which allowed us to set new and more rational parameters for emissions, recognizing that it is not possible for these industries in the sector to speedily transform their own production systems and that a transition phase will be necessary.”
Construction machinery: a program on three fronts
The Crisis Table set up by the Ministry for Economic Development with the participation of the associations representing the manufacturers of construction machinery has held another meeting to work on a plan to include the creation of a machinery register designed to provide targeted incentive initiatives and a system for speeding up procedures for the completion of works commissioned by public agencies.
Incentives to boost demand, support for the industry and regulations for the market were the main points in the program for the recovery of the construction machinery sector the Ministry for Economic Development, acting in concert with organizations representing these industries, intends to set in motion to lift these manufacturers out of their current crisis.
The steep decline in building construction in Italy over the past few years has led to strong repercussions on demand for construction and earthmoving machinery. In 2010, this mechanics sector fell 8.9% and reported a further 14.3% plunge for the first quarter of 2011. To come to terms with this situation, a Crisis Table was formed in mid-April by the ministry with the participation of Unacoma/Comamoter, the association which represents the earthmoving machinery industry within the National Manufacturers Confederation, and other organizations. Many proposals on the various points in the program were aired during the meeting held yesterday morning. On the side of buoying demand, the manufacturers’ organization advanced proposals for the renewal of the Tremonti III – legislation providing fiscal breaks on investments – and measures for scrapping obsolete machinery. Under study on the supply side, that of the manufacturers, are measures for boosting exports, backing specific research and development projects for the construction machinery sector and network projects, as well as measures for streamlining the system for the payment of public works. For the regulation of the market, the thinking is for taking a census of the present machinery inventory to clear the way for targeted investments in the types of machinery and equipment most required.
At the end of the meeting, the Unacoma secretary general, Marco Pezzini, commented, “The economic situation at present does not provide margins for strong financial support from the government so precisely for this reason it will be important to bring to the field a package of integrated initiatives which work selectively and are aimed at unblocking the market.” He also affirmed, “On this prospect, the ministry and the organizations in the sector are fully synchronized.”
Agrilevante: a Mediterranean autumn
The biennial exhibition of agricultural technologies is set for mid-October in the Bari Trade Fair Center. Data on the exhibition area, the number of exhibitors and the participation of foreign businesspeople all point to a 2011 edition bigger and better than the event of two years ago. Up front will be agri-industry production chains with a special focus on the olive oil sector.
The upcoming edition of Agrilevante, dedicated to machinery, plant and technologies for agricultural production chains, is scheduled for October 13 to 16 in Bari. The biennial event in the Puglia Region, organized by the Fiera del Levante and Unacoma Service, is coming as one of the appointments with the greatest draw for businesspeople in agriculture throughout the Mediterranean area. Avant-garde technologies for crops typical of southern Europe, North Africa and the Middle East will be put on exhibition on a total area of more than 40,000 m², 10% more than for the 2009 edition, with 25,000 m² under cover and 15,000 m² set aside outdoors, in part for demonstration trials, especially on the use of biomass associated with a specialized salon dedicated to agri-energy.
The organizers have stressed that the growth of the trade fair event should be evaluated not only in terms of the surface area committed but also those of the quality of the exhibition spaces and services on offer. For this Agrilevante, a new 16,000 m² pavilion built by the fair agency will be inaugurated as one of the most noteworthy architectural works in the present panorama of trade fair structures. Big numbers and quality can also describe the exhibitors taking part, more than 200 of them representing all the leading national and international industries manufacturing machinery, equipment and systems for the work of agricultural and the agri-industry. On the side of visitors, the record set by the most recent edition of 33,000 is expected to be broken thanks to the growing number of foreign businesspeople arriving.
These businesspeople from abroad provide Agrilevante with its international characteristic, the occasion for doing business among those from around Europe and the Mediterranean as well as those coming as members of official delegations. Thanks to the support of the Italian Foreign Trade Institute, ICE, delegations from Saudi Arabia, Bosnia, Croatia, Egypt, The United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Iraq, Lebanon, Morocco, Serbia and Turkey have already confirmed their participation.
Aside from the brand new MiA Salon on multifunctional activities in the rural environment, another significant feature which characterizes the Agrilevante exhibition is the division of the offering according to production chains: cereal crops, energy and non-food production, fruit and vegetables, vineyard cultivation and wine production and the olive oil sector. This sector is certain to be one of those attracting the greatest attention during the 2011 edition because olive oil production is one of the strong points in the Puglia Region as well as in the agricultural economies throughout the entire Mediterranean area. Olive oil production, which carries the values of a culture and tradition dating back thousands of years, is a sector geared for excellence in cultivation systems and the organoleptic properties of the product and up for discovery here, through conferences and tasting session, will be leading-edge technologies along with olive cultivation and oil production.
Unacoma Service Managing Director Guglielmo Gandino said, “The specializations at this trade fair event and focus on some especially relevant issues make up a winning strategy because this makes it possible to add technical quality content to the review, to reach the public of businesspeople who are strongly interested in learning more of the historic, cultural and social contents which add great value to a number of agri-food production chains.
Source: UNACOMA Press Office
