In Piacenza, the most important technological Italian district for the production of industrial capital goods. A constantly evolving sector. A long standing tradition.

On the Italian scenario, the machine tools district of Piacenza represents the most important pole for the production of capital goods and relies on 106 enterprises and 2500 employees in the following branches:

- Machines for mechanical removal
- Automation, equipment and special components
- Specialized technical services
- Technological research and development

Quality and customization of products and services are the strong points of these enterprises, chosen by the most outstanding automotive and aerospace manufacturers, as the high exports rate towards EU Countries, in particular Germany, and extra-EU ones (China and USA) shows.

Although SMEs, these companies compete globally with even much bigger companies (especially German and Japanese ones), thanks to highly skilled and specialized labour, with unique and recognized skills. Important foreign players in the sector show an increasing interest in this reality, by settling directly (Amada) and by signing important agreements of collaboration (eg FFG).
In Piacenza, there is also a branch of Politecnico di Milano, which contributed, at the end of 2005, to the birth of the MUSP laboratory, dedicated to the study of machine tools and production systems, to support the companies of the sector.
The MUSP, supported by a consortium of enterprises of the sector and other local actors, is emerging as a leader of the network and of the national cluster of Smart Manufacturing and Factory of the future.

Source
Federmeccaniche e Musp – Sistemi di produzione: stato dell’arte e tendenze future (2012)
Monno M. – Presente e futuro dei beni strumentali per l’industria; il caso Piacenza (2011)
Istat – Asia 2010