A flat sheet derived from a roll of metal leaf: this is the essence of sheet metal!
In various industrial processes, sheet metal is the starting point for obtaining multiple components, as it allows very economical workability – it does not require additional operations, such as chip removal – and allows to obtain precision and good quality.
These are the main reasons that make sheet metal a protagonist in various sectors, including the Automotive.
There are endless components, inserted inside the cars we drive every day, built starting from a sheet metal and obtained through one of the many sheet metal working operations, which in most cases are carried out cold (such as shaping and forming). The Automotive sector is therefore closely linked to the sheet metal working sector, both at a practical and market level: the drastic decline of 20% recorded by the European Automotive sector in 2020 has also had heavy repercussions on trade and sheet metal working, bringing the entire sector at -52%. To date, the automobile world is slowly recovering important market shares and also the sheet metal sector finally returns to breathe; according to Federacciai in fact, it recorded a growth of + 2.8% in the first half of 2021. A figure that, albeit slightly above 0, gives those who work in this field the hope that growth will continue and no new periods will occur stop.
Hope that is fueled by the great technological development that has been taking place, for several years now, in the world of sheet metal and linked in particular to the entry of innovative technologies and the implementation of automated robots within the production process. This trend, which speeds up the production process while at the same time reducing its risks, has also been embraced by several European governments, including the Italian one. A few months ago the government provision “Transition 4.0” was published, which provides for incentives to renew the machinery in your company.
A further factor supporting the recovery of the sheet metal working sector would be the return to a competitive price of raw materials which, after a period of very strong increases due to the difficulty in finding them and strong speculative pressures, still struggles to return to the normality. To date, the stabilization of prices and the physical availability of supplies represent two fundamental factors to contribute to the recovery of the sheet metal industry in particular, and of the entire sector in general.
The cold sheet metal forming sector therefore seems to be in constant growth, supported by the recovery of the sectors to which it is closely linked
– such as the Automotive – and by dedicated policies.
With this optimistic vision Prodotti EBI, specialists in cold sheet metal working, wish you happy holidays!
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