Mechanical engineering is the main regional cluster – spread all over the region - and supports all the other regional key sectors, especially Agrifood (e.g. agricultural machineries, food packaging); Housing (e.g. machinery for building and ceramics), Health Care (e.g. electro-medical equipment, packaging).
Main specialisations
The main specializations and outstanding niches of the mechanical cluster are:
- sports cars and motorbikes, with famous brands (e.g. Ferrari, Lamborghini, Ducati, Maserati, Dallara, Pagani, Bugatti-Rimac) and high level suppliers (e.g.: AVL, HPE Coxa, Magneti Marelli, FEV)
- packaging machinery/solutions , e.g. IMA, Coesia (including GD), Sacmi, Marchesini, Aetna Group (including Ocme and Robopac), Tetra Pak
- industrial automation (e.g. Bonfiglioli, Rossi, Elettric80, Sir)
- hydraulics, turbines and pumps (e.g. Interpump)
- machinery, equipment and gears for food industry, ceramics, constructions, wood, energy production, electromedical as well as measuring, checking and surveying instruments (e.g. Cefla, Kohler, ArgoTractors, Termal Group, Beghelli, Marposs, Metalcastello, Smeg, SCM group, GVS, Bellco, Bonfiglioli, Motovario)
- aerospace has strong connections with the whole mechanical engineering and specific excellences (e.g. Curti, Poggipollini, Matecam, Beamit)
- other excellences such as boating (e.g. Ferretti) and sport/health equipment (Technogym)
Top companies
Here are some top regional brands and companies:
| AUTOMOTIVE | PACKAGING | AEROSPACE | OTHER SECTORS |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Image
|
Image
|
Image
|
Image
|
Innovation ecosystem
Clust-ER Mech – Mechatronics and Motoristics
Clust-ER Associations are communities of public and private bodies (research centers, companies, training institutes) created to support the competitiveness of the most important production systems in Emilia-Romagna.
Regional High Technology Network
www.motorvehicleuniversity.com
MUNER groups together four regional universities - Bologna, Ferrara, Modena and Reggio Emilia, Parma - and the motor companies that represent the best of Made in Italy in the world
BI-REX - Big Data Innovation and Research
Excellence
The Bi-Rex is a Competence Center coordinated by the University of Bologna with a group of 57 stakeholders
Regional High Technology Network
Discover the High Technology Network industrial research offering in ‘Mechatronics and Materials’
Eit Manufacturing
An innovation community with a growing network of top-tier industrial partners, leading academic and research institutions and innovative startups, scaleups and SMEs. Among the core partners: ART-ER, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, University of Parma.
Smart Specialisation Strategy
|
Mechanical Engineering | Results of the Regional smart specialization strategy From 2014 to June 2024 |
||
|---|---|---|
| 3,062 Funded R&D Projects |
1,306 Million euros of total investment |
566 Million euros of public funds |
Updated in August 2024
Main international trade fairs
International events related to mechanical engineering in Emilia-Romagna include: Mecspe, Mecfor, Metef, Sps-Ipc-Drives, Autopromotec, E-Tech Europe, Futurmotive, Salone del Camper, Bologna International Boat Show, Cibust Tec, Dronitaly, etc..
Key facts
| Mechanical Engineering in Emilia-Romagna | ||
|---|---|---|
| Employees (Infocamere, 2021)
350,232 |
Local units (Infocamere, 2021)
69,397 |
Export (Istat Coeweb, 2023)
44.57 bln € |
| Import (Istat Coeweb, 2023)
22.61 bln € |
||
Data processing by ART-ER
Info-sheets "Invest in mechanical engineering in Emilia-Romagna"
News
Inauguration of the construction site of the new SEW Eurodrive Center in Bologna
With an investment of over 30 million euros, the new Drive Technology Center in Borgo Panigale will provide assistance and technological support services to businesses, with a dedicated research and development area and connections with schools and universities.
Emilia-Romagna attended Italy-US Tech Business and Investment Matching Initiative
The event took place in Washington D.C. on October 25 and was part of a wider national mission aimed at strengthening the relationships among clusters, ecosystems and investors.
FEV Italia inaugurates new offices in Casalecchio (Bologna)
A new center of excellence for the German company, with laboratories and engineers highly specialized in the automotive sector and sustainable mobility.
New investment of the Toyota group in Ferrara and Bologna with 300 new jobs
LTE and Toyota Material Handling Manufacturing Italy presented an investment and research plan in the forklift and industrial handling sector, with an amount of almost 94 million euros. The Emilia-Romagna Region supports the request for incentives linked to the "Development Contract", an instrument of the MIMIT - Ministry of Enterprise and Made in Italy managed by Invitalia.
Inauguration of the Ferrari e-building in the presence of the President of the Italian Republic
The plant, with a focus on sustainability, will see the production of cars with all types of powertrain
Lamborghini: new investment in Emilia-Romagna creating 500 jobs
"COR TAURI" is the investment program with which the company - part of the Volkswagen Group - aims to strengthen its positioning in the electric and hybrid car sector, as part of a broader industrial plan. The Emilia-Romagna Region is supporting the "Development Contract", national incentive of the Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy, to access a grant of over 100 million euros
Space economy in Emilia-Romagna
The sector is confirmed as a regional priority, supported by various initiatives such as specific incentives to support the companies in the sector, the recent missions in USA and Japan, the agreement with Axiom.
Mitsubishi Chemical acquires CPC Group and invests 350 million euro
The Japanese multinational acquires 100% of the CPC group in Modena, thus completing the operation started in 2017, launching an expansion plan that also includes a new research center.
Sew-Eurodrive chooses Borgo Panigale for the new Drive Technology Center
The German company - leader in industrial automation - invests over 30 million euros in Emilia-Romagna, in the Bologna area, with the creation of 80 new jobs.
Nikon Slm Solutions: new investment in Reggio Emilia
The Japanese company, leader in additive manufacturing for industry, invests in Emilia-Romagna and has chosen its new Italian location within the Reggiane Innovation Park, creating 30 new highly qualified jobs by 2024.
Invest in mechanical engineering in Emilia-Romagna
New updated version of the regional fact-sheet including focus on packaging, automotive and aerospace, analysis of size and value of sectors, foreign trade, maps, FDIs, innovation, trade exhibitions and much more.
Ferrari: new investment worth 500 million in Maranello
0/04/2022 - Ferrari, top brand of the Emilia-Romagna Motor Valley, is going to invest about 500 million euros, creating 250 new jobs in the 2022-25 period. The investment is supported by a Memorandum of Understanding signed in March with the national and regional governments
