Brescia - With plans for this year's FIMAST exhibition still very much forging ahead, show organisers Italian Exhibition Group (IEG) have announced a number of new features for the 2020 edition.
The fifth edition of FIMAST, which covers the entire hosiery manufacturing supply chain, is scheduled for 27-30 May at the Brixia Forum in Brescia, Italy.
IEG, which acquired the event last year, says it has planned an enhanced range of features for the show. As well as showcasing technological excellence - from machinery and yarns to hosiery products - the show will highlight sustainability in the industry as well as hosting training courses. A partnership with industry bodies Centro Servizi Calza (CSC) and the Associazione Distretto Calza e Intimo (A.DI.CI.), meanwhile, will offer presentations and seminars covering industry and economic sector scenarios.
"The biennial appointment, which in 2019 was acquired by Italian Exhibition Group, will be an opportunity for Italian and international operators to discuss the key issues and the main market trends, and understand how the Italian districts will evolve in the coming years," IEG said. "This ranges from technological and product innovations such as seamless, also extended to the technical sports sector, and the knitted shoe, the 'sock shoe' which has given way to a new closer connection between footwear and hosiery, to the development of the healthcare segment."
Confirming the presence of hosiery manufacturers, IEG says that the formula it has chosen this year focuses on collaboration with two key industry observers in the hosiery sector: the CSC and the A.DI.CI.
FIMAST 2020 will also put the issue of sustainability at the forefront of the show and will explore the current and future challenges of the companies in the fashion and accessories sector, as a starting point for a new development of the event. In addition to a new approach to the contents offered to Italian and international buyers, the event will also present a renewed layout to encourage business meetings between operators in the sector. The collaboration with institutions, sector magazines and universities will complete the calendar of events to enhance networking opportunities.
The textile machinery sector remains a key part of the Italian manufacturing industry with around 300 companies and 12,000 employees. In 2018, the value of the industry was around €2.5 billion with as many as 83 per cent of the machinery produced in Italy exported to around 130 countries: ranging from spinning machines to dyeing machines, through maintenance and, of course, hosiery.
The slight decrease of 1 per cent in production compared to 2017 and 2 per cent in exports was offset by a 6 per cent increase in domestic sales also supported by the Industry 4.0 technological innovation plan (ACIMIT data). In 2018 the export value of hosiery was €486 million.
Web: www.fimast.eu
Web: www.iegexpo.it
