Italy upbeat!

With 422 exhibitors hogging a space of 30,700 m2, Italy leads in country size in the forthcoming ITMA Milano. The exhibitors too are upbeat wirh promises of breakthrough technologies. The ITJ reports.

ITMA returning to Milan after a gap of 20 years has kindled the high hopes of the Italian textile machinery industry. Already, the first quarters of 2015 has brought in new hopes for the industry with the order book showing a moderate growth of 8 per cent.

Italy is today one of main producers and exporters of textile machinery in the world. In 2014, the production of Italian textile machinery amounted to 2.3 billion of Euro, 84 per cent of which (worth 2 billion Euro) exported in about 130 Countries. Asia (41 per cent) is the main export area, followed by Europe (40 per cent), South America (8 per cent), North America (6 per cent) and Africa (5 per cent). In Italy, there are approximately 300 companies who produce textile machines and related accessories, for a total of about 12,000 employees.

The supply of Italian textile machinery is characterised by a wide and complete range that includes pre-spinning and spinning machinery; twisting, reeling, winding machinery; pre-weaving and weaving machinery; knitting and hosiery machinery; dyeing, printing and finishing machinery; and laundry dry-cleaning and ironing machinery.

Focus on ITMA 2015

Italy?s textile machinery producers are preparing to experience an intense year, with its apex arriving in Milan at the upcoming edition of ITMA, returning to Italy after a 20 year hiatus. Compared to the previous edition, Italian exhibitors have increased their overall exhibition surface area by 50 per cent.

For Italy?s textile machinery sector, 2015 will primarily revolve around ITMA, the industry?s global trade fair that makes a return to Italy twenty years after the last edition held here. From November 12-19, Milan will host the 17th edition of ITMA. For Italian textile machinery manufacturers, it has meant a year-long race to get themselves ready for the event that is held in Europe every four years.

Over 420 Italian exhibitors are slated to be present in Milan, almost 25 per cent increase compared to those on participating four years ago in Barcelona, where the last edition of ITMA was held. Even greater is the surface area of exhibition space already booked for the show (+50 per cent). Raffaella Carabelli, President, the Association of Italian Textile Machinery Manufacturers (ACIMIT), confirms, ?These figures don?t just place Italy as the leader among the countries exhibiting at the trade fair; above all, they testify to the vitality of our industry and the belief in all of us that Italy?s textile sector is enjoying a period of good health.?

Carabelli also provided breakdown by sector per total surface area booked. For the spinning sector 18 per cent of our companies will be exhibiting; for the weaving sector 8 per cent; knitting 8 per cent; finishing machinery manufacturers 47 per cent; other machinery 11 per cent, and in other areas 8 per cent. She adds, ´It´s difficult to say which sector will be the most interesting or will play a prominent role at ITMA, but I can confirm that visitors to ITMA will be able to find Made in Italy technology innovation in all segments making up our offer.´

While machinery manufacturers have focused on technology innovations to showcase at what has always been considered the preeminent international event for the industry, ACIMIT, thanks to the support provided by the Ministry of Economic Development and the Italian Trade Agency, has implemented a whole range of activities aimed at promoting Italy´s textile machinery sector and its participation at ITMA 2015. Among the various initiatives planned are the incoming missions of foreign delegati