Spain continues to focus abroad: this year's BIEMH show proved that Spain's machine tool builders, as well as its tooling and accessory manufacturers,

My second time attending Spain's biennial BIEMH machine tool show reinforced the notion that this E.U. country is drawing greater attention from the global metalworking marketplace. The 2006 show was the second edition held at the Bilbao Exhibition Center (BEC), which co-organizes the event along with AFM, Spain's association of machine tool manufacturers. The rain that fell in Spain during the 24th edition of this event didn't seem to dampen the spirit or interest of international attendees. While overall attendance and exhibitor numbers were down slightly compared to 2004 (although still much higher than previous shows that were not held at BEC), the numbers of international visitors and represented countries were both higher. This seems to indicate that there is a growing interest in Spanish machine tool technology abroad.

According to Gardner Publications' 2005 World Machine Tool Output and Consumption study, Spain ranks ninth in the world in machine tool production and tenth in machine tool consumption. AFM representatives note that the automotive and die/mold industries remain big targets for its member companies, but many would like a greater share of the burgeoning aerospace market. Some companies do have a healthy aerospace presence, such as Danobat (one of seven companies within the Danobat Group) with its line of turbine blade grinders
The U.S. market is one that AMT, Spain's association for machine tool accessories, components and cutting tools, would like to see its member companies penetrate. Most of the AMT companies are small to mid-sized manufacturers that export approximately 40 percent of their sales. Carlos Pulana, president of AMT and director of the Izar cutting tool company, believes that the key to success in the U.S. market hinges on identifying niche applications that the Spanish manufacturers can fill. In order to gain exposure in the United States, ten AMT member companies plan to attend IMTS 2006 in Chicago, Illinois. Mr. Pulana notes that their largest U.S. distributor is American Quality Tools, located in Riverside, California.