The Machine Tool World Exhibition, promoted by the European Committee for the Co-operation among Machine Tool Industries (CECIMO), opened in Milan October 5-10. This is one of the world's four major events in the machine tool industry, along with IMTS in the US, JIMTOF in Japan and CIMT in China. This year, the 18th EMO, attracted more than 1,300 corporate participants from 35 countries.

Doosan Infracore was among them, exhibiting eleven high-performance, value-added machines (8 turning centers, 2 machining centers, and 1 numerically-controlled boring machine) especially selected to accommodate European customer needs. The world's machine tool makers have been suffering from a serious downturn in the face of the global economic crisis, but the Doosan Infracore Machine Tool BG went all out to promoting its wares.

Dealers and other visitors to the Doosan booth showed special interest in the 5-axis VC630, a high-speed, high-precision machining center capable of machining small and medium-sized parts with complex and exacting specifications as well as multiple items in small lots. They also were enamored by the Puma MX3100S, a multifunction turning center that is well suited for handling medium-sized and large parts for aircraft and automobiles. Another be attraction at the booth was live demonstrations of the Puma ST20G, developed exclusively in-house to machine very small parts for electronics and medical (prosthetics and dental) applications.

Diverse Preparations for the Economic Rebound

The Machine Tools BG is engaged in various activities, including attendance at the major trade events worldwide and heavy R&D investments, in advance of the upturn in the global economy. The BG is also hosting open house events and taking part in regional trade shows inside Europe. Expatriate employees from Korea and locally-hired people in Europe are stepping up their promotion of new models in the UK, Germany and Russia, where market conditions are already relatively favorable.

Meanwhile, ongoing process innovation activities are enhancing product quality and productivity, and engineers are being cultivated who are adept in multiple disciplines.

Local support for service and sales activities is also being strengthened. A new technical center is scheduled for opening in Turkey by the end of this year, with additional technical centers to be established in the Czech Republic, France, Sweden, and Spain in 2010.