FEDERATION OF MECHANICAL INDUSTRIES (FIM)

SUPPORT AND ACTIVITIES

SUPPORT

From collective action to personalised assistance

         
The Federation of Mechanical Engineering Industries (FIM) represents the economic and technical interests of 29 professional associations and their members. It aims to help mechanical engineers to design, produce and sell in France and to develop their activities in international markets. It undertakes to defend and promote, on a French, European and international level, this important sector of French industry. In supporting companies in their business activities, FIM also offers solutions to problems that may arise in today’s economic environment.

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 the FIM brochure

FIM, a powerful influence…
FIM works alongside specialist associations by product, trade or market to represent them on matters that are of common interest to all engineers and acts as spokeman for national and European professionals.

The Federation of Mechanical Industries acts to influence French and European economic policies and to further the legal, industrial intellectual property and commercial rights of companies. It defines the common interests of an industry comprising companies who work in a wide variety of trades and markets. It works for the protection and freedom of enterprise and the development and promotion of the companies that it represents. 

It enables the profession to speak as one voice on subjects of general interest to its partners, suppliers, customers, public authorities and also on a regional, European and international level.

Solutions to meet the needs of mechanical engineers
With knowledge acquired from collective actions, FIM has a depth of knowledge relating to specific problems faced by mechanical engineers and its specialists can offer companies practical solutions in handling everyday concerns.

ACTIVITIES 

The Federation of Mechanical Industries publishes an annual report detailing the activities undertaken by its teams. By offering practical examples, this document aims to show how FIM can work alongside companies to support their activities.

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 the FIM annual report

 

FIM informs and advises companies on all areas of concern.

TAXATION AND ECONOMIC REGULATIONS

FIM’s Board for fiscal matters and economic regulation offers a range of key activities that include interpretation of laws, understanding and anticipating their consequences, offering solutions to the Public Authorities which will benefit member companies.

Liaising with the professions and their member companies, it supports them in understanding their rights and obligations on a day to day basis, specifically by editing and posting numerous themed notes on the members section of the FIM website. It also represents the profession to the tax authorities.

LEGAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS

Attention and perseverance are two key words that underpin the work of the legal and environmental Board in terms of legal affairs and also technical and environmental legislation.

Directives, legislation, laws, decrees… preparing, monitoring or influencing European or national publications that cover all areas which may affect corporate life, including environmental obligations that impact on all engineers.

MARKETS AND INTERNATIONAL ACTIVITIES

As companies are faced with numerous challenges, the markets and international Centre of FIM aims to work with member companies of FIM-affiliated associations in dealing with their French and overseas clients. With regard to the international activities of the Centre, it offers 4 tools :

• a Committee for European and International relations and market-specific research, which sets and defines priorities for each year.
• an annual programme of promotional activities : foreign missions, meetings with buyers, presentations, etc.
• a carefully selected network of overseas correspondents : private consultants, VIE (French International Programme aimed at young people), and industrial goods departments of French Trade Delegations.
• a collection of documents offering general information to companies : market studies, lists of bank agreements, economic surveillance etc…

The Centre for International Markets: FIM has established market groups which cover the main fields of activity of its membership and clients (Steel price increases, Food, Aeronautics and Defence, Automotive, Chemistry, Renewable Energy, Rail), and which aims to broaden information already available to companies working in those sectors (legislation particular to those markets, client/supplier relations, promotion), but also to broaden these activities and make them available to a greater number of member companies.

EUROPE

This European representation, which is an important activity of FIM, is undertaken in close collaboration with the European representation body : Orgalime.

FINANCE, GUARANTEES AND INSURANCE

The specialist subsidiaries of FIM have developed a range of financial services, guarantee products and insurance adapted to the profile and needs of engineers.

REGIONAL ACTIVITIES

The Board for regional activities uses various means and support structures to help businesses at a local level including developing their activities and accompanying them in the day-to-day management of their development projects.

COMMUNICATIONS

Communications, which form a fundamental activity of FIM, are handled in a variety of ways, but follow three basic objectives : inform the professions and companies of activities that are being undertaken on their behalf by Federation teams, to give engineers a voice and promote and develop an industry that is at the heart of all economic sectors.

One of the tools used by the Communications Board, MécaSphère, is a magazine edited by FIM and its partners, and issued to directors of mechanical engineering companies.

Members of associations affiliated to FIM receive a daily e-newsletter informing them of the work carried out by specialist teams at FIM. All information is also available on the members-only Extranet.

TRAINING

Establish activities and pilot projects to promote the mechanical industries, make Public Authorities aware of the lack of qualified workers and the need to adapt training to meet the specific needs of businesses.