More than a hundred Italian exhibitors, including about eighty textile machinery manufacturers, are slated to exhibit at the world’s leading nonwovens trade show Index20 to be held in Geneva from October 19-22. As in the past editions, Italian Trade Agency will organise an Italian Pavilion, where 13 Italian manufacturers will exhibit their equipment.

The following Association of Italian Textile Machinery Manufacturers (ACIMIT) member companies will be exhibiting in the Italian Pavilion: A. Piovan, Bianco, Bombi, Color Service, Guarneri Technology, Monti-Mac, Officina Master, Ratti, Texera, Toscana Spazzole, Unitech. Other ACIMIT member companies will exhibit at their own booths.

In recent years, nonwovens production has grown on a global scale, much more significantly than the traditional textile industry. According to figures collected and compiled by EDANA, the global association of nonwovens companies, production of nonwovens in Europe grew by 7.2 per cent in 2020 to reach 3 million tonnes (and 85.9 billion square metres), with a total estimated turnover of €9.6 million.

“Index is the leading trade fair for the nonwovens industry. It is therefore particularly important for ACIMIT and the Italian textile machinery industry to be present at the reference exhibition for nonwovens, a sector that has shown strong growth during the period of the COVID-19 pandemic. The increased demand for nonwovens, especially those intended for the medical sector (surgical masks, but also other personal protective clothing and equipment) has rewarded the Italian technological offer, rich in innovative solutions," Alex Zucchi, president of ACIMIT, said in a statement.

The demand for nonwovens has boosted the Italian production of nonwovens machinery during the last year. The increased demand for innovative solutions is precisely what enhances the role of Italian textile machinery manufacturers. The Italian exports of machines used for producing nonwovens (HS code 844900) reached a value of €59 million in 2020. In the first six months of 2021, the growth was impressive at 142 per cent over the first half of 2020, which was €37 million.