With a focus on digitisation and sustainability, the next edition of BI-MU and Xylexpo, the events organised by Ucimu-Sistemi Per Produrre, the association of Italian manufacturers of machine tools, robots and automation, and by Acimall, the association of woodworking machinery manufacturers, to be held from 12-5th October 2022 at the Fieramilano-Rho expo centre, near Milan.

The two events – 33.BI-MU and Xylexpo will cover eight halls in the West area of the show grounds. Halls 9, 11, 13 and 15 will be assigned BI-MU; halls 14, 18, 22 and 24 to Xylexpo. The organisers are positing that it is reasonable to expect that Xylexpo and 33.BI-MU will ‘return to normal’ after the necessary breaks we have all endured.

A premium event

BI-MU and Xylexpo, two distinct but complementary events, are set to  merge into a single entity where operators from all over the world will find technologies, equipment, services and ideas to produce in an increasingly sustainable and efficient way, according to the principles of Industry 4.0.

BI-MU and Xylexpo together will give life to the week of instrumental mechanics, attracting to all manufacturing industry operators who will be able to combine the visit to both exhibitions at Fieramilano-Rho with a single trip, 

The stars of the events will be the most advanced technologies that, without neglecting all the related sectors, will show the evolution of production systems, their progressive integration, the constant involvement of different and complementary materials, including light alloys, composites, aluminium.

Four days that will attract technicians, entrepreneurs, opinion leaders and operators from all over the world to Milan, especially from those countries where the demand for Industry 4.0 solutions is higher, solutions that are automatic, flexible, effective, and at the same time, empower an effective management of energy and resources thanks to increasingly ‘friendly’ digital systems.

The organiser states that from this edition, the exhibition enters a new digital dimension that, through a dedicated platform, will further extend its geographical and time boundaries.

Registration update

More than positive, the early reactions of the exhibiting companies involved, who have immediately seized the new opportunities that arise from the collaboration between the two events, which will be promoted through an even more effective communication campaign all over the world, starting in the coming weeks.

Left to right: Barbara Colombo, Luigi De Vito, Alfredo Mariotti and Dario Corbetta

Barbara Colombo

Barbara Colombo, president of Ucimu-Sistemi Per Produrre commented: “In recent weeks, we have updated the 2021 forecasts for the industry. The data processed by Centro Studi & Cultura di Impresa of Ucimu-Sistemi Per Produrre tell us that we are cruising at twice the speed estimated only a few months ago. And the data for Q3 2021, just processed, indicate an increase by 52% compared to the same period of last year, thus confirming that the positive trend will continue throughout 2022. Government incentives are supporting domestic demand and will keep doing next year to the benefit of 33.BI-MU.”

Luigi De Vito

“Technologies for the wood and furniture industry are experiencing an extremely positive season,” commented Luigi De Vito, president of Acimall. “If the figures relating to the first part of the year are confirmed in the coming months, it is reasonable to believe that in 2022 the world of Italian technologies for wood-furniture will record a double-digit growth in production, approaching the threshold of €3bn, two of which from export. 

“Such trend will be reflected in Xylexpo that, once again, will be a great international showcase of innovation, the world reference in even-numbered years, a not-to-be-missed event not only because it takes place in a market – Italy – highly attractive both in terms of quantity and quality of demand, but because it has always been a key meeting point for industry operators from all over the world”.

Alfredo Mariotti

Alfredo Mariotti, general manager of Ucimu-Sistemi Per Produrre, said: “The participation of industry operators in Emo Milano 2021, the world-leading industry exhibition currently hosted at Fieramilano-Rho, is further evidence of the excellent moment that the market is experiencing. This positive situation, together with the numerous innovations that will characterise 33.BI-MU, starting with ‘RobotHeart’, the new area dedicated to robotics, will certainly attract the interest of exhibitors, a hundred of whom have already confirmed their participation, booking a total area of approximately 12,000 sq m”.

Dario Corbetta

Dario Corbetta, director of Acimall, added: “There are a hundred companies that have long confirmed their participation, 10,000 sq m of exhibition space assigned already in the aftermath of the cancellation of the 2020 edition, and by the end of the year we expect a massive increase in both exhibitors and exhibition area. We will achieve this result thanks to the levers on which a trade association can act, having no other objectives than the promotion of the sector it represents, including the ‘early bird’ rates for those who register by 31st  December – or the decision to keep the participation costs unchanged.”

Side events

Many events, seminars and collateral initiatives will be deployed by the two organisers, offering opportunities for in-depth analysis and discussion on the most current topics of industrial production. 

Alongside the shared paths between 33.BI-MU and Xylexpo, there will be specific initiatives in the programs of each fair.

Xylexpo is renewing the appointment with Xia-Xylexpo Innovation Awards, that in 2022 will reward the commitment to sustainable business (and the development of digital solutions and structures. A specific award will go to the best technologies for the production of furniture with a special design content.

Xylexpo will also dedicate three exhibition days to as many topics of woodworking, through events and technological routes that will put specific segments of the production process under the spotlight. On Wednesday, 12th October, the topic will be panel processing, 13th Thursday will be dedicated to surface finishing, 14th Friday to processes from sawmill to semi-finished material production.

www.xylexpo.com