Vitrum 2025, the international trade show dedicated to glass technologies for flat and hollow glass, returns to Fiera Milano from September 16 to 19 with an edition that marks the start of an important transformation: from trade exhibition to system-wide platform serving an evolving industry.
“With this edition,” said Lucia Masutti, General Manager of Vitrum, “the show is opening a new chapter: not only a business meeting place, but also a laboratory of ideas where emerging trends are identified, new market opportunities assessed and, above all, training is enhanced. Our goal is to help develop the skills and new professional profiles demanded by a transforming industry, creating connections between companies, institutions, research centres and startups.”
The participation of major industrial groups alongside processing companies, institutions and research organisations makes Vitrum 2025 the convergence point of a supply chain in Italy worth more than EUR 6 billion globally—an industry determined to meet the challenges of sustainability, innovation and energy transition. Italy’s glass technology sector, represented by GIMAV, continues to demonstrate its strength, with exports exceeding 70 percent of production and a 2024 turnover of around EUR 3 billion. Meanwhile, the Italian glass manufacturing industry—according to Assovetro—confirmed its European leadership with a value of EUR 3.2 billion, over 16,500 employees and 3 percent growth compared to the previous year.
Vitrum 2025: Glass manufacturing showcases its excellence
Vitrum 2025 is built on a thoroughly renewed concept, integrating exhibition, training, innovation and internationalisation. Its mission is to represent the entire glass manufacturing value chain, strengthening connections between technology producers, processors, research centres and universities and national and international institutions.
To better respond to the industry’s concrete needs, the 2025 edition will feature the active participation of leading stakeholders, including Assovetro, Glass Group, Pilkington, Saint-Gobain and the Stazione Sperimentale del Vetro.
Alongside its established focus on flat glass, Vitrum 2025 is also confirming its commitment to hollow glass, with dedicated content, training sessions and networking initiatives to fully integrate this fundamental segment of the supply chain.
Event highlights
Vitrum 2025 will feature a comprehensive program of meetings, workshops and in-depth sessions, divided into thematic areas designed to provide practical tools for professional growth and business development. The key topics: technical training, ecological and regulatory transition, innovation and digitalisation and internationalisation.
Professional specialisation – Stazione Sperimentale del Vetro
Introductory courses on flat and hollow glass technologies, promoted by the Stazione Sperimentale del Vetro, will complement industrial masterclasses on screen printing, tempering and lamination.
Sustainability – International institutions and the Italian Ministry of the Environment
The ecological and regulatory transition—a critical development challenge for the industry—will be the focus of several targeted events. A central highlight will be the conference on glass industry decarbonisation, featuring experts, institutions and companies.
Additional sessions will cover CAM (Minimum Environmental Criteria) in construction and energy audits in the glass supply chain.
Internationalisation – ITA, SACE, SIMEST
To foster growth in foreign markets, Vitrum 2025—in partnership with ITA (Italian Trade Agency)—will offer special sessions focused on priority markets for the Italian industry, with a spotlight on Morocco, Saudi Arabia and the United States. The U.S. session will feature the new President of NGA (National Glass Association), providing a privileged perspective on opportunities across the Atlantic.
Internationalisation will also take centre stage in a session with SACE (the Italian export Credit Agency) and SIMEST (the CDP Group company supporting Italian companies’ internationalisation) dedicated to financial instruments and measures for supporting companies’ global growth.
In addition, international buyers will enjoy tailored business matchmaking opportunities with exhibiting companies.
Innovation – Vitrum Technology District
Like many industries, glass manufacturing is undergoing profound transformation driven by innovation and research. Vitrum 2025 will inaugurate the Vitrum Technology District, a dedicated area for scientific and technological excellence, featuring top Italian universities—IUAV and Ca’ Foscari Venice, University of Trento, Politecnico di Torino, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, University of Padua—alongside MA.DE. (the Politecnico di Milano’s Competence Center), as well as cutting-edge startups and technology companies. The District will be a meeting point to explore the potential and applications of artificial intelligence, automation, augmented reality and digitalisation in glass manufacturing.
Finally, Vitrum 2025 will host dedicated discussions on the strategic vision and international growth potential of the Italian market, with contributions from GIMAV, MASE and ITA.
The appointment with Vitrum 2025 is at Fiera Milano, September 16 to 19, 2025.