Responding to COVID-19 Emergency: The Packaging Machinery Sector in Italy

The COVID-19 pandemic has crushed the main world economies, including the Italian economy. In 2020, a world recession of −3.1% is estimated and for Italy of −8.9%. However, the negative economic effects have not affected all productive sectors similarly. In Italy, the pharmaceutical, food, and packaging machinery sectors have gone against the trend. This study analyses how companies in the packaging sector reacted to the pandemic through the use of Industry 4.0 technologies; their sentiments and expectations during the pandemic; and measures established. Two surveys were administered by the Manufacturing Economic Studies (MECS), to packaging companies in Italy one year apart. The first, in 2020 aimed at detecting the sentiments and expectations of 135 companies. The second, in 2021, aimed at identifying how Industry 4.0 technologies helped 30 individual companies and within the supply chain to react to the market. Just under 80% of the companies recorded a decline in turnover, 20% have not suffered any decline and even a small part recorded an increase in turnover. The latter, those oriented toward a sustained growth in production, have already partially implemented technologies and “production environments” that are typical of Industry 4.0 even before COVID-19, on the supply and demand sides.