The fair closes with 66,906 visitors and more than 2,000 companies attending, reconfirming its position as a reference point for manufacturing

Artificial intelligence, robotics, cloud computing, as well as training for new skills and energy transition are the main themes of MECSPE to provide new stimulus to the industry

The next edition of the fair will be from 5 to 7 March 2025, in the halls of BolognaFiere, as usual

Bologna, March 12, 2024 – Manufacturing reconfirms its willingness to grow and open up to innovation and new sustainable frontiers: This is what emerged from the MECSPE, Italy’s leading exhibition dedicated to the manufacturing industry 3-day event, organized by Senaf, now in its 22nd edition and held March 6-8 in Bologna. 2,068 firms from all across Italy gathered with 66,906 professionals (+12% compared to 2023) to form synergies and pool skills and information in the context of the fair, which serves as a catalyst for the industry’s national and worldwide growth.

The MECSPE edition focused on a topic that is as timely and of primary importance for the current year as it ever was: the digital and energy transition promoted by MIMIT’s Transition 5.0 Plan. The plan offers multiple opportunities for companies in the industry, which have the chance to innovate with new technologies and become even more sustainable through the new incentives. This was precisely one of the key topics of the Exhibition’s inaugural event, which, in the presence of Valentino Valentini, Deputy Minister of Business and Made in Italy, Vincenzo Colla, Councillor for Economic Development and Green Economy, Labor, Training and International Relations of the Emilia-Romagna Region, Massimo Bugani, Councillor for the Digital Agenda of the Municipality of Bologna, Antonio Bruzzone, CEO of BolognaFiere, and Ivo Nardella, President Senaf – Tecniche Nuove Group, highlighted the role of the NRRP and incentives for the development of the sector.

Indeed, the MECSPE Observatory presented during the inaugural event highlighted the importance of 4.0 incentives used by 50 percent of companies for their digitization and innovation development. These have enabled entrepreneurs to make investments that they otherwise would be unable to make. In fact, the Observatory confirmed that 63 percent of entrepreneurs would not have invested, or would have invested less, without the incentives. Therefore, growth must continue through the new 5.0 measures that put the digital transition alongside the energy transition for a transformation of the industry in an increasingly sustainable direction.
In addition to the inaugural event, this issue was also addressed within the MECSPE LAB – Innovation Area context, which positioned itself as a promoter of technological innovation based on growing social and environmental awareness, taking into account, in particular, energy efficiency and compatible alternatives, in perfect coherence with the goals of Transition 5.0.

Thanks to the German-Italian Forum: 2035 and the Automotive Supply Chain, now in its second year, the topic of transition was also addressed in a more international way. This year’s event focused on ways to adapt the automotive supply chain to respond to a technological transformation that takes into account the industry’s new energy challenges.
Second edition also for the Aluminium Energy Summit, organized by Metef, the international trade fair for the aluminum supply chain, which took stock of concrete contributions and technological solutions that the aluminum industry can activate to achieve circular economy and decarbonization goals.

Another priority theme running through the entire fair was training; MECSPE every year strives to bring young talents closer to the world of industry by offering them a platform to engage with companies and institutions. In particular, the second day of Start-Up Factory, which was dedicated precisely to the future of education, had the honor of hosting Professor Patrizio Bianchi, former Minister of Education of the Italian Republic and Full Professor of Applied Economics at the University of Ferrara, who in his speech recalled the importance of innovating the ways of education in step with the needs of society, while also teaching values oriented not only to the individual but to the community.

Then again, innovation, sustainability, and education, with the development of new talent skills, were the three focuses of the fair, charting new directions for creating the industry of the future. The appointment to return to these issues is again at BolognaFiere with the next edition of MECSPE, at its 23rd edition, March 5-7, 2025.

Facts and figures of MECSPE BOLOGNA 2024

66,906 trade visitors, 92,000 square meters of exhibition space, 2,000 companies, 2,000 square metres of MECSPE LAB, – Spazio Innovazione along with 18 special initiatives and 72 conferences.

MECSPE Exhibitions

Machines and Tools – Machine tools, Equipment, Tools and Design Software; Machines, Materials and Sheet Metal Working – Bending, Stamping, Cutting, Assembly, Welding, Materials and Software; Digital Factory – Industrial Informatics, IoT, Industrial Sensing, Cloud-manufacturing, Automatic Identification Technologies, Applications, Devices, Instrumentation and Intelligent Components for Process Interpretation and Interconnection; Logistics – Packaging, Handling, Material handling, Lean manufacturing, Warehouse management software, Supply chain management, Safety systems, PPE, Outsourcing; Mechanical Subcontracting – Precision mechanical processing, Metal carpentry, Mechanical construction, Fasteners, Foundries, Small parts, Wire processing, Contract industrial processing, Micromachining; Electronic subcontracting – Cem (contract electronics manufacturer), Wiring harnesses, Ems (electronics manufacturing service), PCB (printed circuit board manufacturers), Engineering and design offices; Eurostampi – Plastics, rubber and composites – Plastics, rubber and composites processing, Machines and plants, Auxiliary equipment, Innovative materials, Moulding, Extrusion, Packaging, Blowing, Moulds, Models, Standardized components for molds, Design, Simulation and design software, Micromachining; Additive Manufacturing – 3D printing, Rapid prototyping, Rapid Manufacturing, Systems and services for reverse engineering, Additive technology, Materials, Services, Hardware: 3D printers and scanners, accessories, Simulation and design software; Treatments and Finishes – Surface Treatment Plants, Furnaces, Electroplating, Chemical and Electronic Processes, Washing, Metallization, Enamelling, Galvanizing, Products and accessories for treatments, Heat Treatments, Painting; Non-Ferrous Materials and Alloys – Processing of non-ferrous materials (Aluminum, Titanium, Magnesium, Light Alloys), Die Castings, Foundries, Contract Industrial Processing, Technologies, Design, Engineering; Automation and Robotics – Automation and Robotics, Assembly, Mounting and Handling; Control and Quality – Certification and quality control, Metrology, Measuring instruments, Laboratory testing, Calibration, Analytical equipment, Vision; Power Drive – Mechanical power transmission devices, Hydraulics, Pneumatics, Mechatronics, Motion control, Maintenance, Compressed air.

For further information visit www.mecspe.com

For further information

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