Given the challenges precipitated by the pandemic, over the last few months we have engaged in active debate with our member companies to understand the impact these challenges will have on participation in the leading international trade shows.
We believe it is our duty to apprise companies, visitors and all interested parties of the decision that came to light during these discussions: an overwhelming majority of the member companies expressed their intention to not participate in the 2020 edition of Glasstec, which has been rescheduled for June of 2021.
Many factors influenced this decision but the determining element was, above all, the desire to make VITRUM the only international event truly capable of promoting the excellence of Italy’s glass industry, showcasing the machines as well as the products and technological applications produced through our technologies.
Contributing to that decision were also the unusual dates for the German show that do not encourage participation, its rejection by the major international players, alongside the constant difficulties in planning organized participation caused by the as-yet-unresolved control of the spread of COVID 19.
Nevertheless, should the organizers of Glasstec decide not to cancel the 2021 edition, GIMAV, as an association, will still be there.
We have always supported the importance of the show and will continue to do so despite the fact that the choice to “move” the 2020 edition to 2021 is not a sound choice.
We would be remiss in our primary duty toward our members and the entire sector if we withheld the undeniable evidence that came to light – a large majority of the actors in Italy’s glass processing technologies industry – representing more than 10,600 net m2 (taking into consideration only the exhibitors in pavilions 13 and 16), will not be present at Glasstec 2021.
We endorse this message out of a spirit of service to the Italian and international visitors who have every reason to expect a normal presence of Italian builders and suppliers of glass processing technologies at the Glasstec edition to be held next June.
That will not happen. The glass processing technologies and products from around the world in 2021 will be on display at VITRUM in Milan from October 5th to 8th in an edition that will include the opening of new pavilions dedicated to products and applications and a major increase in the exhibit space itself.