ASSOMAC - (NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
OF ITALIAN MANUFACTURERS OF FOOTWEAR, LEATHERGOODS AND TANNING TECHNOLOGIES ) (Z1764) 26.02.2025 |
ASSOMAC Around the World: Italian technological excellence goes round the world
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• The ‘Assomac Around the World’ programme to support Italian companies in the leather, footwear and leather goods sector, also implemented through promotional activities managed in conjunction with the ITA Agency, is back on track.
• Through its collaboration with the Agency, Assomac supports companies in the sector, facilitating their participation in the most important international fairs, from the IILF in India to the APLF in Hong Kong and the Mega Leather Show in Pakistan.
• India emerges as a strategic market, with a 17 billion euros leather sector and Italian machinery exports growing by 42.15%, while in Hong Kong, Italy confirms its leadership in the supply of components for tanning machinery and in Pakistan the Mega Leather Show offers new opportunities in a rapidly evolving $874 million market.
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Vigevano, 25 February 2025
Assomac renews its commitment to promoting Italian leather, footwear and leather goods processing technology on international markets through the ‘Assomac Around the World’ programme. The initiative, dedicated to strengthening the internationalisation process of companies in the sector, joins the promotional strategy and activities implemented by the ITA Agency, communicating the value of the Italian sector in the main world markets. In the first half of 2025, the Confindustria association will be present at the most important trade fairs, offering member companies the opportunity to present their technologies and develop new collaborations
After the first appointment at the India International Leather Fair (IILF) in Chennai, held from 1 to 3 February, the tour continues today in Milan, where Lineapelle, a reference event for the global leather and fashion industry, is being held until 27 February. In March it will then be the turn of the APLF in Hong Kong (12-14 March), followed by the Mega Leather Show in Pakistan (11-13 April).
India: a growing strategic market
The presence in Chennai represented an important opportunity for Italian companies in the sector to present their technological solutions to a rapidly expanding market. India is now one of the main players in the global leather industry, with a GDP expected to increase by 6.5% in 2025.
India's leather and finished goods sector was worth 17 billion euros in 2024, with forecasts of growth to 45 billion euros by 2030. The country is among the world's leading producers, with an annual output of around 1 billion square metres of leather, which accounts for 10% of global production. India is also the world's second largest producer of footwear and leather goods, as well as the fifth largest exporter of leather goods and the third largest exporter of saddle goods.
On the machinery export front, Italy remains a strategic partner for India. In the first ten months of 2024, our country was the second supplier after China of leather processing technology, with an export value of 14.62 million euros and a market share of 20.8% (2023 figure). This figure marks a significant growth of 42.15% over the same period last year, confirming the central role of Italian technology in the modernisation process of Indian industry.
Hong Kong: a strategic business hub for the industry
After Lineapelle, the tour will continue to APLF Hong Kong (12-14 March), one of the most important trade fairs for the footwear and leather goods industry in Asia. Hong Kong, which has always been a crossroads of international trade, represents a privileged gateway to Asian markets, particularly for mainland China and South-East Asia. As the 2024 data show, here Italy confirms its leadership in the sector, supplying alone about 80% of the machinery components (excluding sewing machines) imported for the tanning of leather, hide and fur or for the production and repair of articles in these materials, for a total value of USD 1,828,000.
Italy also dominates in the segment of machinery for the preparation or processing of leather, hide or fur, or for the manufacture or repair of leather goods, with exports on this market rising from 42.19% in 2022 to 77.46% in 2024. Footwear manufacturing or repair machinery also performed well (38.32% market share), although slightly down on the previous year. Italy therefore remains among the main exporters of machinery for the sector, making the participation of Italian companies at APLF Hong Kong a strategic opportunity to consolidate their presence in the Asian market.
Pakistan: a potential yet to be explored
In April, Assomac and the ICE Agency will be present at the Mega Leather Show in Pakistan, a landmark event for the local leather industry, which represents the country's second largest export sector after textiles, with an annual value of USD 874 million. The sector is mainly divided into four segments: leather clothing, gloves, footwear and leather goods, with exports of leather gloves accounting for a significant share of the total.
The Pakistani leather industry currently has about 800 companies, with 213 tanneries registered with the industry's umbrella association. The industry contributes around 4% to the national GDP, and is considered a key sector for the country's economic growth.
Despite Pakistan's well-established role in the global leather market, the sector still has wide margins for development, especially in terms of technological innovation and sustainability. Currently, Pakistani tanning technology is considered among the most advanced in South-East Asia, with quality standards second only to those in Italy. However, the need to modernise production facilities and improve process efficiency makes the local market particularly interesting for Italian machinery suppliers.
A look into the future: focus on Africa and major international events
In addition to the trade fairs in the first six months of the year, Assomac continues its work on an institutional and international level. The association is actively involved in the UITIC International Congress of Footwear Technicians, which will be held in Shanghai from 31 August to 3 September, in collaboration with its Chinese colleagues from the CLIA association. The event, entitled ‘Footwear Industry Competitiveness and Sustainability in the Era of Artificial Intelligence’, will be an opportunity to discuss the challenges and opportunities of the sector in the era of artificial intelligence.
At the same time, Assomac has multiplied its commitment to the African market, a rapidly expanding market which, if harnessed, will soon become strategic for the growth of Italian companies. The aim is to develop new business opportunities, consolidate the presence of Italian technology in North Africa, and contribute to the development of the sector through projects and technological support in the centre and south of the continent.
‘Assomac around the world’ is not only a tool to promote Made in Italy technology, but a digital and trade fair platform to announce at the most important international trade fairs ’Be Smart! From Skills to Factory’, the new edition of Simac Tanning Tech, from 23 to 25 September at Fiera Milano Rho.
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Assomac Assomac is the National Association of Italian Manufacturers of Footwear, Leather Goods and Tannery Machinery and Accessories. Founded in 1982, it represents a global reference point for technology applied to these sectors, with over 130 member companies exporting to more than 130 countries. Assomac's mission is to promote and enhance the technological expertise of its member companies, providing customers worldwide with customised solutions, sustainable technology, allround support, optimal control and management, and continuous innovation. Assomac is a dynamic organisation, which is committed to fostering the growth of its member companies, through the promotion of Made in Italy, the opening to new markets and access to innovative technologies. Moreover, it is active in creating a modern business culture, disseminating knowledge and sectorial skills and activating supply chain synergies, with the aim of becoming an international reference ‘Technological Square’: a meeting and comparison place for all operators in the sector.
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ASSOMAC - (NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
OF ITALIAN MANUFACTURERS OF FOOTWEAR, LEATHERGOODS AND TANNING TECHNOLOGIES ) (Z1758) 19.02.2025 |
UITIC 2025 World Congress Announces Call for Papers
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Vigevano, 18th February 2025 – The International Union of Shoe Industry Technicians (UITIC) is pleased to announce the call for papers for its 22nd World Congress, to be held in Shanghai, China, from August 31st to September 3rd, 2025.
The UITIC World Congress is the premier global event for footwear industry professionals, bringing together experts from around the world to discuss the latest trends, technologies, and challenges facing the industry. The 2025 congress will focus on the theme of "Competitiveness and Sustainability in the Era of Artificial Intelligence."
We invite researchers, academics, and industry professionals to submit original papers on a wide range of topics related to footwear manufacturing, technology, and sustainability. The deadline for abstract submission is April 11th, 2025.
All abstracts must be submitted online no later than 11 th April 2025, through an easy access system which has been set up to submit presentations on:
https://uitic.org/22nd-congress-abstract-submission/
Key Dates:
• Abstract Submission: From 14th February to 11 thApril
• Notification of Acceptance or Rejection: Until 9 th May
• Presentation or Poster submission: Until 1st August
• Congress Dates: August 31st - September 3rd
Sergio Dulio, President of UITIC, declared: “The future of footwear lies at the intersection of AI-driven innovation and sustainable practices. This conference will explore how companies can leverage both to thrive in a rapidly evolving market and shape a more sustainable future for the industry”.
For more information about the UITIC 2025 International Congress, including submission guidelines and registration details, please visit the Congress website: https://www.uitic2025.com/ and the official website: https://uitic.org/
UITIC https://www.uitic.org/ The International Union of Shoe Industry Technicians (UITIC), established in 1972, is an organization which aims at developing technical knowledge in the footwear industry, in particular by organizing international conferences on a regular basis and by taking the initiative in setting up information exchanges between its members, mainly in the field of technology. UITIC’s main activity is to organize the most prestigious meeting of experts in the world, the "UITIC International Footwear Congress". This event tackles the latest technical problems or innovation in the footwear industry. Visits of footwear factories and related industries are organized before the Congress. UITIC’s members are footwear experts, research centres, private companies and technicians from footwear associations, coming from 27 countries.
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ASSOMAC - (NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
OF ITALIAN MANUFACTURERS OF FOOTWEAR, LEATHERGOODS AND TANNING TECHNOLOGIES ) (Z1728) 26.09.2024 |
50th SIMAC Tanning Tech set a record: 44% of foreign visitors, but the sector's exports are negative |
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A record-breaking 50th edition for SIMAC Tanning Tech , the leading international event for machinery and technologies for the footwear, leather goods and tanning industries. From 17 to 19 September, over 9,000 visitors were registered in the 15,000 square meters of exhibition space at Fiera Milano Rho, confirming how the event has been able to shine a spotlight on the excellence of Made in Italy. Excellence also recognized at an international level , as demonstrated by the 44% of foreign attendees and 26% of exhibitors (out of 316) from outside Italy, coming from over 20 countries .
• Record edition: over 9,000 visits to the reference event for the machinery and technology sector for the footwear, leather goods and tanning industries.
• The fair is increasingly appreciated at an international level, as demonstrated by the 44% of foreign attendees and 26% of exhibitors (out of 316) from outside Italy, coming from over 20 countries.
• In the overall contraction in exports (-11.55%) in the first half of 2024, only the tanning machinery sector held up (+6.77%), but thanks to foreign orders placed in 2023.
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An edition of SIMAC Tanning Tech that highlighted, once again, the sector's ability to evolve and innovate in an increasingly competitive global context, responding to the most recent needs for sustainability, digitalization and optimization of production processes. In fact, despite an overall contraction in exports (-11.55%) in the first half of 2024, the data show a + 6.77% in the tanning machinery sector , thanks to foreign orders placed in 2023. It is significant that over 75% of sales in the semester were concentrated in just 10 countries , which shows that, apart from a few exceptions, the tanning machinery sector is in difficulty, like the other sectors of the supply chain. The spare parts sector is in less difficulty, however , with a more modest drop in exports (- 5.52%) in all destinations.
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“Despite the general contraction in exports in the first six months of the year, we remain confident about the future of our sector ,” commented Assomac President Maria Vittoria Brustia . “The leather processing machinery sector has seen some encouraging signs that demonstrate how the quality of our technologies is still recognized and appreciated on international markets. We look to 2025 with optimism, focusing on the ability of our companies to innovate and adapt to global challenges. However, it is essential that the Italian Government actively supports us in promoting and protecting Made in Italy, especially in an increasingly competitive international context. Additional support is needed for the internationalization of our companies, to ensure that our sector can continue to represent excellence in the world.”
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An excellence of which SIMAC Tanning Tech remains the main showcase, as demonstrated by the synergy that it continues to carry forward with the concomitant Lineapelle , the most important international fair on leather. A collaboration, which has allowed to maintain high attractiveness and the presentation of novelties throughout the supply chain, rewarded by the great participation in the events organized and by the strong osmosis of visitors between the two fairs.
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“The excellent result achieved in this edition demonstrates the importance of our fair as a meeting point for global industry and the centrality of innovation in our sector , ” comments Assomac General Manager Agostino Apolito . “ The broad international participation, the result of the fruitful collaboration with Agenzia ICE, and the interest shown in the new technologies exhibited, confirm the strong attractiveness of the sector. Our industry is ready to face the challenges of sustainability, digitalization and efficiency, and SIMAC Tanning Tech confirms itself as the ideal platform to support this transformation. I am convinced that these days full of meetings and discussions will lead to new and profitable opportunities for the future. The overall growth in the number of visitors is certainly positive and we hope that the foreign presence represents a signal for growth in investments."
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Important results that already lead to the confirmation of the 51st edition of Simac Tanning Tech , which will be held from 23 to 25 September 2025 .
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50 editions of SIMAC |
SIMAC Tanning Tech has spanned half a century of history, evolving from a national fair to a global platform for the footwear and leather processing industry . The first edition was held in 1973 in Milan , marking a significant change: for the first time, the machinery and technologies of the sector became absolute protagonists. The event was born after decades in which the Italian mechanical industries had exhibited in generic events or events related to finished products, such as the Fiera Campionaria in Milan and other national and international exhibitions.
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The industrial growth of the 1960s, especially in the footwear and leather goods machinery sector, was crucial for the birth of SIMAC, which soon established itself as an alternative to the "Internationale Messe für Shuhfabrikation" in Pirmasens, Germany. Over the years, SIMAC has evolved, passing under the management of Assomac in the 1980s and establishing its headquarters in Bologna since 1988, in conjunction with Lineapelle. Today, after 50 editions, SIMAC Tanning Tech continues to represent a point of reference for technological innovation in the sector at a global level.
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2025 |
| MACHINES & TECHNOLOGY |
Machines &
Technologies for
Footwear,
Leathergoods
& Tanning Industrries
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2026 |
WELLBEING |
FRAMES, LENSES
&
OPTHALMIC
EQUIPMENT
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