MACHINES ITALIA VOLUME XVII

Italian Excellence Paves the Way for North American Success

The global economy has been in a sustained period of upheaval and change, thanks to a host of factors ranging from the lingering effects of the pandemic to regional conflicts and shifting economic priorities. This period of uncertainty presents numerous challenges to North American end users as they work to address persistent industry issues ranging from a lack of labor and difficulty sourcing materials to addressing sustainability targets and forwarding their automation and digital data goals. While these realities create headaches for end users, they are phenomenal opportunities for Italian machine builders to further distinguish themselves in the North American market.

Consider the supply chain and material sourcing issues that have persisted globally. Consistently, across all industries, this is identified as a key challenge that end users must adapt to. Italian machinery can directly address this thorny industry question, thanks to the flexible, adaptable, and versatile designs being pioneered by Italian machine builders. By focusing on machine flexibility, nearly 38% of end users noted that Italian machinery expanded the variety of products and services they could offer, including material types. Another 37% indicated they purchased Italian machinery explicitly because of its ability to handle a wider variety of materials and formats. Machine versatility also speaks directly to organizations’ sustainability goals, as it enables the use of a wider variety of sustainable materials and processes. Thanks to adaptable machine designs and the innovation of Italian machine builders, Italian machinery stands ready to help end users roll with the punches of supply chain uncertainty without compromising their sustainability goals.

Or take, for instance, the dual challenges of labor shortages and advancing automation and digital data goals. With a consistent lack of skilled labor reported in nearly all North American industries from agriculture to aerospace, end users are scrambling to find

This issue of Machines Italia will focus on how Italian machine builders are supporting the business goals of their end user customers. The content will explore the crucial question: How are end users leveraging Italian machinery to advance their operational goals and address important trends in their industry?

ways to shore up their gaps and keep growing. At the same time, they are often pursuing aggressive digital transformation goals, with an emphasis on expanding automated processes. Fortunately for North American end users, Italian machine builders are already hard at work tackling these hurdles through dynamic machine design. Nearly 40% of end users noted that Italian machinery directly reduced their reliance on human labor, while just over 32% purchased Italian machinery specifically because it offered more automated features than the competition. On top of this, 25% of end users were motivated to purchase Italian machinery thanks to the higher level of sensors and ports in Italian designs, which make the machines ideal for digital integration and digital data gathering. By leveraging automation and digital solutions, Italian machine builders are already helping North American end users tackle their labor challenges, all while forwarding end-user automation and digital transformation goals.

In this issue of Machines Italia, we explore in more detail how Italian machine builders are contributing to the success of North American industries. Articles focus on how Italian machine builders are advancing North American industry through automation, how Italian machines support sustainability goals, and how flexible and adaptable Italian machine designs are empowering North American end users to overcome industry challenges and grow their businesses. Most importantly, we take a close look at how Italian machine builders are forging lasting relationships with end users by collaborating closely to address individual challenges.

Despite the uncertainty of 2025, Italian machine builders are well-positioned to excel in the North American market. By doubling down on the commitment to quality and innovation that has brought success, Italian machine builders can continue to stand out in the marketplace as trusted partners bringing best-in-class solutions to the North American industry.

Sincerely,

Marco Verna Trade Commissioner—Chicago

2 Italian Excellence Paves the Way for North American Success Italian machine builders are supporting the business goals of their end user customers.

4 Thinking Strategically About AI-Enabled Manufacturing Competition motivates manufacturers to cost-effectively create products that are high-quality and uniform.

5 Looking to 2025: Past Success Guides Future Achievements Italian machinery delivers quality and innovation to advance North American industries.

7 Advancing Automation

A world of automation.

11 Sustainability

Sustainable practices for a sustainable world.

15 Flexible and Adaptable Adaptability meets enduring Italian ingenuity.

22 Collaborate North American companies seek stronger ties with Italian OEMs.

26 Machines Italia News News briefs from a selection of our 10,000 machinery manufacturers.

36 Italian Technology Award Programs Connecting international students and faculty members with Italian companies and associations.

37 Italian Innovation in the Spotlight From Chicago and Las Vegas to Mexico City and Ontario, Machines Italia is on the road to innovation.

38 Upcoming Trade Shows in Italy Experience some of the industry’s best and brightest at these upcoming events.

40 Innovation at Work in Global Markets

A look at Machines Italia’s 15 partner associations and industries.

For a detailed interactive digital map on Italian Solution Providers in North America, please visit tinyurl. com/ItalianSolutionProviders.

Italian Trade Agency—Chicago

ADDRESS TOLL-FREE TELEPHONE E-MAIL WEBSITE

401 N. Michigan Avenue, Suite 1720 | Chicago, Illinois 60611 1-888.ITALTRADE/482.5872 (U.S. and Canadian Callers) 312.670.4360 (Outside the U.S. and Canada) chicago@ice.it www.machinesitalia.org

The Italian Trade Agency’s USMCA offices in Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Toronto, and Mexico City are principally responsible for the machinery and technology sectors covered in this publication.

Thinking Strategically About AI-Enabled Manufacturing

Competition motivates manufacturers to cost-effectively create products that are high-quality and uniform. Italian companies know this pursuit all too well. With a deep and rich corporate culture of digitizing company knowledge, leaders in Italian manufacturing are finding ways in which digitaization is leading to breakthroughs in how AI can enhance operations.

Drawing from my experiences in developing intelligent tutoring systems for Italian manufacturers, developing an AI-based tax evasion detection system for an Italian government entity, and when serving as the product manager for four different AI technologies of US origin, from which I developed custom solutions for Olivetti customers, I have gained valuable insights from the perspectives of AI providers as well as AI adopters in Italy. Staying connected with my former and current Italian colleagues and customers, I can confidently say that Italian firms continue to evaluate and adopt AI technologies in the ways that best suit not only their own business needs but in turn their North American clients as well.

In North America, business owners are seeking other ways of gaining an advantage, such as by becoming more:

• Flexible — Quickly right-size production anywhere in the spectrum from high-mix at low volume to low-mix at high volume

• Agile — Respond to signals from nuanced, niche markets, and unpredictable markets, such as crisis events, defense needs, and infrastructure construction or reconstruction

• Robust — Continue manufacturing notwithstanding shocks to their supply chains

• Sustainable — Attain energy efficiencies of production processes, among many other considerations

• Workforce appropriate — Offer careers that workers want

AI-enabled manufacturing can empower manufacturing enterprises to achieve all their business goals and more. To make it happen, industry leaders should think broadly about AI as the digital embodiment of their enterprise’s proprietary, cultural, and historic knowledge.

First, AI helps them capture and reuse corporate knowledge which presently exists mostly in the minds of their personnel. Second, it helps them identify knowledge to be digitized, which allows them to appropriately assess the value of that knowledge. When done properly, such assessments lead to greater insights that can help industry leaders improve their businesses in previously unimagined ways.

Third, a company that digitizes its most important information gains the ability to execute its institutional knowledge. Documentation via digitization is a learn-once execute-many proposition versus a learn-execute couplet for every bit of knowledge. A fourth corporate benefit is a transformation of the now-digitized manufacturing task, from one that requires highly specialized and historic knowledge, to that of simply executing a program. Execution of a process via software can become as turnkey as starting a passenger automobile.

A fifth and rollup benefit is that business owners can become simultaneously flexible, agile, and robust by developing libraries of software that can rapidly change the manufacturing process to execute based on the materials, demands, priorities, and other signals from their markets and supply chains. The overhead is significantly lower to reconfigure the process via software than by mechanical tuning, alone.

The successful adoption of AI requires the firm to think critically about how it executes its processes and how it can rapidly reconfigure them. Such thinking reveals insights into manufacturing efficiencies that can be achieved, expanded, and improved. This is when breakthrough moments happen. The realization that a process can be slightly modified for a whole new application and market at a marginal additional cost is empowering, and can create significant competitive advantages.

When engaging with an Italian company, broaden the conversation to include their digitization experiences and strategies. This approach lays the foundation for your company to harness the power of AI fully and ensures you are partnering with industry leaders adept at integrating cutting-edge technologies. Collaborating with Italian firms is a strategic move that can drive transformative results and position your business for success.

Joseph Andrew Giampapa Principal & Co-Founder LindenAI,

LLC

AI Advisor to Government & Industry lindenai.com

Mr. Giampapa has contributed to the advancement of AI-based technologies both from within and outside of academia, serving as an advisor and technology program lead for government, defense, the intelligence community, tax law enforcement, and private industry clients. As the U.S. government’s ARM Institute’s Principal Robotics Scientist, he developed their national AI strategy in support of robotics for manufacturing. He served on a 12-person advisory panel for the U.S. Army to help them develop, engineer, and manage their fleet of autonomous ground vehicles. Work with industry includes: maintaining and expanding autonomous capabilities for a global fleet of operating mine hauling vehicles; developing machine learning algorithms for the self-training of manufacturing robots; developing robotic automation; production planning and scheduling; a cellular provider’s help desk; and computer-integrated manufacturing systems. He has a graduate degree from Carnegie Mellon University’s Language Technologies Institute.

Looking to 2025: Past Success Guides Future Achievements

Greater machine flexibility to accomodate a variety of materials — 35%

More automated features — 32%

Installation and machine commissioning services — 31%

Full access to operational data directly through machine PLC/HMI — 28%

Simplified machine interfaces to accomodate low employee skill levels 26%

Machines pre-equipped with sensors and ports for integration and monitoring — 25%

Ongoing machine monitoring, maintenance, and support services 19%

Predictive/preventive maintenance capabilities — 19%

Employee training for equipment operation and maintenance — 17%

Sustainable machines (less utility usage) — 14%

Hardware integration services: expand physical components of integration like sensors and HMI/PLC — 13%

Software integration services: controls (motion, robotics, etc.) and software management integration services 11%

Open platform programming for easy integration and networking 6%

Advanced AI and machine learning features (like adaptive vision inspection, predictive flow management, etc.) — 4%

Other — 19%

Italian Machinery Delivers Quality and Innovation to Advance North American Industries

Italian machinery is an integral part of the North American industry, supporting operations and forwarding organizational goals. From agriculture and construction to manufacturing and a plethora of other industries, Italian machinery delivers quality and reliability that enables North American companies to better manage their operating costs and expand their portfolio of services and products. These features and benefits of Italian machinery will be especially important, given the number of challenging market conditions North American end users face in 2025. Thankfully, the key benefits of Italian machinery speak directly to these challenges and can ultimately help end users excel, despite negative market pressures.

Italian Machinery: A Sterling Reputation

According to a survey conducted on behalf of the Italian Trade Agency’s Machines Italia project by WTWH Media and Reach Solutions polling North American end users, Italian machinery holds a prestigious spot on the world stage. When asked to rank 11 of the top machine-producing nations serving North America, Italy and the machines they produce were viewed positively by over 97% of respondents. According to end users, Italian machinery handily outperforms other nations associated with quality manufacturing and comfortably competes with the cream of the crop in the international machine market. Italian machine builders are proud of the care and quality that goes into their products, demonstrating a commitment to delivering transformational machinery that the end user market readily recognizes.

Italian Machinery Stands Out

When asked to specify what aspects of Italian machinery stand out the most, North American end users pointed to numerous features and advantages but highlighted three of the most crucial components that go into machine considerations. Most impressively, 64% of end users agreed that Italian machinery has a strong reputation for quality, with nearly 97% at least somewhat agreeing with that statement. Italian machine builders have carved out a

* This question only displayed respondents who answered “Yes” when asked if their company currently uses, or has ever used, Italian machinery in its operations.

What

machine features influenced your decision to choose Italian machinery?

strong reputation amongst North American end users, who intuitively associate Italian equipment with quality. A key component of this reputation is how Italian machine builders strive to incorporate new features and technologies into their designs. When asked about innovation, nearly 97% of end users noted that Italian machinery often comes equipped with the latest technology in the market. With the rapid evolution of technology-focused solutions in the North American industry and an increasing reliance on automated processes and equipment, a sterling reputation for technological incorporation and innovation are strong selling points.

Although end users consider quality and machinery with the latest technology as top attributes, end-user evaluations inevitably turn to cost. Our survey found that when considering machine purchases, end users’ top consideration is primarily cost. Even with a reputation for best-in-class quality and technological innovation, Italian machinery compares very favorably on price and ROI, with over 97% of end users at least partially agreeing that Italian machinery is competitively priced in the market. This is excellent news for Italian machine builders serving the North American market. Thanks to a dedication to excellence, Italian machine builders have established a strong reputation amongst North American end users for delivering high-quality, cutting-edge products at competitive, achievable price points.

Metalworking

Power and motion transmission systems

Fluid power equipment and components — 41%

Printing, graphics, and converting 23%

Italian Machinery Brings Measurable Success

Beyond market and capability perceptions of Italian machinery, we also asked North American end users to reflect on how Italian machinery delivered improvements to their organization. The results were impressive and speak directly to how Italian machine builders are helping North American end users tackle thorny industry challenges, today and in the future. North American end users derive a staggering number of benefits from the use of Italian machinery, which can be broken up into three main groups: overall organizational improvements, technological improvements, and operational improvements.

Plastic and rubber — 18%

Earthmoving 14%

Woodworking — 12%

Foundry and metallurgical — 11%

Agriculture and farm — 9%

Footwear, leather goods, and tanning — 6% Textile 5% Ceramics 4%

* This question only displayed respondents who answered “No” or “Unsure” when asked if their company currently uses, or has ever used, Italian machinery in its operations.

End users noted several ways in which Italian machinery delivered benefits to their overall organizational structure. Crucially, just over 37% of respondents indicated that Italian machinery helped reduce their reliance on human labor. This is an enormously important component of Italian machinery, especially given the continued struggles across North American industries to recruit and retain qualified labor. Closely related to reducing reliance on human labor, nearly 34% of respondents noted that Italian machinery helped them reduce their overall operating costs, further enhancing the ROI case for Italian equipment. With ROI and cost being the top machine feature considerations for North American end users, the benefits derived from Italian machinery align closely with end-user priorities. In addition to labor cost savings, 10% of respondents also acknowledged the use of Italian machinery directly contributed to improving the overall sustainability of their organizations.

North American end users also noted how Italian machinery has helped advance their technology and digital transformation goals. Italian machinery remains at the forefront of innovation, with nearly 28% of respondents stating the use of Italian machinery allowed them access to entirely new technology not currently utilized in their operations. In a similar vein, nearly a quarter of end users also explained how Italian machinery drove an increase in the number of automated processes in their operations, another indicator of the top-tier technology capabilities of Italian machine builders. On the digital front, a handful of companies also indicated that Italian machinery specifically advanced their digitalization/digitization goals.

Most importantly, North American end users strongly indicated that Italian machinery has helped them improve the efficiency of their operations, and even opened up additional possibilities for expanding products and services. When asked about operational processes, just over 42% of end users flagged how Italian machinery enabled them to increase their overall throughput (for manufacturers) and work efficiency (for non-manufacturing industries). Not only did Italian machinery contribute to throughput and work efficiency improvements, but it also helped nearly 37% of end users expand their operational capabilities, enabling them to offer new products and services. By increasing yields and work efficiency, while simultaneously opening the door to new products and services – and maybe even new markets – Italian machinery is playing a key role in enhancing North American industries.

Carry the Momentum into 2025

With ongoing supply chain struggles, persistent labor challenges, continued economic uncertainty, and stubbornly high input/ingredient/ operating costs, 2025 is shaping up to be a year filled with hurdles for North American end users. Fortunately, thanks to their dedication

What type of machinery has your organization utilized, both currently and in the past?

to quality and innovation, Italian machine builders are in an excellent position to assist end users in overcoming these challenges and excelling in the face of several adverse market conditions.

Italian machine builders can lean heavily on their strong reputation in the market when compared to other nations, bolstered by competitive price points and demonstrable ROI cases.

Through measurable benefits such as reducing reliance on human labor, expanding automated processes, and reducing operating costs, Italian machinery can directly address the most difficult, pressing, and persistent industry challenges faced by North American end users. On top of these immediate improvements, Italian machinery can empower end users to turn an eye toward future growth by enabling access to new technology, new products and services, and new levels of digital integration and digital data capabilities.

By leveraging their stellar reputation and focusing on the core improvements Italian machinery brings to end users, Italian machine builders can carry their industry success forward into 2025.

Survey Methodology

The survey produced 427 results targeting a mix of Italian machine users and non-Italian machine users, to better understand North American end-user perceptions of Italian machinery in the wider market. The audience was targeted using WTWH Media’s database of applicable North American end users. We also asked this pool of participants what their top considerations are when making a machine purchase. In addition, current and past confirmed users of Italian machinery were targeted to solicit their insights into how Italian machinery improved their operations, as well as what features and functionalities Italian machinery influenced their decision to purchase. This data is also included throughout this issue.

Automation is a vitally important tool for the North American industry and Italian machine builders that are leveraging the latest automation technology to bring success to the North American market. From physical process automation to digital automation, Italian machine builders are incorporating cutting-edge technology to transform industries.

In an End-User Perceptions survey — conducted by WTWH on behalf of the Italian Trade Agency’s Machines Italia project to gauge North American companies’ views on the impact of Italian machinery — 23% of North American companies noted that Italian machinery was directly responsible for expanding the number of automated processes in their operations. On top of this, over 32% of North American companies stated they selected Italian machinery specifically because it incorporates more automated features. “All of our Italian machines result in lower maintenance downtime as well — which can nearly double our throughput,” explains one North American end user of automated Italian equipment.

To uncover some of the innovative and transformative automation technology being employed by Italian machine builders, this issue of Machines Italia spotlights how several prestigious Italian OEMs are incorporating automation into their designs and

their own operations to better serve the North American market.

As Ross Liberty, CEO of Factory Pipe LLC and end user of Italian machinery notes: “Each piece of Italian equipment we use has very specific characteristics I need for my operations. At the end of the day, I am country-agnostic. I look for specific technical benefits over anything else. Italian machine builders delivered an 80mm tube bender with unique capabilities that we purchased — the support was so good, we just ordered another.”

Italian machine manufacturers are leveraging automated features and components to improve their designs and machine performance, delivering meaningful improvements to end users. This article reveals how two pioneers in agricultural process automation are using the latest automated design features to reduce the labor burden on planters and harvesters. This examination also uncovers how automation is used to improve efficiencies and reduce design times in the plastics industry, from the production side with a plastics mold maker, and on the recycling side with a company specializing in recycling center optimization.

Automation is further augmenting the drilling industry, where advanced technologies are enabling extraction companies to do more with less.

Image courtesy of Sfoggia Agriculture Division

Seeding Success

Sfoggia Agriculture Division Srl (sfoggia.com) has automation in the roots of its design considerations. The Italian manufacturer is a member of FederUnacoma (federunacoma.it), the Italian Agricultural Machinery Manufacturers Federation, with deep roots in the agriculture industry, and designs and manufactures a wide range of planters, seeders, cultivators, weeders, and other equipment for the sowing and management of new crops. By listening to their customers, Sfoggia works to continuously improve its portfolio of machinery with the goal of easing the labor burden on farms and improving the efficiency of planting and tending crops. Some of the most recent designs include the addition of automated processes and features to streamline planting.

Sfoggia’s culture of continual improvement is reflected in its CALIBRA EVO line of planters. By applying automated features, Sfoggia has transformed the CALIBRA EVO into a highly versatile planter that can rapidly transition from crop to crop with minimal changeover. Using standardized ISOBUS control — the preferred platform for the agriculture industry — CALIBRA EVO is designed to easily integrate with existing equipment and software used for crop planning and management.

This software suite also allows operators to adjust to ideal seed spacing and volume, with presets able to be stored for different crop settings. Thanks to a fully automated swing and section control, the CALIBRA EVO takes care of the machine calibrations needed to achieve a desired crop spread, removing the burden from farmers to manually adjust and readjust the machinery for each run. This fully automated planting process takes less operator input and decreases adjustment and changeover times, freeing up valuable manpower at planting operations.

Sfoggia is also applying innovative automation to its other equipment supporting planting operations, including its weeding machines. The BIO THASER from Sfoggia — an advanced weeder — features a number of automated processes that simplify machine operation and increase weeding efficiency. Mobile hoes controlled by laser sensors are placed on each working unit. The sensors will scan the passage of the plants and activate the hoes only in the interplant spaces, automatically eliminating weeds while ensuring no crops are damaged in the process.

The BIO THASER can also be equipped with a precision camera used to guide a fully automated navigation system, allowing the BIO THASER to complete a job without additional human input once programmed. Innovation is at the core of Sfoggia’s approach to machinery, with the company explaining: “It’s important to foster the development of innovative solutions to meet the agricultural industry’s unique challenges.” With set-it-and-forget-it solutions able to complete tasks without an operator present, Sfoggia is pioneering the application of advanced automation in the agriculture industry.

“By applying automated features, Sfoggia has transformed the CALIBRA EVO into a highly versatile planter that can rapidly transition from crop to crop with minimal changeover. It uses standardized ISOBUS control — the preferred platform for the agriculture industry.”

Reaping Benefits

Bassi Seminatrici Srl (en-us.bassiseminatrici.it) is a member of FederUnacoma (federunacoma.it), the Italian Agricultural Machinery Manufacturers Federation and is an agriculture leader specializing in planting and harvesting equipment, committed to utilizing machine and process automation to advance the industry. From seeders to harvesters, the company strives for modular designs supported by automated components, underpinned by a design philosophy that technology must always be user-friendly, no matter how advanced.

This ethos, which has helped one small farm reduce harvest time by 40%, permeates the Bassi Seminatrici organization, led by owner and CEO Carlotta Bassi.

“For advanced and innovative solutions, we believe in collaborating with universities and research centers to merge traditional knowledge with the latest scientific findings,” Bassi says. “It’s important to foster the development of innovative solutions to meet the agricultural industry’s unique challenges.”

This design philosophy shines through in the company’s SM 2000 seeder model, which leverages a unique automated system to improve seed distribution, reduce downtime, and streamline

Image courtesy of Bassi Seminatrici

employee processes. Through its patented sponge-based seeding system, the SM 2000 enables operators to swap out seeds in less than one minute, eliminating a time-intensive manual process with quick, modular automation.

Bassi Seminatrici’s SP 94 model combines the seeding and rolling process into a single automated function, drastically reducing the number of passes needed through a field. Not only does the machine combine two processes into one, it also automates the planting process with precise depth placement and can adjust to terrain variations on the fly. Operations adopting the automated features of the SP 94 have reported immediate ROI yields as Bassi Seminatrici modular innovations improved crop uniformity, increased yields, and reduced fertilizer waste.

Bassi Seminatrici has demonstrated its commitment to providing customers with top tier automated equipment by partnering with farm equipment producer EuroGreen Tech. EuroGreen’s electric-powered tools are designed to reduce physical strain, automate harvesting, and improve precision, enabling smaller farms and large-scale operations alike to maintain productivity while tackling labor constraints.

For instance, EuroGreen Tech’s lightweight, high-efficiency harvesting machines allowed one small farm to expand their crop yield while reducing harvest time by 40%, demonstrating how automation unlocks growth and efficiency in agriculture.

By leveraging automated designs and improving process efficiency through technology, Bassi Seminatrici is a dedicated partner in enhancing the productivity and efficiency of the agricultural industry.

Masters of Reuse

Italian machine builders are also employing automation beyond the agriculture industry. SOREMA, the recycling systems division of Previero N. Srl (previero.it), is a member of AMAPLAST (amaplast. org), the Italian Plastics and Rubber Processing Machinery and Molds Manufacturers Association, which designs large, turnkey recycling solutions all over the globe — and leans on a number of automated features and processes to deliver for customers.

SOREMA’s innovative recycling technology is now being applied in the field to augment recycling operations. SOREMA delivered the first post-industrial film deinking plant to CoverisReCover in 2023 and, in the summer of 2024, upgraded the line with a series of innovations, taking productivity to the highest level. To achieve the greatest operational efficiency, SOREMA deploys automation solutions such as automatic feeding, prewashing, de-labeling, wet grinding, hot washing, rinsing with flotation and drying.

SOREMA also uses a suite of automated quality assurance processes on its recycling lines. Bottle and flake detectors check for material consistency, product defects, and final product color verification can be incorporated in the lines, all under a single SOREMA supervisor system SCADA, enabling efficient local and remote control.

SOREMA leverages a number of digital automation tools to enhance the reliability and efficiency of their recycling machinery. For instance, when completing an install at the height of the pandemic, SOREMA developed a dedicated working program to remotely control and complete all of the necessary integration and installation work. After that, all the installation components, no matter how complex, become accessible from PC and tablet, creating an automated repository of data accessible from anywhere, driving new efficiencies and economies of scale in the recycling industry.

Modeling Excellence

FESP Mold Srl (fespmold.com/en) has a long history of knowing the power of automation in the plastics molding industry. The company is considered a global leader in the production of plastics molds for diverse industries such as food packaging and medical devices, and has been producing innovative solutions for nearly three decades. As a member of AMAPLAST (amaplast. org) , the Italian Plastics and Rubber Processing Machinery and Molds Manufacturers Association, FESP prides itself on delivering solutions that are both innovative and reliable.

Image courtesy of Previero

Image courtesy of FESP Mold

A defining aspect of FESP’s design and testing process is its use of automation. On the design side, FESP utilizes a suite of software tools to automate the drafting and modeling process, streamlining frontend design and creating a digital model that can be easily shared with customers. By using easily manipulated digital renders, FESP empowers automated process modeling software to predict how the mold will perform and if it will stand up to the rigors of the production process. “After exceeding two million cycles, a maintenance check revealed that the mold remained in excellent working condition, with no signs of wear or issues, allowing it to continue operating efficiently for another two million cycles,” Arianna Lauro, Marketing Manager at FESP says.

This digitally automated process not only delivers more reliable, better performing molds — it also saves customers money in the design process and heads off potential costly failures during production down the road.

FESP utilizes extensive automation in its testing and verification process for mold design. After digital modeling and testing, FESP moves into a prototype verification stage that includes mold validation through the use of automated testing equipment. Bolstered by digital automation in software modeling, this physical testing phase utilizes automated equipment to verify the strength, integrity, reliability, and failure points of molds.

This process allows FESP to thoroughly test molds with minimal human oversight, translating into cost and efficiency savings that can be passed along to customers.

“This level of durability and precision reflects how our advanced automation and design excellence translate into significant longterm cost savings and consistent operational efficiency for our clients,” Lauro says.

Drilling Down

Italian innovators have even found ways to apply machine automation to heavy industry, such as industrial scale drilling. IMSA Srl (imsaitaly.com/en) is a member of Confindustria Marmomacchine (assomarmomacchine.com/en), the Italian Marble and Stone Machinery Industries. From its humble days in the late 1980s serving the general manufacturing industry, IMSA has grown into an industry leader specializing in deep hole drilling equipment. IMSA design philosophy shines through in their drilling equipment, which includes a number of automated processes to ease operator use.

One example of IMSA’s commitment to automation is the MF1250/2FL gun drilling and milling machine. The MF1250/2FL gun drilling and milling machine by Italian manufacturer IMSA is suitable for molds up to six tons. Its reliability ensures that it can work without an operator’s constant presence, performing many meters of drilling before the drill cutting edge needs to be sharpened. The headstock accommodates both spindle lines with gun drilling and milling on separate axes, able to switch over fully automatically in seconds.

When a changeover is finally needed, IMSA has incorporated a cutting-edge design to fully automate the process. Termed “4P,” the system allows for automatic changes of bore diameter. Through automation, the system can accommodate up to four different diameters on the same machine, with the ability to seamlessly transition between them without physical human intervention. This automated setup can be made even more versatile by combining a tool changer for ISO50 milling tools and a pallet changer, all of which can be automated along with the 4P system.

By implementing automation in both the continuous drilling process and the changeover process, IMSA is empowering customers to drill longer and more reliably with less human intervention. With a number of additional automated features and processes that can be augmented to their machinery, IMSA is a pioneer in drilling automation.

Essential Industry: Brought to you By Italian Machine Builders

Automation has become an essential part of achieving success in modern industry and Italian machine builders stand at the forefront of innovative automated design, incorporating high-tech solutions into their portfolio of machinery and services. From agriculture to recycling, Italian equipment is empowering operations to achieve greater efficiencies with fewer resources.

By remaining closely in tune with the needs of their customers, Italian machine builders are able to deliver highly tailored solutions that speak directly to specific industry challenges, no matter how minute. In this way, Italian machine builders are not just supporting their end users, they are empowering the vital industries we all rely on.

Image courtesy of IMSA

Sustainable Practices for a Sustainable World

Sustainability has been a top-of-mind consideration across industries for well over a decade, with the North American market placing particular emphasis on the importance of sustainable business practices. Many engineers, such as Daniel Hoffman of PULSE Engineering, know the importance of looking for solutions beyond the home continent.

“We have previously acted as an EPC [Engineering, Procurement and Construction] for industrial gas plant builds,” says Hoffman, Chief Engineer at PULSE, which selects Italian equipment for large industrial projects, partially based on their environmental credentials. “As such, we have selected equipment in our offerings from various Italian vendors.”

Italian machine builders are leveraging their expertise to deliver highly sustainable equipment to the North American industry, as shown by the results in an End-User Perceptions survey — conducted by WTWH on behalf of the Italian Trade Agency’s Machines Italia

project to examine how North American companies evaluate and benefit from Italian machinery. Nearly 35% of respondents noted the ability to use a wide range of materials, including new sustainable options, while over 14% of respondents lauded the reduction of utility usage. The survey’s overall revelation: North American companies are factoring the stellar sustainability credentials of Italian machinery into their decision-making process.

To demonstrate Italian machine builders’ strong commitment to sustainability, Machines Italia has highlighted several Italian pioneers in the field. This article explores how individual Italian machine builders are employing different strategies to enhance their products’ sustainability and their end users’ operations. While the technologies, design innovations, and unique processes deployed by these cutting-edge machine builders are helping customers improve their environmental credentials, they also deliver meaningful operational efficiencies that go well beyond environmental returns.

Image courtesy of IMS Technologies

SUSTAINABILITY

For instance, reducing material quantity and weight in packaging improves the environmental footprint of a product, but it also delivers significant savings to the end user through material input cost reductions and reduced transport expenses.

To understand why North American engineers like PULSE are turning to Italian machine builders for sustainable designs and operational efficiencies, Machines Italia asked Italian leaders in machine sustainability to explain how their specific technologies are providing tailored solutions to their customers.

Core Technology

One Italian company has taken the sustainability trend and transformed it into a strong business case that bolsters an organization’s bottom line. IMS Technologies SpA (imstechnologies.com) is a member of ACIMGA (acimga.it/en), the Association of Italian Manufacturers of Machinery for the Graphic, Paper, and Converting Industry. As a global leader in advanced machinery solutions, IMS continues to push the

sheet of paper, reducing overall paper usage by up to 73%. A coreless design also translates into a drastically reduced carbon footprint, as only 1/8 of the trucks are needed for shipping compared to traditional cores. When combined with other IMS features like glueless technology, the ICEBREAKER 167 can deliver measurable sustainability benefits.

IMS has also been working diligently to replace plastics with ecofriendly alternatives. GOEBEL IMS leads the charge in the shift toward biodegradable packaging with its specialized slitter rewinders designed for processing barrier papers, enabling manufacturers to switch off of plastic packaging to more sustainable paper-based formats.

IMS sums up their approach to sustainability in a succinct way: “By developing state-of-the-art machinery that seamlessly blends innovation and environmental responsibility, IMS TECHNOLOGIES is helping manufacturers worldwide transition to sustainable practices. Whether through coreless rewinding, biodegradable packaging solutions, or energy-efficient technologies, IMS TECHNOLOGIES reaffirms its dedication to driving a greener future.”

boundaries of innovation with its portfolio of sustainable technologies. From revolutionary coreless rewinding systems to high-precision slitter rewinders for eco-friendly materials, the company is setting new standards in sustainable manufacturing and packaging.

The MPW slitter rewinder, developed by GOEBEL IMS, is a game-changer in sustainable manufacturing. This fully automatic machine offers the option to wind paper and other materials with or without cores, significantly reducing material waste and enhancing flexibility. The MPW is able to accommodate a wide variety of material types, including new sustainable substrates and formats. By reducing the need for cores, the MPW contributes to resource conservation and aligns with common sustainability goals.

Another offering from IMS, ROTOMAC’s ICEBREAKER 167, also known as the CORELESS, sets a new benchmark in sustainable packaging by eliminating the need for traditional cores in aluminum foil rolls. This cutting-edge coreless design replaces traditional cores with a single

Packaged Sustainability

One Italian expert on sustainable machine design has committed to overhauling their machine portfolio to focus on the dual goals of improved environmental footprint and superior machine functionality for end users. BOBST Italia SpA (bobst.com/usen) is a member of ACIMGA (acimga.it/en), the Association of Italian Manufacturers of Machinery for the Graphic, Paper and Converting Industry. BOBST is one of the world’s leading suppliers of substrate processing, printing and converting equipment and services for the label, flexible packaging, folding carton and corrugated board industries. Their commitment to sustainability permeates the entire organization and guides their design philosophy for machinery. In addition to ink, waste, and substrate reduction on their machines, BOBST focuses on minimizing the energy needs of its packaging solutions, reducing its customers’ production costs and helping them decrease their carbon footprint.

Image courtesy of BOBST Italia

Beyond machine design, BOBST has embarked on an ambitious sustainability evaluation of its own product portfolio, with more than 80% of relevant BOBST machines evaluated by the end of 2023. By the end of 2025, BOBST plans to have their complete catalogue of machines evaluated using their rigorous sustainability criteria. To build upon the sustainability audit process, BOBST is aiming to expand the use of online machine monitoring through BOBST Connect, an online platform that will further empower customers to evaluate and improve the sustainability of their machines and operations.

One of BOBST’s most innovative and versatile machines is the Novalam S 550, a compact and modular converter for small to medium operations. The machine incorporates BOBST’s ongoing commitment to minimizing utility usage into a modular design that can efficiently run a wide variety of materials and substrates, reducing overall material waste and eliminating the need for additional machinery. Highly mobile and flexible, the Novalam S 550 can be redeployed in an operation when needs change, drastically reducing the carbon footprint of having to purchase a new machine.

The Novalam S 550’s life and capability can be extended even further through BOBST’s innovative, sustainabilityfocused upgrade program, which features over 1,000 different components and configurations designed to keep machines functioning at top efficiency.

The Green Treatment

A pioneer in sustainable solutions for converting applications, Ferrarini & Benelli Srl (ferben.com) is a member of ACIMGA (acimga.it/en), the Association of Italian Manufacturers of Machinery for the Graphic, Paper, and Converting Industry. Ferrarini & Benelli brings over 50 years of experience in delivering surface treatment systems to improve the printing and adhesion process. Specifically, Ferrarini & Benelli specializes in providing efficient surface treatment systems designed to enhance the surface tension and adhesion properties of various substrates, including plastic films, aluminum foil, metallized substrates, and plastic-coated paper.

One area where Ferrarini & Benelli is delivering improved sustainability credentials through innovative processes is their corona treatment process. There is a growing demand for durable, environmentally-friendly and customizable solutions, yet there are industries such as food and beverage packaging and the pharmaceutical industry that have to balance using sustainable materials with durability.

Corona treatment plays a critical role in enhancing the quality and performance of surfaces in printing line applications. By improving the adhesion of inks, corona treatment reduces the amount of ink needed, thus lowering ink costs in the long run. Moreover, the enhanced surface characteristics mean that printing processes run more smoothly and efficiently, reducing material waste, defect waste, and downtime.

The treatment also processes substrates without the use of chemical solvents, reducing emissions of volatile organic compounds. These solvents, used in many traditional printing and laminating processes, are harmful to the environment and human health. Solvent-free or water-based inks and adhesives, which require corona treatment for good adhesion, significantly reduce air pollution and chemical waste management issues. Ferrarini & Benelli’s expertise in this field has led to the development of solutions that are ideally suited for solventless lines.

Corona treatment also improves the adhesion of inks and coatings to recycled, biodegradable, or compostable materials, allowing them to be used as environmentally friendly alternatives to traditional plastic packaging. For example, it can be used to treat recycled plastic film, paper, or biodegradable substrates, reducing the use of virgin plastics and promoting a circular economy.

By refining and perfecting the corona treatment process, Ferrarini & Benelli machinery delivers solutions that both improve the sustainability of existing operations, and open the door to even more environmentally friendly materials and processes in the future.

Image courtesy of Ferrarini & Benelli

Vacuuming Up Energy Savings

Italian machine builders are helping clients improve their local plant environments while simultaneously contributing to operation-wide sustainability goals. New Aerodinamica Srl (newaerodinamica.com/en) is a member of ACIMGA (acimga.it/en), the Association of Italian Manufacturers of Machinery for the Graphic, Paper, and Converting Industry. For more than 40 years, New Aerodinamica has been designing and manufacturing custom-made vacuum systems for industries worldwide. By leveraging sustainable features on their dust-clearing systems, New Aerodinamica supports a healthy plant environment, as well as supporting the environmental health of the planet.

New Aerodinamica has pioneered sustainable injector technology for moving waste material through vacuum tubes and out of the production space. In this process, waste material is reduced into smaller particles so they can be easily moved through the system. Thanks to New Aerodinamica’s innovative and sustainability-focused design, their injector systems require less cutting and chopping to reduce material sizes, resulting in significant energy savings and carbon footprint reduction. In addition, the more efficient injector cutting and transportation process results in less post-processing waste and less dust, improving the yield and return of captured material waste, all while improving the localized air quality within the plant.

New Aerodinamica is further enhancing the sustainability of its systems by deploying high-tech solutions. Their systems incorporate high-tech features such as 4.0-ready connectivity,

“Sustainability is a central theme for us and for our planet’s future.” — Paolo Radaelli, CEO of New Aerodinamica

intuitive touch-screen PLC interfaces, and full remote monitoring capabilities. These technology-focused features empower operations with robust integration, data collection, and monitoring capabilities. Designed with an eye toward process improvement and eco-friendly production, New Aerodinamica’s suite of technology can enable operations to more thoroughly monitor, evaluate, and ultimately improve the sustainability of their production processes.

“Sustainability is a central theme for us and for our planet’s future,” says Paolo Radaelli, CEO of New Aerodinamica. “That’s why at New Aerodinamica sustainability has been at the center of every project and development plan for years. In the company, sustainability has always been a priority. Therefore, we always made huge efforts in designing reduced consumption plants.”

New Aerodinamica collaborates with customers to develop innovative solutions that support their sustainability goals.

“The cutting chopper fan has been the pioneer for other innovations that took the Bergamo company up to a higher sustainability level, such as the introduction of 4.0 inverter, PLC, touch screen and remote control, ensuring support even from a distance to the production machine,” Radaelli says. “That means maximum performance and zero impact on production. As an example, a recently built plant in Mexico went from two to six plates, increasing its capacity and the ability to separate different types of materials. Each machine has become independent with its own fan and piping and now the operator can decide where to direct the waste material – this optimizes the recovery. There are also independent inverters switching on and off which means massive energy saving.”

With sustainability baked into its foundations, New Aerodinamica is an innovative partner in eco-friendly vacuum systems that is committed to leveraging cutting-edge technology to deliver unparalleled machinery.

Keeping it Green

More than just a buzzword, sustainability has become a core component of Italian machine design philosophy. Beyond machine design, Italian machine builders are also helping their customers incorporate novel processes and creatively apply technology to improve the environmental footprint of their operations. By embracing sustainability as an operation-wide goal that transcends individual processes, Italian machine builders are not only responsible stewards of the planet, they are pushing customers to improve the sustainability of their practices while simultaneously improving their bottom-line operating metrics.

With Italian excellence, end users do not have to be torn between what is the most environmentally friendly and what is the most efficient – they can achieve both with the same equipment. In this way, Italian machine builders are truly at the vanguard of sustainable design and operations.

Image courtesy of New Aerodinamica

Adaptability Meets Enduring Italian Ingenuity

With ongoing labor shortages, persistent economic uncertainty, and fickle trends that can change on a dime, North American industries are challenged to constantly adapt to new market needs. To address these ongoing pain points, Italian machine builders are pushing their equipment to new levels of flexible design and adaptability. Per an End-User Perceptions survey — conducted by WTWH on behalf of the Italian Trade Agency’s Machines Italia project to assess how North American companies perceive and utilize Italian machinery — North American companies are selecting Italian machinery that can speak directly to these challenges. This includes machines that are integration-ready (over 25%) so they can be easily repurposed and redeployed in an operation, as well as simplified interfaces to accommodate a lack of skilled labor (over 26%).

Adaptable machinery that is able to evolve with a customer’s needs speaks directly to a number of common end-user challenges, and Italian machine builders have become leaders in designing versatile and flexible equipment. To demonstrate the versatility

and nimbleness of Italian machinery, Machines Italia highlights several Italian machine builders on the leading edge of flexible and adaptable machine design. These leaders in adaptive excellence are leveraging machine designs to help end users address a number of common industry challenges, from textiles to heavy construction machinery.

End users of Italian machinery have taken note of the versatility and flexibility of Italian equipment, and they gravitate toward Italianmade quality over other machinery. As one North American OEM explains, using Italian-made machinery in textile was a clear advantage over other equipment available in the market: “I personally have liked the simplicity and design for use that I have seen in Italian machinery. We appreciate that our Italian OEM partner has been flexible with their controls as we have inconvenient specifications that need to be met. We often keep machines in production for many years, so flexibility of manufacturers is important. I have attempted to buy similar machines from US manufacturers, and have been disappointed by the clunky design and large footprint for similar machines.”

Image courtesy of Bonino

By designing inherently flexible machinery anchored around modularity and process diversification, Italian machine builders are working to combine multiple machines into one holistic offering, simplifying end user operations and driving new efficiencies. To get a sense of the breadth and depth of Italian machine versatility, Machines Italia examined a few select Italian machine builders to uncover specific technologies and process innovations that showcase the brilliance of Italian machine design.

Versatility is in the Card(ing)s

One way Italian machine builders are improving the versatility of their machinery is by listening carefully to their customers’ needs and responding to them proactively. With over 100 years of experience in manufacturing carding machines, Bonino Srl (boninoitaly.com/ en) a member of ACIMIT (acimit.it), the Association of Italian Textile Machinery Manufacturers has embraced flexible, adaptable, and customized designs to carve out a distinguished reputation for supplying versatile solutions.

A guiding philosophy of Bonino design is unifying multiple processes into one machine, eliminating additional equipment where feasible. For instance, processing bleached cotton, viscose, and natural fibers — such as hemp — for nonwoven products used in hygiene, cosmetics, and medical applications typically involves between three and six separate carding machines. Through intensive design and feedback, Bonino has improved this process by utilizing more efficient machinery, resulting in two or three Bonino carding machines being able to handle the workload that would typically take up to six machines. By designing a more versatile and adaptable machine, Bonino has delivered significant capital and utility savings to customers.

Collaborate to Succeed: U.S. Cotton Partners with Bonino U.S. Cotton, LLC located in Belmont, NC. is a leading manufacturer of cosmetic and beauty aid products. Utilizing state-of-the-art technology U.S. Cotton produces cotton-based products in the U.S. U.S. Cotton’s mission is to manufacture and market high-quality cotton products that support and satisfy customers’ and consumers’ needs.

Productively promoting innovative products that adhere to four basic business principles: quality, value, performance and service. For this issue of Machines Italia, we had the pleasure of speaking with Marcel Elsner, Senior Engineer Manager at U.S. Cotton, who shared his experience working with Italian OEM Bonino Srl

U.S. Cotton is currently using multiple Bonino Airlay machines to form cotton web used in cosmetic & health and beauty products such as cotton balls, swabs, pads, and more. “We started with one small Airlay machine from Bonino about 12 years ago and just purchased the sister machine,” Elsner says. “Additionally, one of our previous plants in Switzerland also purchased a Bonino machine because of how well it worked at the North Carolina plant. They are very reliable machines.”

Ultimately, U.S. Cotton wanted not just a machine supplier, but a partner. “One of the reasons we chose to go with Bonino is because they are very collaborative,” he says. “They provided us with a niche, completely custom product. They had the willingness to go beyond what other OEM’s said could be done. Most similar machines are big, heavy, and slow. We needed a machine that was faster, lighter, and more compact. Bonino stepped up to build a prototype to support our needs.”

Bonino collaborates with their customers to achieve the right solutions at the right time. For U.S. Cotton, this meant designing a machine that didn’t exist on the market. Bonino stepped up to the challenge knowing that producing a prototype, completely custom solutions comes with its own unique challenges.

“Working with Bonino is working with family. You have direct access to the owners and several generations that are still part of the company there is a lot of knowledge with people who are interested and passionate about what they do.” — Marcel Elsner, Senior Engineer Manager at U.S. Cotton

Robust machine adaptability is also at the forefront of Bonino’s customer relationships. Bonino works closely with customers to build carding machines suited for their needs, placing particular emphasis on understanding future operational goals and potential future applications. By building carding machinery in a step-by-step process with customer input at each step, Bonino delivers machinery designed to grow with an organization. Whether a customer wants to pivot to new materials, incorporate new high-tech features, or even add entirely new products to their portfolio, Bonino can deliver truly flexible machinery able to seamlessly adapt to new production needs.

Regarding functionality, Bonino machinery is designed to be innately flexible. Bonino strives to create modular pieces of equipment that can be easily moved around and redeployed, as well as easily augmented with aftermarket modifications to greatly expand machine capabilities. By building flexible and adaptable features into the foundation of their machine design, Bonino delivers unparalleled versatility and functionality that can grow organically with an organization.

“With prototypes being highly customized, it is understood that it is a collaborative partnership,” Elsner says. “There will be tweaks and changes that need to be made as you go.”

Elsner has seen the powerful aftermarket support that Italian machines now hold, too. “Bonino has incredible support on the back end,” he says. “The partnership and Bonino’s commitment to collaboration was especially apparent. Bonino has a limited service presence in the U.S. but they have provided lots of electrical and engineering support by utilizing internet and remote connectivity.”

One key area that U.S. Cotton has loved about working with Bonino is their support of modifications. Some OEMs get very upset when they make a modification. “Bonino is the exact opposite,” Elsner says. “They not only want us to make modifications that work, but they want to know what those modifications are so they can be incorporated into future designs. Some of our modifications were included on the machine in our Switzerland plant.”

Bonino is not only committed to collaborating with U.S. Cotton to design the right machine, but proudly stands behind their machine and continues to support U.S. Cotton with their aftermarket needs. Elsner values the partnership, highlighting the structure of many Italian OEMs.

“Working with Bonino is working with family,” he says. “You have direct access to the owners and several generations that are still part of the company there is a lot of knowledge with people who are interested and passionate about what they do. Additionally, this structure allows for less red tape. It really lets them be flexible and nimble to our needs. When working with German OEMs there is much more red tape and processes that must be followed. In our experience, working with Italians brings much, much more flexibility.”

Versatility Woven In

One key industry where Italian machine builders are excelling in versatile machine design is textiles. Biancalani Srl (biancalani. com) is a member of ACIMIT (acimit.it), the Association of Italian Textile Machinery Manufacturers, and has been designing and manufacturing equipment for fabric preparation and finishing for over 65 years. Recently, Biancalani has turned renewed attention to the automotive industry, where textile needs and vehicle designs are experiencing a period of innovation and change. To address this new era in automotive manufacturing, Biancalani is enhancing its already-versatile line of automotive textile machinery to adapt to new production needs.

For instance, Biancalani produces machinery tailored to specific fabric needs, meaning they have a solution for any fabric type and configuration used by the automotive industry. “The automotive fabric treatment industry will continue to evolve,” says Rossano Biancalani, CEO at Biancalani. “With the integration of smart technologies in fabrics, the development of bio-based materials, increasingly customized vehicle interiors, and optimization of production processes, there is a need for flexible and adaptable solutions in the automotive industry. We’re here to solve the challenges the automotive industry will face.” On top of this, Biancalani is actively incorporating new features and technology desired by the automotive industry into their processes. The Biancalani AIRO 24 process is an excellent example. Beyond delivering stellar fabric stabilization and enhancing elasticity properties, the AIRO 24 process can accommodate the inclusion of smart sensor use within the

fabric for cutting-edge automotive luxury features like realtime occupant comfort monitoring. Whether an automaker plans to incorporate advanced features like climate monitoring into textiles, Biancalani machinery provides the flexibility and adaptability to grow with modern automotive trends.

Biancalani is also improving the functionality of textiles for the automotive industry, creating a more versatile and adaptable product. Through their innovative AQUARIA washing process, Biancalani is able to eliminate chemical usage and reduce water consumption. While already impressive, Biancalani has refined the AQUARIA process even further, opening the door to the inclusion of anti-microbial and self-cleaning properties into the fabric itself. By taking an already innovative process and adapting it to incorporate flexible features and options, Biancalani produces versatile equipment that can adapt to future production goals.

Sounding Success

Another Italian machine builder excelling in versatile machine design for textile production is Ferraro SpA (ferraro.it/en), a member of ACIMIT (acimit.it), the Association of Italian Textile Machinery Manufacturers. Ferraro has been producing machinery for the textile industry for over 70 years, focusing the past 20 years on developing adaptable, flexible machinery to accommodate all of their customers’ needs.

Exemplifying this commitment to innovation is the FerrSonic system, an ultrasound-based cleaning system that contributes to more flexible production setups. Beyond delivering enormous savings by reducing water usage, chemical usage, and cleaning times, the FerrSonic system upends the traditional cleaning process by allowing the machine to remain in place. With traditional jet drying, machines must be removed from the line and treated separately, creating costly downtime. To solve this issue, Ferraro created a more versatile and adaptable process, resulting in the FerrSonic clean-in-place solution. Using a traditional installation with FerrSonic, Ferraro machinery is able to be continually cleaned without removal from the line, all with less electricity needed. This innovative setup can drastically improve the production flexibility of manufacturing operations by keeping downtime to a minimum.

Image courtesy of Biancalani

Ferraro also deploys high-tech solutions to enhance the flexibility and adaptability of the entire manufacturing space. Through their Senor line of integrated panels and touch screens, Ferraro brings cutting-edge connectivity, data gathering, and monitoring to their already versatile textile machinery and processes. By tapping into operational data, Ferraro machinery empowers manufacturers to continuously improve the capability of their production space.

Dyehouse in a Box

One Italian textile machine builder is approaching design versatility by endeavoring to combine multiple machine functionalities into one comprehensive piece of equipment. Lawer SpA (lawer.com/en) is a member of ACIMIT (acimit.it), the Association of Italian Textile Machinery Manufacturers. As Lawer has shown, there is another approach to design versatility.

By combining multiple functionalities into one comprehensive piece of equipment, Lawer’s innovative machinery, such as the TD-DYELAB and related systems, exemplify the concept of flexibility and adaptability, contributing significantly to advancements in the textile industry. Its TD-DYELAB is an outstanding example of machinery that can replace multiple machines with one unified system. Described as a “dyehouse in a box,” this fully automated system combines the functions of weighing, dosing, dispensing, dyeing, and managing chemical solutions within a single machine. Anita Bandere, Commercial and Marketing Executive at Lawer, highlights the depth of automation in the Lawer machine-based dying process.

“The automatic dosing systems organize production in an innovative way, automatically weighing and dosing powders, liquids, and chemicals as parts of the recipes of the textile dyeing and finishing process,” she says.

The TD-DYELAB can handle the preparation of the powder dye, dissolving, dosing, and distributing dye solutions and chemical products used in laboratories, thus eliminating the need for separate machines for each task. TD-DYELAB can also reproduce a real dyeing process, allowing the company to replicate the exact process in a laboratory sample.

TD-DYELAB supports the use of different types of materials (natural, synthetic, fabrics, yarn, loose fiber), enabling textile manufacturers to try different solutions without investing in new machinery. The system’s ability to automatically prepare diluted solutions from more concentrated ones provides users with the flexibility to adapt to changing production requirements swiftly.

Lawer’s commitment to innovation ensures that TD-DYELAB is not only adaptable today but ready to meet tomorrow’s operational needs, as it can be easily redeployed within an operation when priorities change. The system’s modular components, including bottle-holder tables and powder-holder tables, can be configured to suit different needs. “The accurate monitoring of the dyeing process, the precision of the preparations, the repeatability of the recipes, and the perfect traceability of the operations carried out, are fundamental elements of an efficient working process, constant monitoring, and cost reduction,” Bandere says. “The need for a healthy and hygienic working environment, where contaminations and product handling are minimized, are also essential elements for a modern process. This level of flexibility ensures that Lawer machinery can adapt to new tasks and processes with minimal disruption.”

Lawer leverages digital solutions and software to enhance the adaptability and versatility of its machinery. TD-DYELAB includes a computer with management software, enabling straightforward setup and production management. This integration-ready approach enhances the overall flexibility and adaptability of the equipment, allowing for hassle-free integration into existing operations. Additionally, the machine can be connected and integrated with other software, in compliance with 4.0 regulations.

With the ability to handle numerous processes and material types, combined with modular design and easy integration features, Lawer’s machinery fully embraces versatile and flexible design philosophy.

Image courtesy of Ferraro

Image courtesy of Lawer

All-in-One Design

Monti Antonio SpA (montiantonio.com/en) member of ACIMIT (acimit.it) of Italian Textile Machinery Manufacturers. With an extensive range of machines that include solutions for laminating, thermoprinting, ironing, and finishing materials, Monti Antonio has a long history of innovation and technological advancement in the textile sector and beyond.

A key pillar of its approach to machine design is versatility. Monti Antonio machines are designed to be highly nimble, capable of handling a number of different applications across industries. The Model L calender is a prime example of versatility, offering a variety of applications such as film coating (plastification), film bonding, PVC and PU embossing, foil decoration, effects decoration, and sublimation printing. This series of calenders is ideal for organizations looking for a single solution with diverse applications. Many Monti Antonio customers start with one specific use in mind and soon discover that their machines enable customers to expand their market.

Monti Antonio has also deployed remote monitoring and remote access technology with their installations, further enhancing machine flexibility and decreasing the management burden at manufacturers. By using open protocols tailored to each customer’s specific needs, Monti Antonio machinery seamlessly interfaces with existing IT systems to efficiently communicate operational data. This nimbleness can be taken a step further by connecting the system to the internet, enabling Monti Antonio to remotely optimize processes.

Evolving With The Customer

One Italian machine builder is looking to leverage longevity and modularity as a way to increase the lifespan of its equipment and empower nimble redeployment to greatly enhance machine versatility. Tonello Srl (tonello.com/en) is a member of ACIMIT (acimit.it), the Association of Italian Textile Machinery Manufacturers, and has been designing machinery anchored around flexibility and adaptability for two decades. By approaching machine design through the lens of longevity, Tonello designs machines capable of evolving with their customers.

For instance, all of Tonello’s machines are easily retrofitted, allowing customers to adapt to changing technology and production needs. A perfect example is the NoStone® system, which provides a plug-and-play solution to replace pumice stone seamlessly. It’s reusable, easy to implement, and eliminates the dust and sludge typically generated by traditional pumice, offering a cleaner, more sustainable alternative. “Adaptability and flexibility are at the core of our machines which is why we proudly say that our machines don’t age,” Alberto Lucchin, Marketing Manager at Tonello, says. “They evolve.”

Tonello machinery is highly versatile, capable of handling several applications on one machinery setup that would traditionally be accomplished through several pieces of equipment. An excellent example of this is its All-In-One System,

Image courtesy of Tonello

Image courtesy of Monti Antonio

which integrates washing, dyeing, and finishing into a single unit. This innovative design enables customers to replace multiple machines with a single, comprehensive Tonello solution.

Tonello also strives to design modular machinery that can be redeployed in an operation as priorities shift and organizations

flexibility makes Tonello machinery an ideal solution for operations that require agility and responsiveness to changing demands. From adaptable retrofits to baked-in versatility and modularity, Tonello machinery’s flexibility is a valuable asset to future-proofing customer operations.

“We design our machines with the end user’s challenges in mind. This means our machines aren’t just built for today — they’re engineered to stay ahead of the curve and meet future operational needs seamlessly.” — Alberto Lucchin, Marketing Manager at Tonello

grow. The company is cognizant of the challenges their customers face. “We understand the complexities our customers face pivoting or expanding capabilities, operator safety, new technologies,” Lucchin says. “We design our machines with the end user’s challenges in mind. This means our machines aren’t just built for today — they’re engineered to stay ahead of the curve and meet future operational needs seamlessly.”

Tonello machines support a variety of processes — washing, dyeing, and finishing — and can seamlessly transition between these tasks as needed. Their user-friendly interfaces and plugand-play systems simplify reconfiguration, allowing operators to adapt quickly to new workflows without extensive downtime. This

Heating Up

Smart features, like pre-programmed cycles and automatic temperature detection, are also helping Italian machine builders create more versatile machinery. Triveneta Grandi Impianti Srl (trivgi.com) is a member of ACIMIT (acimit.it), the Association of Italian Textile Machinery Manufacturers. For over 50 years, Triveneta has been designing, manufacturing, and selling versatile dryers for use in a multitude of industries and applications.

Triveneta’s design philosophy is rooted in customization and flexibility. By offering a wide range of dryers with a plethora of optional additions and features, Triveneta can provide customers with machines tailored to their current needs, with an eye toward future goals and capabilities. From different injector configurations for steam and cleaning products, to a variety of drum options, Triveneta dryers can be customized to each client’s precise needs and specifications. This level of customization enables customers to use Triveneta in an array of applications, with different options and features opening up new applications and new industries for customers.

Triveneta is also utilizing the latest technology to improve the versatility of their dryers. Features such as infrared sensors designed to change cycles automatically upon achieving programmed temperatures enable Triveneta dryers to autonomously adjust for variances in load composition and size. Further automation features, such as intuitive touch screen interfaces and remote monitoring, removes the burden from operators to manage load and cycle changes by streamlining programming and enabling remote troubleshooting. This suite of automated features and functions not only enhances the range of capabilities the machine can perform, but also frees up human resources to be redeployed elsewhere, greatly enhancing overall operational flexibility. By combining flexible customization with adaptable technology, Triveneta delivers dryers capable of accommodating applications in a wide variety of industries, from industrial dyehouses to healthcare and hospital settings.

Image courtesy of Triveneta Grandi Impianti

Flexing on Construction

Apart from textile machinery, Italian machine builders are bringing versatile and flexible design innovations to construction and earthmoving equipment. It’s not easy. And that’s why it’s so impressive.

For more than 75 years, Venieri SpA (vf-venieri.com/en) , a member of UNACEA (unacea.org/en) , the Italian Association of Construction Equipment Machinery Manufacturers, has been a leader in the construction and earthmoving industries. With a focus on delivering high-performance wheel loaders, backhoe loaders, and a wide range of equipment weighing between 7,900 lbs and 22,000 lbs, Venieri remains synonymous with reliability, adaptability, and innovation. Versatile machinery is at the core of Venieri’s identity; the company believes that every challenge can benefit from a tailored and flexible solution.

Venieri’s mantra of customized adaptability is reflected strongly in their backhoe loader design. These loaders exemplify this commitment to flexibility and versatility by merging the capabilities of two machines into one innovative solution. With seamless loading and excavation capabilities, Venieri’s backhoe loaders can streamline operations, saving time, effort, and investment.

More than just a versatile backhoe configuration, Venieri’s machines are best viewed as highly adaptable platforms, capable of carrying hundreds of different attachments and tools for a

staggering variety of jobs. This modular design allows for easy retrofitting, ensuring that every product adapts to meet the customers’ specific needs. Need high-flow? It’s easily retrofittable on demand. From snow removal to material handling, road maintenance to landscaping, Venieri wheel loaders are ready for anything your business demands, today and in the future.

Whether it’s modifying machines to integrate specific attachments, optimizing designs for specialized tasks, or enhancing performance for greater efficiency, Venieri crafts equipment that empowers their customers with flexible and adaptable solutions. Venieri has even helped its partners adapt their machines for entirely new opportunities increasing lifting capacity, improving fuel efficiency, or enabling multi-functional capabilities. Whatever a customer’s goals, Venieri strives to ensure their equipment can grow alongside an organization and works closely with their customers to deliver innovative machinery that can be efficiently adapted to new processes throughout the course of its life.

Flexibility Into the Future

As trends change and economic realities evolve, companies must be ready to pivot and adapt to new market baselines and address new customer desires. With Italian design and innovation, end users can be confident their machine purchases will remain integral pieces of their organization for years to come.

Image courtesy of Venieri

North American Companies Seek Stronger Ties with Italian OEMs

Regardless of industry, market, product, and process, end users consistently express a desire to form deeper collaborative partnerships with their OEMs. This was strongly reflected in an End-User Perceptions survey — conducted by WTWH on behalf of the Italian Trade Agency’s Machines Italia project analyzing how North American companies perceive Italian machinery — where just over 70% of end users reported OEM websites as their most common source of industry information.

In other words, when looking for expertise and information on the latest machine technology, industry trends, and process improvements, end users are first looking to their OEM partners.

By taking time to comprehensively understand customers’ operations, pain points, and goals, Italian machine builders have demonstrated a strong commitment to forging lasting relationships. End users have recognized this commitment to relationship building from Italian machine builders, with over 90% of end users agreeing

at least somewhat that Italian machine builders are responsive and collaborative partners. Beyond a spec sheet and a standard pitch, Italian machine builders take time to work closely with customers to deliver solutions tailored to individual needs, including entirely bespoke designs and machinery which embody a collaborative spirit. Customized and collaborative design are important selling points for Italian machinery. As one American user even noted: “I have also appreciated the quick turnaround for design changes from our Italian OEM. We often are very particular about our machine specification, and our Italian partners seem to be able to comply with little difficulty.”

To demonstrate the deep Italian commitment to building lasting partnerships, Machines Italia asked four Italian machine builders in the industrial software, machinery, metal fabrication and metalworking sectors to expound on their collaborative bonafides. From initial design and planning, all the way through to commissioning and ongoing support and service, Italian machine

Image courtesy of Airpim

builders are committed to forming lasting customer relationships. “Our Italian OEM has remarkable fabrication capabilities in house, and seems to work with a collection of local suppliers for their products,” notes one North American end user. “There is an awful lot of fabrication capability in the Monza area especially.” Machines Italia has showcased several Italian machine builders that embody this collaborative spirit, exploring the unique and specific ways they collaborate with their customers to elevate their product portfolio and expand the quality of their services.

significantly boosted productivity and competitiveness, while also delivering powerful support for industrial accounting processes.

“Collaborating with companies to leverage their data and help them achieve greater operational efficiency is a key part of our competitive advantage,” Gamper says. “We always strive to help end users with their unique and specific software challenges.” Whether just on the start of a digital journey, or deep into a long digital transformation, airpim can help achieve your goals and enhance your operations through digital tools anchored by a deeply collaborative working relationship.

“Collaborating with companies to leverage their data and help them achieve greater operational efficiency is a key part of our competitive advantage. We always strive to help end users with their unique and specific software challenges.” — Ulrike Gamper, Business Development & Communication Manager at airpim

Digital Journeymen

Airpim Srl (airpim.com/en) is a member of UCIMU-SISTEMI PER PRODURRE (ucimu.it), the Italian Machine Tools, Robots and Automation Manufacturers’ Association. By partnering with customers to deliver high-level digital solutions, airpim develops state-of-theart digital tools designed to securely integrate, enrich, and manage data, transforming it into a powerful strategic asset. The forwardlooking software provider specializes in advanced technology to help businesses optimize data quality and security. Its solutions address complex industry challenges with flexibility and precision.

Due to the nature of their technology and software focused approach, airpim must work closely with clients to develop solutions tailored specifically to their needs. Each operation presents unique challenges and airpim excels at holistically understanding a client’s operations and addressing key digital pain points.

In this sense, collaboration and partnership are core to the identity and success of airpim.

“The system offers a simple, role-based interface tailored to each user’s specific responsibilities,” says airpim CEO Tiziano Tresanti. With collaboration and customization at the core of their end user experience, airpim is delivering tailored solutions for specific challenges.

Perhaps the best demonstration of airpim’s unwavering commitment to collaboration is through the examination of a key case study. Airpim was presented with a leading Italian tool manufacturer struggling with five disparate software systems unable to communicate with one another.

“Our first step was to identify production orders and connect manufacturing machinery to the digital platform, integrating its data with existing systems,” says Ulrike Gamper, Business Development & Communication Manager at airpim. The company collaborated closely with the client to evaluate the different platforms, uncover desired operational goals, explore potential solutions, and ultimately execute a concrete improvement plan. Airpim solved the challenge by integrating these systems into a unified ecosystem, enabling seamless, real-time access to structured, clean, and up-to-date data. This transformation

Balancing Relationships

Beyond the digital space, Italian machine builders are also working closely with clients to design customized machinery suited to a specific challenge or precise application. Balance Systems Srl (balancesystems.com) is a member of UCIMU-SISTEMI PER PRODURRE (ucimu.it), the Italian Machine Tools, Robots and Automation Manufacturers’ Association. Balance Systems understands the importance of industry partnerships, demonstrating their focus on collaborative improvement through both their machine and service offerings.

Image courtesy of Balance Systems

In their line of ring balancers, Balance Systems delivers bestin-class products optimized for rapid changeovers, adaptable installation options, and high-performance automated processes and monitoring. While these are impressive products, the true strength of Balance Systems lies in their ability to collaborate and customize.

With a variety of different automation options, sensor configurations, mounting and installation setups, and flexible software suites, Balance Systems can deliver a solution tailored to each organization’s unique needs.

By continuously soliciting feedback from clients and technicians to refine service offerings, both in the field and remotely, Balance Systems exemplifies the collaborative mindset in their approach to service and maintenance. Its dedicated internal team means Balance Systems is committed to working closely with their clients to understand how services can be improved, ultimately helping their clients achieve more efficient operations. Through an ongoing process of feedback and collaboration, Balance Systems works diligently to maintain their machines in the field, all while continuously improving the quality of their services.

Empowering with e-POWER

One Italian machine builder is taking a unique approach to collaboration by empowering their clients to do more on their own, without the need for OEM intervention. Davi-Promau Srl (Davi-Promau.com/int/en) is a member of UCIMU-SISTEMI PER PRODURRE (ucimu.it), the Italian Machine Tools, Robots and Automation Manufacturers’ Association. Davi-Promau is an industry-leading manufacturer of plate rolls, angle rolls, high productivity lines and customized rolling machines. With sights set on revolutionizing the steel plate rolling industry, Davi-Promau

unveiled its new fully electric e-POWER plate roll machine. e-POWER embodies the highest levels of precision, productivity, ease of maintenance and energy efficiency all within a quiet, compact machine that ensures hassle-free installation.

One innovative way that Davi-Promau has sought to collaborate with North American industry partners is by drastically simplifying the maintenance process on their e-POWER machine. While many companies work to improve the quality of their post-installation service and maintenance, Davi-Promau has taken a truly novel approach by also striving to make maintenance easily achievable by end users with limited resources.

With e-POWER, maintenance tasks are cleaner and more straightforward, thanks to the system’s single actuator component. Instead of having to disassemble the actuator, users can easily replace it and ship the actuator back to Davi-Promau for rebuilding. This streamlined approach means that even a licensed electrician can handle the replacement, eliminating the need for a specialized technician in certain phases.

By listening to their clients, Davi-Promau was able to deliver a solution that deepens partnerships and trust by empowering clients with the tools needed to address common production challenges. A truly innovative approach to collaborative service, Davi-Promau delivers solutions that put the power back into clients’ hands.

The Cutting Edge

A final Italian machine builder embodies the spirit of collaborative success by baking an open-dialogue exchange into all of their customer interactions. STHEMMA Srl (sthemma.com/en) is a member of UCIMU-SISTEMI PER PRODURRE (ucimu.it), the Italian Machine Tools, Robots and Automation Manufacturers’ Association. STHEMMA/THOMAS manufactures THOMAS saws and cutting machines, with a particular focus on customer-first collaboration and partnership. The product range spans from manual saws to advanced automatic CNC systems, designed with cutting-edge technologies. THOMAS-branded bandsaws represent the perfect balance between traditional craftsmanship and technological innovation.

STHEMMA/THOMAS goes beyond selling machinery, working as a trusted partner to its clients. Every delivery begins with an open, in-depth dialogue to identify customers’ actual needs and provide tailored solutions — whether through manual saws or automatic cutting systems. “The supplier-client relationship starts with listening,” one industry leader says. “Each user faces unique challenges: optimizing production times, reducing material waste, or improving the final cutting

Image courtesy of Davi-Promau

“One of our company’s primary objectives is to build trust with clients. This approach doesn’t end with the sale; we provide postsale support as an integral part of our commitment.”

— STHEMMA/THOMAS company leader

quality, to name a few. With deep industry knowledge and attention to detail, STHEMMA/THOMAS works closely with customers to understand their needs and deliver solutions that turn challenges into growth opportunities.”

STHEMMA/THOMAS’s dedication to collaborative solutions is further demonstrated in their service offerings. With a companywide goal of building deep trust with their clients, STHEMMA/ THOMAS provides post-sale support as an integral part of its customer commitment. “One of our company’s primary objectives is to build trust with clients,” a company leader says. “This approach doesn’t end with the sale; we provide post-sale support as an integral part of our commitment.”

While this includes standard maintenance and service features, a defining aspect of STHEMMA/THOMAS’s service package is customized consulting for process optimization. STHEMMA/THOMAS will partner with a client to thoroughly evaluate their operations and uncover potential additions or modifications to improve overall efficiency. This commitment delivers tangible results: in one instance, STHEMMA/THOMAS’s consulting process identified a gap and introduced a solution to a manufacturer that improved productivity by 30% and cut operating costs by 20% in the first year alone.

STHEMMA/THOMAS’s strength, as it lies for many other Italian machine builders, is their ability to listen, understand, and innovate, building trust-based relationships that stand the test of time.

Lasting Impressions

Collaboration has become a key differentiator for machine builders across industries. As the complexities of modernity compound in industries like manufacturing, end users are challenged with absorbing the enormous volume of new information they are faced with. Be it new physical technology or new digital technology, or new processes and new best practices, organizations are inundated with information and options that quickly become overwhelming and can lead to crippling option paralysis.

Fortunately for end users, Italian machine builders are industry experts, keeping abreast of the newest technology and information to deliver cutting-edge solutions to their customers.

Most importantly, end users, especially those here in North America, do not have to aggressively seek out their Italian partners for these solutions many Italian machine builders are already helping their end users proactively evaluate new options and are constantly helping end users identify where in their operations improvements can be made. With a deep well of knowledge and versatile expertise across machine and technology disciplines, Italian machine builders are responsive and engaged partners, ready to help guide end users along a journey of continuous improvement.

From collaborative machine design based on end user feedback, to proactive consulting and design services tailored to each customer’s operations, Italian machine builders are committed to forging lasting ties with their clients.

Image courtesy of STHEMMA

The Petrochemicals division of Italy’s BASF SpA has completed its upgrades for Superabsorbent Polymers (SAP) after a $19.2 million investment into its Freeport, Texas site. The project, which began in 2023, involved the installation of new equipment to increase production rates and the optimization of existing processes at the SAP plant in Freeport. It also improved rail logistics capabilities allowing for a reduction in truck traffic, resulting in a lower carbon footprint associated with customer deliveries. The combination of the new equipment and upgraded processes has led to an improved capability to make higher-performing SAPs while simultaneously realizing up to 20% higher throughput and further improving overall expected asset reliability.

Website: basf.com

BD PLAST SRL, RECEIVES US APPROVAL FOR ITS CLEANCHANGER® SYSTEM

BIZERBA ANNOUNCES BPA AND BPS-FREE THERMAL LABEL SOLUTIONS AHEAD OF CALIFORNIA’S PROPOSITION 65 REGULATION CHANGES

Bizerba SpA, a global leader in weighing, slicing, and labeling technology solutions, has announced that all direct thermal materials used in its label production will be free of Bisphenol A (BPA) and Bisphenol S (BPS). This proactive step ensures compliance with California’s Proposition 65 regulations, providing customers with a seamless path to meeting regulatory requirements without the need for additional product labeling. With more than 150 years of industry expertise, Bizerba remains a trusted partner for businesses across the food, retail, logistics, and industrial sectors. By embracing regulatory changes and delivering innovative labeling solutions, the company continues to lead the way in meeting the demands of a dynamic marketplace.

Website: bizerba.com

BD Plast Srl announces that CleanChanger®, the only self-cleaning screen changer with an automatic breaker plate ejection system, has obtained a patent in the United States, confirming its revolutionary nature and technological excellence. After having obtained the patent at the European level, this important overseas recognition further consolidates the role of CleanChanger® as a reference in the automatic filtration sector.

Website: bdplast.com

BLM GROUP USA BREAKS GROUND ON 65K SQ.FT. EXPANSION

BLM GROUP USA, the North American subsidiary of BLM SpA, has announced plans to expand the Novi headquarters for North America. BLM GROUP says this nearly 65,000 square-foot expansion is a key advancement to support the organization’s plans for nurturing the growth of their workforce and unwavering dedication to customer care for their ever-expanding portfolio of industry-leading fabrication machines. “People are the cornerstone of the success and continued growth of BLM GROUP USA, and the extent of this expansion is a testament to our dedication to the local community, the metal fabrication industry, and our customers,” announced Mauro Corno, President, and COO of BLM GROUP USA. Groundbreaking for the expansion has begun and the facility is scheduled to be opened by Q3 2025.

Website: blmgroup.com

BST ENABLES COMPLETE PRINTING AUTOMATION: INSPECTION WORKFLOW WITH TUBESCAN SMARTDATA QLINK

BST Srl is a leading manufacturer of quality assurance measures for the web processing industries. TubeScan, the leading print inspection system, is setting new standards with innovative technologies for prepress connections, standard print inspection, and post-press processes. The latest developments with SMARTData QLink enable seamless integration into existing workflows and increase efficiency and quality at all stages of the printing process. Complete label printing automation is now possible from pre-press to finishing, packaging, and dispatch.

Website: bst.elexis.group

CASE CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT PARTNERS WITH STONE EQUIPMENT TO STRENGTHEN DEALER NETWORK IN ALABAMA

CASE Construction Equipment welcomes Stone Equipment to the CASE dealer family to bring the full line of CASE equipment, attachments, service, parts, and financing options to customers in central and northern Alabama. Stone Equipment will operate as CASE Power & Equipment of Alabama with initial locations in Birmingham and Montgomery and plans to open additional Alabama locations soon. Founded in 2010, Stone Equipment serves customers throughout the southeastern U.S. by delivering superior customer service and supplying a full range of high-quality heavy machinery for aggregate, demolition, environmental, and construction applications.

Website: casece.com

CLAAS INTRODUCES ADDITIONAL HAY TOOLS

CLAAS Italia SpA, a leading manufacturer of agricultural engineering equipment has announced their popular CLAAS tedders and movers that were introduced in Europe will be rolling out to North American customers in time for the first cuttings in 2025. An expanded DISCO mower line and three new, wider VOLTO tedders will provide greater hay processing capabilities for domestic producers.

Website: claas.com

CNH INDUSTRIAL TO WORK WITH MICROSOFT, ACCENTURE ON ‘SMART’ VEHICLES

CNH Industrial has set up a five-year collaboration with Microsoft and Accenture to help it develop “smart” and connected industrial vehicles. The collaboration is mainly focused on setting up a global network of digital hubs in Europe, the United States, Brazil, and India, CNH said without providing financial details of the agreement.

In those hubs, the three companies will design, launch, and manage digital services aimed at making CNH’s products “smarter, more functional, secure and sustainable,” the company said.

Website: cnh.com

A NEW FACTORY EXPANSION IN MEXICO FOR EUROGROUP LAMINATIONS

EuroGroup Laminations designs and manufactures stators and rotors for electric motors and generators and was already present in South America through Eurotranciatura Mexico. It invested here, back in 2016, to start manufacturing components for the automotive and EV markets. The new facilities were built meeting high standards of innovation and sustainability, with an emphasis on decarbonization and circular economy. The expansion of the production site in Mexico also marks a key step in EuroGroup Laminations’ growth path, with a doubling of installed production capacity for the electric vehicles market.

Website: eglagroup.com

IMMMES PARTNERS WITH US’S MATODI FLAT GLASS EXPERTS, BRINGING NEW SOLUTIONS TO THE GLASS INDUSTRY

IMMMES Srl focuses 80% of its resources in the purification sector. The plant called DTP reaches a level of evolution and improvement to continue to offer a cutting-edge product in line with the requests from the glass industry. IMMMES has partnered with Matodi - Flat Glass Experts and together they will bring water purification solutions for the glass industry to clients across the USA, ensuring a more sustainable and efficient production process. IMMMES believes in building strong partnerships that share its commitment to innovation, sustainability, and excellence in the glass processing industry.

Website: immmes.com

AUTOMATIC KNIFE POSITIONING SYSTEM FOR RAPID MACHINE BY DIENES

Goebel IMS, a brand of IMS Technologies SpA, announces a new cutting-edge upgrade option for the RAPID Slitter Rewinder: the automatic knife positioning system powered by DIENES. The RAPID has long been a trusted choice in slitting and winding applications, renowned for its precision in processing a variety of materials, including paper and light board. With the integration of the automatic knife positioning system, the RAPID now raises the bar even higher, meeting the demands of modern production with enhanced performance in the converting sector.

Website: imstechnologies.com

HUSQVARNA ITALIA BRINGS NEW TOOLS TO NORTH AMERICAN CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY

Husqvarna Italia S.p.A. introduces the PRIME™, a complete range of electric tools for drilling and cutting concrete. Due to the high-frequency electric system, PRIME operators will have all the power necessary and benefit from zero-direct emissions. The PRIME range was extensively updated and redesigned to meet today’s high demands and productivity needs. With a wide selection of tools, including a drill motor, power cutters, the new K 7000 Chain FlushCut, and PP 8 power pack, as well as a new wall saw system, it’s easier than ever to cut and drill with precision.

Website: husqvarnaconstruction.com

KOMATSU ITALIA INTRODUCES DEMOLITION EXCAVATORS TO NORTH AMERICA

Komatsu Italia Manufacturing SpA, a leading manufacturer of construction mining, forestry, and industrial heavy equipment is excited to introduce a new machine portfolio of demolition excavators to the North American market. The PC490HRD-11, PC290LC-11, PC360LC-11, and PC490LC-11 have been successfully operating in the European market for more than 20 years and are now available to the North American demolition industry, providing the opportunity for customers to increase job site efficiency.

Website: komatsu.com

MICROTEX COMPOSITES, INC. TO LOCATE FIRST U.S. FACILITY

IN TENNESSEE

Microtex Composites, Inc. will expand its presence by locating the company’s first U.S. operations in Southeast Tennessee. By using ultimate technologies, they guarantee to U.S. customers the highest quality levels in the field of dry and prepreg composites supply while also creating 26 new jobs, and investing nearly $3.8 million in Chattanooga through the project. Based in Italy, the composites manufacturer has experienced rapid growth in its European markets due to increased demand from its customers in the automotive and aerospace industries.

Website: microtexcomposites.com

RB SRL ANNOUNCES ENTRANCE TO NORTH AMERICAN MARKET WITH $16 MILLION MANUFACTURING FACILITY IN KANSAS CITY

RB Srl, a modern precision parts manufacturer headquartered in Italy, announced the opening of RB America Corp. with its new 100,000-square-foot facility in Kansas City, Missouri. As the first North American facility for the company, RB America Corp. is a $16 million investment set to bring 163 new jobs to the region, further strengthening the region’s position as a hub for innovation and growth in the advanced manufacturing sector.

Website: rb-itg.com

ITALY’S RF SYSTEMS RAISES THE BAR FOR EXCELLENCE IN YARN DRYING SOLUTIONS WITH MEXICAN PARTNERSHIP

RF Systems designs and manufactures Radio Frequency dryers and thermal processing equipment that speed up and improve drying and thermal processes, cutting energy consumption and operating costs. RF Systems has recently announced a partnership with Blutec México, a renowned agency specializing in representing the world's top textile brands. Blutec México, known for its extensive experience and reputation in the textile sector, brings added value to this collaboration, ensuring faster response times, superior service, and personalized support for customers in Mexico. As experts in radio frequency dryers for yarns, hosiery, and loose fibers, RF Systems is committed to delivering innovative and reliable technology tailored to the specific needs of the industry.

Website: rfsystems.it

SABO OPENS A NEW SUBSIDIARY IN THE U.S.A.

SABO announces the opening of SABO International Americas, a new subsidiary based in Orlando, Florida. This important new step for the company, following the acquisitions of the TAA and TAA Derivatives business and assets last year, represents a historic milestone in SABO’s internationalization strategy. To better serve downstream companies in North America such as masterbatch/compound manufacturers and plastic converters, SABO counts on a new team in Florida, as well as a modern distribution center in Savannah, Georgia, for products imported from Italy, Germany, and Mexico.

Website: sabo.com

SCHAEFFLER ITALIA UNVEILS NEW INA STAINLESS-STEEL RADIAL INSERT BALL BEARINGS, FEATURING STAINLESSSTEEL OR THERMOPLASTIC HOUSINGS

Schaeffler Italia Srl is a market leader and strategic development partner in wind technology. As part of its ongoing commitment to innovation and serving the food & beverage industry, global motion technology company Schaeffler has unveiled its new lineup of INA Stainless-Steel Radial Insert Ball Bearings. Available with housings made from rugged stainless steel or lightweight thermoplastic, these bearings are engineered to meet the demands for corrosion resistance, reliability, and stringent hygiene standards required by the food & beverage sector.

Website: schaeffler.it

SERIOPLAST TO OPEN MANUFACTURING SITE IN SHENANDOAH COUNTY

Serioplast, a global manufacturer of rigid plastic packaging, will invest $25,725,000 to occupy a 140,000-square-foot industrial facility in Virginia’s Shenandoah County. Since its founding in 1974, Serioplast’s packaging has been used by companies in the consumer goods industry, including home care and laundry, food, personal care, and pharma markets. The company has grown into a global leader in rigid plastic packaging, operating 33 production facilities across 16 countries with a workforce of over 2,000 employees. In recent years, Serioplast has expanded its presence in North America, with a key production site in St. Louis, Missouri. Committed to sustainability, Serioplast integrates recycled materials into its production processes, reinforcing its dedication to the circular economy while driving innovation in packaging solutions.

Website: serioplast.com

SOFIDEL FINALIZES THE ACQUISITION OF THE TISSUE DIVISION OF CLEARWATER PAPER CORPORATION

UNOX TO OPEN NEW NORTH CAROLINA PRODUCTION PLANT IN 2025

Unox is hiring more production staff into its business to fulfill the demand for its ovens – as the company’s Italian management revealed it is on track to exceed global sales of €300m ($326m) for the first time in its history this year. The Padua-based combi and bakery oven manufacturer believes it can achieve a turnover of at least €330m ($358m) in 2024 by building on the momentum it has seen during the opening six months of the year. That also includes the launch of a new production plant in Charlotte, North Carolina, which is set to open in 2025.

Website: unox.com

Sofidel, a global leading manufacturer of paper for hygienic and household use, known particularly in Italy and Europe for its Regina brand, has finalized the acquisition of the tissue division of Clearwater Paper Corporation (“CLW Tissue”). The transaction, the largest carried out in the Group’s history, represents a strategic step in Sofidel’s journey. Thanks to the acquisition of four production plants – Shelby (North Carolina), Lewiston (Idaho), Las Vegas (Nevada) and Elwood (Illinois) – and the integration of about 1,700 employees, Sofidel increased its production capacity by 25% (340,000 metric tons per year), expands its commercial offerings (two out of the six paper mill machines acquired are TAD – Through Air Drying machines, a technology widely used in the United States, particularly in the kitchen towel segment), and optimizes its geographic coverage.

Website: sofidel.com

Credit: National Park Service

ASK Chemicals Srl, a leading provider of foundry consumables and high-performance industrial resins, unveils ECOCAST ONE, an innovative feeder technology that marks a milestone for riser cap users. Tailored for foundries pursuing both quality improvements and environmental solutions alongside cost reductions, ECOCAST ONE is the most competitive alternative to riser caps on the market today. Manufactured exclusively from sheet metal, ECOCAST ONE maintains a completely clean sand system. It eliminates emissions tied to feeder mixtures and cuts out the need to dispose of burnt feeder materials. Lastly, the patented design of ECOCAST ONE makes cleaning and fettling of cast parts more efficient.

Website: ask-chemicals.com

INNOVATIVE TREATMENTS OR PROCESSES IN AUTOMOTIVE FABRICS WITH BIANCALANI

Biancalani Textile Machinery Srl specializes in quality solutions for fabric preparation and finishing and has established itself as an industry leader in ennobling textile products. The automotive industry is going through a radical transformation phase, characterized not only by vehicle electrification and autonomous driving but also by a silent revolution in the field of textile treatments. Manufacturers are seeking lighter fabrics to compensate for battery weight while maintaining high standards of durability and comfort. Fabric treatments in the automotive industry are divided into two main categories: those necessary for basic performance and those that add distinctive value to the final product. The key to success lies in choosing the appropriate treatment for each specific fabric. Biancalani Textile Machinery has developed innovative solutions already adopted by two of the world’s leading automotive fabric groups.

Website: biancalani.com

BUSI GIOVANNI UNVEILS THE NEW BUSI 500 FOR KNITTING HEAVY SOCKS

The single-cylinder sock-knitting machine producer, BUSI® Srl recently introduced the BUSI® 500, one of five models in their premium GOLD line, specifically designed for knitting heavy socks with a diameter of 5 inches. This advanced machine boasts unique capabilities, allowing you to knit both true rib and terry patterns within the same sock. Additionally, it can be outfitted with the RIMAGLIO device for seamless automatic toe-closing, enhancing efficiency in your production process. With a needle range from 52 to 112, the BUSI® 500 can produce intricate patterns with up to four colors per course, in addition to the base color.

Website: busigiovanni.com

ROBATECH REDUCES PRODUCTION COSTS WITH HOT MELT STITCHING

The all-electric Volta hot melt jetting head from Robatech Srl has received an upgrade that makes it even more powerful. With the integrated stitching function, companies can now easily reduce their adhesive consumption by up to 60% – and thus successfully counteract rising production costs. The Volta application head can be easily integrated into existing production lines, regardless of the manufacturer of the existing application heads or adhesive application system. Integration takes place via a 24 VDC connection without a booster; an external control is no longer necessary, even for the stitching function.

Website: robatech.com

NOT JUST PRODUCTS, BUT CUSTOMISED SOLUTIONS

With over sixty years in the marble and stone industry, Donatoni Macchine Srl designed a high-productivity line for Euval, a leading company in the coatings industry. Within a company like Euval, research and ambition have led to the development of an ad hoc line, designed to meet the production needs of the market. The plant features a DONATONI SX6 Q XL, equipped with 6 cutting heads with 9 interpolated axes and a patented rotating bridge, capable of producing different part formats in a single pass. This machine is designed to optimize productivity while maintaining a high level of precision. To complete the production process, the installation of the DONATONI ARM2 system also guarantees the continuous movement and organization of the parts.

Website: donatonigroup.com

AD18 ADAPTER NOW AVAILABLE FOR WINKHAUS OVSX KEYS: PRECISION AND STABILITY IN CUTTING

Keyline SpA is excited to announce the release of the AD18 adapter, designed to meet the demand for high precision when cutting Winkhaus OVSX keys. Developed according to Winkhaus’ official profiles, this adapter provides a more stable grip in the clamp, ensuring the key is held firmly in place, and enabling highly accurate, professional cuts of the edge. With its unique structure, functioning like a small clip, the adapter allows easy insertion of the key and securely holds it in place thanks to the elastic deformability of its material. This ensures the key remains firmly positioned throughout the cutting process, preventing any slipping or unintended movement.

Website: keyline.it

NEXT-LEVEL PRINTING WITH TRESU UNIPRINT

TRESU Srl offers flexible, customized solutions for flexo printing press machines and ancillary products and parts for flexo, digital, and offset printing to the graphic industry. Engineered to any OEM specifications, the TRESU UniPrint Easy is an automated floating suspension concept that automatically adjusts the contact pressure to ensure optimal positioning of the chamber doctor blade systems - ensuring optimal printing quality. The floating suspension concept continuously adapts to the wear and tear of the individual blades. The compact and robust pneumatic design with an excellent price-performance ratio and low cost-to-print is remote-controlled and enables the automatic positioning of multiple chamber systems in remote or hard-to-reach locations.

Website: tresu.com

WALTER EXPANDS ITS THRILL-TEC TM TC645 SUPREME RANGE

Following the successful introduction of the Thrill·tec™ TC645 Supreme orbital drill/thread mills for dimensions from M4 to M12 in 2023, Walter Italia Srl is now expanding its range to cover additional metric dimensions from M14 to M20 as well as their imperial equivalents. These boast the same technical properties as the established versions – most importantly the ability to carry out drilling, chamfering, and thread milling with just one tool. But for the first time, users are now also able to benefit from the exceptional efficiency of this 3-in-1 function for larger thread dimensions too. For instance, the longer paths of the machining program, which are common for large components, now only have to be traveled once instead of three times. This reduces non-productive time by two-thirds.

Website: walter-tools.com

SCM GROUP ACQUIRES CONTROL OF MECAL MACHINERY

SCM Group, a global leader in technologies for processing a wide range of materials, has signed the closing for the acquisition of 51% of Mecal Machinery, which specializes in the production of machinery and systems for processing aluminum, PVC, and light alloys. Mecal Machinery, based in Pavia, is a vertically integrated company with 100% madein-Italy production with 190 employees and a turnover of 45 million euros. “The entry of Mecal Machinery into the group,” emphasizes Marco Mancini, CEO of the SCM Group, “allows us to enter a new market segment, enhancing the range of technologies and services already offered by the Group.

Website: scmgroup.com

Italian Technology Award Programs

Now well into its third decade, the ITA — Italian Trade Agency (ICE-Agenzia in Italian, ice. it/en ) — in collaboration with several partners, proudly sponsors the prestigious Italian Technology Awards. This initiative has provided students and professors, not only from USMCA countries but from around the world, the invaluable opportunity to experience firsthand the excellence of Italian technology in machinery manufacturing. This spans various industries, including machine tools, textiles, plastics, foundry, glass, printing, graphic and converting, woodworking, and leatherworking.

The 2025 edition of this esteemed program has recently been launched, set to bring over 40 students and faculty from four countries to Italy during the first week of June 2025. Participants will engage in educational programs hosted by leading academic institutions across northern Italy and will also visit some of Italy’s foremost machinery manufacturers within their fields of expertise.

Italian Machine Tool Technology

The Italian Machine Tool Technology Award (IMTTA) invites upper-level students from top North American universities to submit theses exploring contemporary innovations and challenges in mechanical engineering industries. For over a decade, the IMTTA has been coordinated and sponsored by the ITA’s Chicago Office in the U.S., with co-sponsorship in Italy

from UCIMU-SISTEMI PER PRODURRE

— Italian Machine Tools, Robots and Automation Manufacturers’ Association (ucimu.it)

Italian Glassworking Technology

The Italian Glassworking Technology Award (IGTA) 2025 is organized by the ITA’s Mexico City Office and co-sponsored in Italy by GIMAV, the Association of Italian Manufacturers and Suppliers of Machinery, Equipment, and Special Products for Glass Processing (gimav.it). This program will welcome students and faculty from prominent Mexican academic institutions recognized for their expertise in glass-related technologies.

Italian Printing, Graphic and Converting Technology

The Italian Printing, Graphic, and Converting Technology Award (IPGCTA) 2025 is organized by the ITA’s Chicago Office and co-sponsored in Italy by ACIMGA , the Association of Italian Manufacturers of Machinery for the Graphic, Paper, and Converting Industry (acimga.it) . This year marks the first edition of IPGCTA to take place in the United States. The Rochester Institute of Technology has been selected as the U.S. academic partner, having students and faculty from its related faculty programs be recognized for their research in related technologies.

Italian Plastic Technology

The Italian Plastic Technology Award (IPTA) was established to advance the Italian

Technological Center in Puebla and to foster interest in plastic technology. AMAPLAST

The Italian Plastics and Rubber Processing Machinery and Moulds Manufacturers’ Association (amaplast.org) — has championed educational and innovation initiatives in Mexico. Through its partnership with the ITA’s Mexico City Office, IPTA has successfully organized seven previous editions, promoting advanced technological education.

Italian Foundry Technology

Introduced in 2022, the Italian Foundry Technology Award (IFTA) marked its debut with participation from a distinguished group of students and professors. For the 2025 program, the ITA’s Mexico City Office will once again collaborate and co-sponsor with the Italian Foundry Suppliers Association, AMAFOND (amafond.com), and leading Mexican universities, continuing this tradition of excellence and innovation.

Expanding the Program Beyond USMCA

Beyond the regions and programs already mentioned, the 2025 edition of the Italian Technology Award expands its reach to include initiatives in India and Uzbekistan.

ITA’s program partners serve as a bridge, connecting students, faculty, Italian companies, and industry associations that have contributed to the program’s legacy. For the latest updates on the various programs, including the 2025 edition, visit the Agency’s website at machinesitalia. org/italian-technology-awards or follow its social media channels.

Italian Innovation in the Spotlight

Machines Italia takes Italian technology “Engineered with Passion” on the road to North American events. Machines Italia and its partner associations are proud to be a featured participant or sponsor of major industry events in North America. We highlight some of the major ones here. If you make purchasing decisions for your company, you have enormous responsibility. You must know the ins and outs of production like no one else does. Italian machinery can make your decision easier, even in these uncertain times. That’s why Machines Italia, together with its partner associations, is a supporter, sponsor, and promoter of major industry events — including those listed below — in which Italian companies participate.

Machines Italia USAARM Institute Annual Meeting 2025

The ARM Institute’s annual meeting in Pittsburgh, PA, September 3-5, 2025 (arminstitute.org) is an exclusive event for ARM Institute members, such as the US desk of the ITA - Italian Trade Agency in Chicago. The members-only event convenes around 350 individual subject matter experts from across the ARM Institute’s 400+ member organization consortium. These experts represent organizations spanning industry, government, and academia with focus areas in robotics, AI, education/workforce development, and manufacturing. The ARM Institute’s Member Meeting facilitates collaboration between competitors and non-traditional collaborators for the shared mission of strengthening U.S. manufacturing while providing the ITA unique opportunities to promote the offer of Italian industry within numerous sectors of this critical ecosystem.

Machines Italia Mexico - Expo Pack 2025

The 2025 edition of Expo Pack in Guadalajara (es.expopackguadalajara. com.mx) will host more than 700 exhibitors offering access to more than 17,000 buyers. This is the most important packaging expo in Mexico and Latin America. Given the importance of the packaging industry for the Mexican economy, Machines Italia, through its office in Mexico City, will participate by hosting the main Italian machinery and technology suppliers.

Machines Italia Mexico - Expo Cihac 2025 Expo Cihac (expocihac.com/es/home.html), a trade show dedicated to construction, interior design, and architecture, will be held October 15-17, 2025, at Centro Citibanamex in Mexico City. The Mexico City office will coordinate the Italian Pavilion which will host producers of marble-related technology.

Machines Italia Provides Canadian, Mexican, and US Companies An Opportunity To Experience Italian Innovation “Engineered with Passion” Via Complimentary Trips To Italy

The Machines Italia Chicago, Mexico City and Toronto Desk provides North American manufacturers and entities an opportunity to experience the latest in Italian innovation with complimentary trips to Italian trade shows and exhibitions. North American manufacturers and their related Machines Italian country Desk can apply to be accepted to experience the latest offerings in Italian manufacturing and technologies for the following events in Italy:

PHARMINTECH 2025 (Hi-Tech Supplies for the Life Science - May 27-30, 2025)

PRINT4ALL 2025 (Printing and Converting Market - May 27-30, 2025)

In addition to the aforementioned, the Machines Italia Chicago and Toronto Desks are providing U.S. and Canadian manufacturers and entities additional opportunities to apply to experience the latest offerings in Italian manufacturing and technologies that are being accepted for the following events in Italy:

Macfrut 2025 (Fresh Produce, Field & Post Harvest Solutions - May 6-8, 2025)

IPACK IMA 2025 (Processing and Packaging Industry - May 27-30, 2025)

Marmo + Mac 2025 (Marble and Stone Technologies - September 23-26, 2025)

To the right are more events throughout 2025. For a complete up-to-date list and more information about the events, visit machinesitalia.org/events.

Calendar of North American Events

CastExpo 2025

April 12-15, 2025

Atlanta, Georgia, USA afsinc.org/tradeshows/castexpo-2025

Coverings 2025

April 29-May 2, 2025 Orlando, Florida, USA covering.com

FABTECH Mexico

May 6-8, 2025

Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico mexico.fabtechexpo.com

GlassTech Canada 2025 May 14-15, 2025 Toronto, Ontario, Canada glasstechcanada.ca

Expo Pack Guadalajara 2025 June 10–12, 2025 Guadalajara, Mexico expopackguadalajara.com.mx/en

Fitma 2025

June 24-26, 2025

Mexico City, Mexico fitma-la.com

Ag in Motion 2025 July 15-17, 2025 Langham, Saskatchewan, Canada aginmotion.ca

Glasstech Mexico 2025

July 16–18, 2025 Mexico City, Mexico glasstechmexico.com

AWFS Fair 2025

July 22–25, 2025

Las Vegas, Nevada, USA awfsfair.org

ARM Institute Annual Meeting 2025 September 3-5, 2025 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA arminstitute.org

Fabtech Expo 2025 September 8–11, 2025 Chicago, Illinois, USA fabtechexpo.com

EXHIBITIONS 2025-2027

MACFRUT 2025

International Exhibition for Professionals in the Fruit and Vegetable Industries and Related Supply Chains

LAMIERA 2025 International Exhibition Dedicated to the Industry of Sheet Metal Forming and Cutting Machine Tools and Innovative Technologies Related to the Sector

PRINT4ALL 2025

International Exhibition for Commercial Printing, Converting, Package Printing, Labeling, and Industrial Printing

IPACK-IMA 2025 International Trade Fair for Processing and Packaging Materials and Technologies for the Food and Non-Food World

PHARMINTECH 2025 International Exhibition Dedicated to the LifeScience Industry

Food Technology Rimini, Italy May 6 - May 8, 2025 macfrut.com/en

Machine Tools for Metalforming Milan, Italy May 6 - May 9, 2025 lamiera.net

Industrial Printing, Graphics and Converting, Package Printing and Labelling

Packaging and Processing Machinery

From Processing to Packaging Technologies, Materials and HighValue Services in LifeScience Industry

Milan, Italy May 27May 30, 2025 print4all.it/en

Milano, Italy May 27May 30, 2025

GREENPLAST 2025 International Exhibition-Convention Dedicated to Materials, Technologies and Transformation Processes for Plastics and Rubber, With Focus Sections on Sustainability, Materials Recovery, Recycling and Energy Efficiency

VITRUM 2025 International Trade Show Specialized in Machinery, Equipment and Systems for Flat, Bent and Hollow Glass and in Glass and Processed Products for Industry

SIMAC TANNING TECH 2025

International Exhibition of Machines and Technologies for Footwear, Leathergoods and Tanning Industries

ipackima.com

Milano, Italy May 27May 30, 2025 pharmintech.it/en

Plastics and Rubber Milan, Italy May 27May 30, 2025 greenplast.org/en

Glass Milan, Italy Sept. 1Sept. 4, 2025 vitrumlife.it/en

Footwear, Leathergoods & Tanning Machinery

MARMO+MAC 2025 International Exhibition of Stone Design & Technology Natural Stone, Machinery, Processing Technology

HOSTMilano 2025 International Exhibition of the Hospitality Industry

Milan, Italy Sept. 23Sept. 25, 2025 simactanningtech. it/en

Verona, Italy Sept. 23Sept. 26, 2025 marmomac.com/ en/home-english

Food Technology: Catering & Restaurant Milan, Italy Oct. 17 - Oct. 21, 2025 host.fieramilano. it/en

Ecomondo 2025 International Exhibition for Circular Economy Construction and Earthmoving Machinery

SaMoTer 2026 International Exhibition for Construction Equipment Construction and Earthmoving Machinery

XYLEXPO 2026 Exhibition for Woodworking Technology and Components for the Furniture Industry Woodworking Machinery

Rimini, Italy Nov 4 - Nov. 7, 2025 en.ecomondo.com

Verona, Italy May 6 - May 9, 2026 samoter.it/en

Milan, Italy June 9June 12, 2026 xylexpo.com

PLAST 2026 International Exhibition for Plastics and Rubber Industries Plastics and Rubber Milan, Italy June 9June 12, 2026 plastonline.org

35.BI-MU Metal Cutting, Metal Forming and Additive Machines, Robots, Digital Manufacturing and Automation, Enabling Technologies, Subcontracting

Machine Tools for Metalforming, Robots, Automation Systems, Components

EIMA 2026 International Agricultural and Gardening Machinery Exhibition Agricultural Machinery

EMO MILANO 2027 Metal Forming and Metal Cutting Machine Tools, Robots, Enabling Technologies and Automation, Solutions for Interconnected and Digital Factories, Additive Manufacturing

Machine Tools, Robots, Automation Systems, Components

Milan, Italy Oct 13- Oct 16, 2026 bimu.it

Bologna, Italy Nov 10-Nov 14, 2026 eima.it/en

Milan, Italy Oct 4 - Oct 8, 2027 emo-milano.com

MACHINES ITALIA ASSOCIATION PARTNER ORGANIZER

ANIMA (ASSOFOODTEC)

Cesena Fiera SpA

Via Dismano 3845 47522 Pievesestina di Cesena (FC) info@macfrut.com

UCIMU-SISTEMI PER PRODURRE CEU-CENTRO ESPOSIZIONI UCIMU Spa Viale Fulvio Testi, 128 20092 Cinisello Balsamo (MI) lamiera.esp@ucimu.it lamiera.visit@ucimu.it

ACIMGA CPA - Centro Promozionale Acimga SpA Piazza Castello, 28 20121 Milano (MI) info@cpa-spa.com

UCIMA Ipack-Ima srl

UCIMA Ipack-Ima srl

Via della Moscova 46/1

Via della Moscova 46/1

AMAPLAST Promaplast srl

GIMAV VITRUM Srl

ASSOMAC Assomac Servizi Srl

CONFINDUSTRIA MARMOMACCHINE Veronafiere S.p.A.

ANIMA (ASSOFOODTEC)

Fiera Milano SpA

Centro Direzionale Milanofiori, Palazzo F/3

S.S. del Sempione n. 28

20121 Milano (MI) ipackima@ipackima.it

20121 Milano (MI) info@pharmintech.it

20057 Assago (MI) info@greenplast.org

20017 Rho-Pero (Ml) vitrum@vitrum-milan.it

Via Matteotti, 4/a 27029 Vigevano (PV) exhibition@assomac.it

Viale Del Lavoro, 8 37135 Verona (VR) info@veronafiere.it

Strada Statale del Sempione, 28

20017 Rho-Pero (Ml) host@fieramilano.it

UNACEA Italian Exhibition Group Via Emilia, 155 47921 Rimini (RN) info@iegexpo.it

UNACEA Veronafiere S.p.A.

Viale Del Lavoro, 8 37135 Verona (VR) info@veronafiere.it

ACIMALL CEPRA S.R.L. UNIPERSONALE Milanofiori, 1a strada Palazzo F3 20090 Assago (MI) info@xylexpo.com

AMAPLAST Promaplast srl

UCIMU-SISTEMI PER PRODURRE EFIM-ENTE FIERE ITALIANE MACCHINE

FEDERUNACOMA FederUnacoma surl

UCIMU-SISTEMI PER PRODURRE EFIM-ENTE FIERE ITALIANE MACCHINE

Centro Direzionale Milanofiori, Palazzo F/3 20057 Assago (MI) info@plastonline.org

Viale Fulvio Testi 128 20092 Cinisello Balsamo, (MI) exhibitions@ucimu.it

Viale Aldo Moro 64 40127 Bologna (BO) info@federunacoma.it

Viale Fulvio Testi 128 20092 Cinisello Balsamo, (MI) exhibitions@ucimu.it

Innovations at work in global markets

AGRICULTURE/FARM MACHINERY

FEDERUNACOMA represents a broad sector of mechanics that brings together the following associations of producers: Agridigital, digital systems and technologies for agricultural machinery an farmer; Assoidrotech, irrigation systems; Assomao, agricultural implements; Assomase, self-propelled machines; Assotrattori tractors; Comacomp, components for agricultural machines and gardening; Comagarden, gardening machinery. The Federation acts as an umbrella organisation for seven industry associations representing various sectors of the agricultural, forestry and gardening machinery industry, with the aim of promoting mechanisation and technological innovation to meet the different needs in agriculture and green care. Through FEDERUNACOMA the Italian mechanisation enterprises are able to interface with institutions, promoting innovation, business culture and their presence in national and international markets. federunacoma.it

SECTOR VIDEO: youtu.be/OZOIYTpzWnA

CERAMICS

ACIMAC - the Italian association of manufacturers of machinery and equipment for the ceramics industry has earned a world-class reputation for providing solutions that meet a vast range of customer needs — from traditional ceramics to the latest design trends. Customers around the globe choose machinery produced by ACIMAC member companies, thanks in large part to their easy programmability and maintenance simplicity. The Italian ceramic machinery manufacturing sector enjoys a world leadership position with an export share that has grown continuously and now exceeds two-thirds of its total annual turnover, thanks to its unrivalled level of excellence and the fact that produces the most competitive plants that modern technology can offer. weareacimac.com

SECTOR VIDEO: youtu.be/KVgss3XDU5g

CONSTRUCTION AND EARTH-MOVING EQUIPMENT

Created in 2010, at present with more than seventy members, UNACEA is the Italian construction equipment association. UNACEA membership includes manufacturers of earth-moving machines, attachments, concrete equipment, tower cranes, road machines and drilling machineries. UNACEA is the Italian member of CECE the Committee for European Construction Equipment. unacea.org/en

SECTOR VIDEO: youtu.be/zJqGGGVvKns

FOOD TECHNOLOGY

ASSOFOODTEC — the Italian Association of Machinery and Plant Manufacturers for Food Production, Processing, Preservation — represents global leaders in the most important Italian association for technologies for the food industry, thanks to a diversified offer that rangers from relatively simple machines to extremely sophisticated production lines. Prestigious and qualified companies, a great wealth of experience and reliability, and an increasing technical development of products this is what ASSOFOODTEC can offer. ASSOFOODTEC cooperates in the activity of the most important bodies charged for the drawing up of European and world technical standards. ASSOFOODTEC operates within the Federation of Italian Mechanical and Engineering Association (ANIMA). en.anima.it/

SECTOR VIDEO: youtu.be/CRsDJXZeeMA

FOOTWEAR, LEATHERGOODS AND TANNING

ASSOMAC represents Italian manufacturers of machinery and technologies for fashion, automotive, shoes, leather goods and upholstery manufacturing by unifying all the standards which make “Made with Italian Technology” a guarantee of high quality. Italian competence means product EXCELLENCY, processes EXPERTISE, and INNOVATION capabilities. ASSOMAC plays a key role in promoting the safety, welfare and sustainability of the production environment model, central issues supported by Industry 4.0, and relative sustainability protocols represented by the voluntary third-party Green Label audits, and is able to point out the efficiency of technology for associate companies. ASSOMAC represents its members worldwide, promoting and supporting a business culture focused on continuous research and development, reliability of after-sale services and commitment to support efficient, sustainable processes. assomac.it

SECTOR VIDEO: youtu.be/fOjNlOkRklQ

FOUNDRY AND METALLURGICAL MACHINERY AND PRODUCTS

AMAFOND is the Italian association of companies producing machinery, plants, furnaces, products, and services for the foundry industry. It’s about 100 member companies provide machinery used in the manufacturing of everything from automobile engines and components to domestic appliances. AMAFOND credits the “Italian approach” to business — characterized by extra customer care and stronger personal relationships — as one of the reasons its member companies attract worldwide customers. amafond.com

SECTOR VIDEO: youtu.be/4ocLzsDyqZM

GLASS

As an evolution of the Italian glass-making tradition, GIMAV the Italian Association of Glass-Processing Machinery and Accessory Suppliers represents Italian excellence in glass-making machinery. This industry sector has expanded internationally by employing innovative technology that meets today’s marketplace needs. GIMAV’s 70 members companies are known for customizing machines to meet end-users specifications, from high-rise building constructions to fine arts applications. gimav.it/en

SECTOR VIDEO: youtu.be/qvIoqsqkcWU

MARBLE AND STONE

CONFINDUSTRIA MARMOMACCHINE — is the Italian Association of Producers and Processors of Marbles, Granites and Natural Stones, and of Manufacturers of Machinery, Complete Plants, Tools and Complementary Products to quarry and process Natural Stones with more than 320 member companies and territorial consortia. This gives CONFINDUSTRIA MARMOMACCHINE broad Italian and gloabl representation. It acts as sole sector interlocutor with ministries, the Italian Trade Agency, Confindustria, standardization boards, labor unions, universities and polytechnics, Italian and foreign federations and associations, and trade fairs around the world. assomarmomacchine.com/en

SECTOR VIDEO: youtu.be/hEsL11Sl6Ts

MECHATRONIC SYSTEMS AND COMPONENTS FOR POWER TRANSMISSIONS

Italian Association of Mechatronic Technologies and Components for Fluid Power, Power Transmission, Smart Automation and Control of Industrial Products and Processes. After the establishment of FEDERTEC in 2019 thanks to the merger of ASSIOT (Italian Transmission Elements and Gears Manufacturers Association) and ASSOFLUID (Italian Fluid Power Association), also FNDI (National Federation of Industrial Distribution) has been incorporated into FEDERTEC since 2022, adding a new piece to the mechatronic technologies chain. FEDERTEC has over 300 member companies and represents one of the most important industrial sector in Italy and worldwide, with a production of 14.7 billion euro (60% of which is exported), and 61,000 employees. federtec.it/?lang=en

SECTOR VIDEO: youtu.be/v50dPXyhr-A

METALWORKING

UCIMU-SISTEMI PER PRODURRE is the Italian Machine Tools, Robots, and Automation Manufacturers’ Association. As an official representative of the industry, UCIMU-SISTEMI PER PRODURRE acts as a world-wide ambassador for some of the latest technology developed in Italy. With a constant interest in sector developments and continuous trend monitoring, UCIMU provides associate member companies with specific consultancy and tangible services in the support of their activities. Over 250 member companies, who produce around 70% of the output for the sector, have won universal recognition for their quality, flexibility, reliability, and customization. ucimu.it/en/home

SECTOR VIDEO: youtu.be/E-VigpyzZF4

PACKAGING

UCIMA is the Italian Packaging Machinery Manufacturers’ Association. Its members represent 70% of the total Italian production and, on average, 80% of Italian exports. One packaging machine out of every four in the world bears the wording “Made in Italy.” And the United States is the industry’s main outlet market for the sector. The worldwide success of the Italian packaging and packaging industry is firmly rooted in a consolidated technologic tradition and in the ability to find customized packing solutions. wemakepackaging.it/en/home

SECTOR VIDEO: youtu.be/DCH4zVk-IsE

PLASTICS AND RUBBER

The companies of AMAPLAST, the Italian Plastics and Rubber Processing Machinery and Molds Manufacturers Association, are globally renowned for their “turnkey solutions” addressing customer needs through sophisticated machines and engineering. As a result, the sector industry has seen steady growth since its inception in 1960. Italian machines are highly prized by the world’s most industrialized and economically advanced countries. amaplast.org

SECTOR VIDEO: youtu.be/HpmEstS-Wag

PRINTING, GRAPHIC, AND CONVERTING

ACIMGA is the association of Italian manufacturers of machinery for the graphic, paper and converting industry. Established in 1947, it plays a key role in the industry both in Italy and internationally representing “Made by Italy” production that is, not just machinery produced in Italy, but the wealth of competence and expertise unique to the country which is the trademark of these technologies, regardless of where they are manufactured. ACIMGA represents all printing (roto, flexo, off set and digital) and converting technologies on all materials (paper, polycoupled and plastic) for applications on flexible, labels, corrugated cardboard, paper, tissue, aluminum. acimga.it/en

SECTOR VIDEO: youtu.be/QuftQzSiyKI

TEXTILE MACHINERY

ACIMIT is the Association of Italian Textile Machinery representing 80% of the entire Italian textile machinery production. Its members meet the full spectrum of industry needs (spinning, weaving, knitting and finishing machines). They are well appreciated for their commitment in the sustainable technologies and in the production of equipment for the most innovative niche markets (technical textiles, nonwovens). Leading American textile and clothing manufacturers rely on the quality of Italian high-tech machinery. acimit.it/en

SECTOR VIDEO: youtu.be/ju_KSgkfrUQ

WOOD

ACIMALL Italian Woodworking Machinery and Tools Manufacturers’ Association, with over 220 of the most qualified companies in their fields, represents 90% of the entire industry in terms of employees and turnover. In every segment of woodworking, from sawmills to the industrial processing of solid wood and panel to finishing, the Italian industry is present with technological solutions capable of responding effectively to a multitude of user requirements. acimall.com/en SECTOR VIDEO: youtu.be/_PTxJSvfmlk

If you’re looking for machinery engineered with the same love you have for your product, put our passion to work for you!

For more information on the companies cited within this publication or any of the other thousands of Italian manufacturers, you may either contact them directly through our partner associations or via any of the Machines Italia offices listed here.

Don’t forget to regularly visit www.machinesitalia.org for the latest news, information, trade shows and other activities which the ITA brings to North American companies such as yours.

CHICAGO

c/o Italian Trade Agency

401 N. Michigan Avenue— Suite 1720

Chicago, Illinois 60611

TOLL FREE: 888-ITALTRADE (482-5872)

TEL: 312-670-4360

E-MAIL: chicago@ice.it

HOUSTON

c/o Italian Trade Agency

777 Post Oak Boulevard—Suite 320 Houston, TX 77056

TOLL FREE: 888-ITALTRADE (482-5872)

TEL: 281-888-4288

FAX: 281-974-3100

E-MAIL: houston@ice.it

MEXICO CITY

y/o ICE — Agencia Italiana para el Comerica Exterior Campos Eliseos N. 385, Torre B, 9o Piso Colonia Polanco-11560 México D.F.

TEL: (+52) 5552808425-5552813928 5552813957-5552813950-5552815010

TOLL FREE: 800.696.6032 (outside Mexico City)

E-MAIL: messico@ice.it

LOS ANGELES

c/o Italian Trade Agency 12424 Wilshire Blvd—Suite 1400 Los Angeles, CA 90025

TOLL FREE: 888-ITALTRADE (482-5872)

TEL: 323-879-0950

FAX: 310-203-8335

E-MAIL: losangeles@ice.it

TORONTO

c/o Italian Trade Agency 480 University Avenue #800 Toronto, Ontario

M5G 1V2 Canada

TOLL FREE: 888-ITALTRADE (482-5872)

TEL: 416-598-1566

FAX: 416-598-1610

E-MAIL: toronto@ice.it

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