New CECIMO president elected

Mr Hauser is with the management of the Swiss machine tool firm Agie Charmilles, and he succeeds Javier Eguren. During his presidency, Mr Eguren redefined the strategic objectives of CECIMO, which represents 44% of the world's machine tool production, identified its key policy priorities and created a new image which reflects the innovative and enabling character of the machine tool industry. "As president of CECIMO, I will continue explaining to European authorities and citizens the strategic role our industry plays in boosting the competitiveness of the European economy and the necessity of ensuring Europe's manufacturing base within its borders to achieve the sustainability objectives." Mr Hauser said following his appointment. During his first speech as president, Mr Hauser stated: "We need the right business environment to market our manufacturing solutions. We need adequate legislation, skilled workforces, innovation, proper financing, good supply chains and infrastructure, to name a few." Among his strategic priorities, he intends to implement a market intelligence strategy, which was launched in 2008 to develop monthly and quarterly marketing, economic and statistical indicators which will help European manufacturers of machine tools to better forecast and prioritize their business activities on a global level. Additionally, the machine tool sector will continue playing a pro-active role in meeting the eco-design requirements. The objective is to develop a high level but also competitive European standard for energy efficient machine tools. The communication strategy launched by MrEguren will continue to be implemented and reinforced. CECIMO wants to develop and intensify the visibility and awareness of the machine tool industry at a European level, especially among the European decision-makers and stakeholders who have a say in the formulation of European industry policies. Another important responsibility of the new presidency will be the promotion of EMO 2011 manufacturing technology exhibition, which will take place in Hannover on 19-24 September 2011. Set up in 1950, CECIMO represents and promotes the interests of European machine tool manufacturers. Its members are the 15 national associations from the following European countries: Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Spain, France, United Kingdom, Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Netherlands, Portugal, Sweden and Turkey. CECIMO defends the interests of approximately 1,550 companies (80% of which are SMEs), which employ 160,000 people and account for 98% of the sector's total production in Europe, and 44% of world production. Collectively, CECIMO member output is put at €24.6 billion (2008 - > 71% exports).