EDITOR’S LETTER
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T
he post-Covid economic recovery, which was announced as early as September 2020, seems no longer to be a chimera but a reality. Across Europe, strong demand conditions are leading to an acceleration in manufacturing, with increased confidence among companies, which are hiring again to cope with peak volumes. The March data on the manufacturing PMI index in Italy, Germany, and France, released by IHS Markit1, show rising figures for all countries. Certainly, a part of such demand has been driven by the incentives that, although in different degrees, all European states have allocated for many industrial sectors, from construction to automotive, and for various innovation-focussed endeavours, from Industry 4.0 to sustainability. Paradoxically, however, growing demand is accompanied by the threat posed by the scarcity of raw materials that I mentioned in my previous editorial, which unfortunately continues to affect all sectors worldwide. Despite this, investments are increasing, also on the back of successful vaccination campaigns throughout Europe – a sign that the return to normality is near (albeit with new patterns). This ipcm® issue is traditionally devoted to an in-depth look at the automotive coating industry. From its articles, it emerges that strong recovery is indeed on the horizon, as are many new market opportunities to be seized. In fact, you have a rich issue in your hands. We are proud to say that it even includes an extensive reportage on the paintwork of the latest dream car for all enthusiasts, the Maserati MC20, a supercar with an elegant soul. It is the first Maserati to be 100% made in Modena, thanks to a 100% Italian investment. It is always the automotive sector that offers the most attractive ideas on innovation, which are then acquired, absorbed, assimilated, and transformed by other industries. Sometimes, however, the opposite can also happen. This is the case with the PVD sputtering metallisation technology, which, after having conquered many sectors, from design to decorative components for car interiors, has now also been approved for the finishing of car exterior parts, where quality and resistance requirements are much more stringent. Another surprising sector is that of steel wheels – which have always been considered the “unlucky brother” of alloy wheels – where coating systems and application techniques have been extensively renewed and transformed to meet an emerging market demand: that of steel wheels with attractive design and finishes as an excellent alternative to more expensive alloy wheels. Another significant aspect that emerges from this issue of ipcm® is the importance of assessing investments correctly and understanding when it is better to modify, upgrade, or renew a plant rather than replace it completely. Finally, this issue ipcm® also welcomes numerous new companies that have decided to highlight their potential and innovations on its pages. This is yet another symptom of the courage to invest in the post-Covid recovery that the European industry is showing from many quarters.
Alessia Venturi Editor-in-chief Direttore Responsabile
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international PAINT&COATING magazine - MAY/JUNE 2021 - N. 69
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