ITMA kicks off in Milan
The nineteenth edition of the International Textile Machinery Association (ITMA) event, last held in Barcelona in 2019, has commenced in Milan, where it will run until June 14.
Just over 1,700 exhibitors from 47 different countries have set up shop inside the 200,000-square-metre Fiera Milano venue in the northern Italian city.
More than 420 hail from within Italy itself, forming part of the Association of Italian Textile Machinery Manufacturers or ACIMIT, making them the fair’s largest contingent. Garment finishing specialists represent 27% of those exhibiting, followed by spinners (13%), printers (12%), weavers (10%) and knitters (10%).
Organiser CEMATEX (the European Committee of Textile Machinery Manufacturers) announced earlier that the exhibition space was already fully booked by February, meaning as many as 150 suppliers could not be accommodated. The theme for this year’s edition is Transforming the World of Textiles.
Several suppliers have made the trip from Estonia, Tunisia, Ireland, Norway, Ukraine, Panama, Peru and Honduras to participate for the very first time, CEMATEX said in a joint statement with ITMA.
“The global pandemic has significantly impacted businesses across the industry,” commented ITMA Services chairman, Charles Beauduin. “In response, exhibitors and visitors alike are leveraging the ITMA exhibition as a means to revive and rejuvenate their respective enterprises.
“Recognising the exhibition as a valuable platform, industry stakeholders are hoping to seek opportunities at the exhibition to propel their businesses forward amidst the challenges posed by the pandemic.”
