Held from the 17^th to the 19^th of September 2024, the event attracted over 9,000 attendees to its 15,000 square meters of exhibition space at Fiera Milano Rho. According to Assomac, this “remarkable turnout confirmed the event's ability to showcase the excellence of Italian manufacturing on a global stage” in a very special edition that celebrated SIMAC’s 50th anniversary.

The international appeal of SIMAC Tanning Tech was evident, with 44% of attendees (as compared to 40% last year) and 26% of exhibitors coming from outside Italy, representing over 20 countries. This edition therefore highlighted the industry’s capacity to adapt and innovate in an increasingly competitive global landscape. The synergy between SIMAC Tanning Tech and Lineapelle helped to ensure a high level of attractiveness.

“The excellent result obtained at this edition demonstrates the importance of our exhibition as a meeting point for the global industry and the centrality of innovation in our sector” said Assomac General Manager Agostino Apolito. “The broad international participation, the result of the fruitful collaboration with the Italian Trade Agency, and the interest shown in the new technologies on display confirm the strong attractiveness of the sector. Our industry is ready to face the challenges of sustainability, digitalisation and efficiency, and SIMAC Tanning Tech proves to be the ideal platform to support this transformation”.

Highlights

In addition to showcasing the latest innovations concerning the growing demands for sustainability, digitalisation and optimised production processes, SIMAC Tanning tech also facilitated a series of discussions on pressing topics for the industry. These covered the issue of innovation in the leather, footwear and leather goods supply chains, the integration of AI in the footwear industry, and the digital transformation of manufacturing processes for the fashion industry, particularly regarding traceability and sustainability in the supply chain.

This edition also featured the ‘Un giorno da protagonista’ project, curated by Art Director Barbara Ricchi, which was designed to celebrate Italian excellence in leather processing machinery in one space through live demonstrations of state-of-the-art machinery and sustainable leather goods production, networking opportunities and discussions with industry experts and a combination of art and technology that included a photographic exhibition, floor installation, and VR experiences.

Future

The picture is less optimistic when it comes to exports. In the first half of 2024, there was an overall decline in exports (down by 11.55% year-on-year), and only the tannery machinery sector held its own thanks to foreign orders placed last year, with an increase of 6.77% year-on-year. With 75% of sales concentrated in just 10 countries, the sector has been struggling in certain markets. The spare parts sector, on the other hand, experienced a less severe decline in exports (down by 5.52% year-on-year).

However, “despite the general contraction of exports in the first six months of the year, we remain confident for the future of our sector” commented Assomac President Maria Vittoria Brustia. “The leather processing machinery sector has recorded some encouraging signs that show how the quality of our technologies is still recognised and appreciated in international markets. We look to 2025 with optimism, betting on the ability of our companies to innovate and adapt to global challenges”. 

Assomac also calls for the support of the Italian government in order to promote and protect the Made in Italy label in this increasingly competitive international context.

The next edition is scheduled to take place between the 23^rd and the 25^th of September 2025.