Rimini, world capital of ceramic technology

When the 24th Tecnargilla opens its doors on Monday 22 September, Rimini will be transformed for a week into the world capital of technology for the ceramic industry, drawing thousands of professionals from all over the world.

Out of more than 500 exhibitors, 40% are non-Italian companies from 25 countries, 10% more than in 2012. The best represented countries are once again Spain, Germany, Turkey and China, followed by Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Egypt, Greece, Holland, Czech Republic, Russia, USA, France, UK, Portugal, India, Pakistan and Ukraine.

In 2012 international visitors already made up nearly 50% of the total, 15,000 out of 30,458. This year, large numbers of attendees are expected from India and China, the Middle East, the Far East, North Africa and Central and South America - all areas where there is strong demand for Italian technology. There will also be official delegations of buyers from Russia, Ukraine, Egypt, Algeria, Lebanon, Tunisia, Morocco, Turkey, Iran, Sub-Saharan Africa, South America and the Balkans, for whom specific B2B meetings with exhibitors are being organised.

The fact that Tecnargilla is the key international exhibition for the sector is confirmed by the exhibitors themselves. One of the show's key strengths is the sheer scale and variety of its exhibits, including numerous previews of technical innovations developed by companies in recent months. In particular, it is hosting growing numbers of solutions devoted to efficiency and flexibility of production processes (reduction in energy and raw materials consumption and management costs) and the environmental sustainability of processes and products. Technology highlights for the tile segment include solutions for the production of large and very large sizes, the progressive digitalisation of glazing lines and new surface treatments - in other words a preview of the tile of the future.

A plunge into creativity at Tecnargilla

As always, visitors arriving at the exhibition centre will be greeted by the spectacular showcase of exhibits hosted in the Ceramic Workshop, the area of the large entrance hall devoted to exhibitions of creativity. One of these is the exhibition of trends curated by the architecture practice Azzolini Tinuper. This year's theme is the world of dreams, imagination and fantasy, hence the title "Ceramic Dreams 2014". Exploring designs, colours, sizes and finishes, the exhibition takes visitors on a multi-sensorial journey through the world of creative thinking, including the perceptive, symbolic and evocative spheres.

The nearby central forum is hosting a display of the 15 projects competing in the third edition of Tecnargilla Design Award reserved for exhibitors. The companies taking part (CMF Technology, Coloritalia Bonet, Colorobbia Italia, Digital Design, Esmalglass Itaca, Intesa, Kerajet, LB, Martinelli Ettore, Sacmi, Sertile, SRS, System, Torrecid Group and Vidres) have explored the theme of "Thickness" through original projects in which technologies, colours, decorations and finishes all contribute to ceramic aesthetics.

Tecnargilla hosts an area devoted to education and technical training

For the first time ever, Tecnargilla is expanding its programme of events to include the first series of focus workshops on ceramic technology. This international training programme will consist of lessons held in English aimed at the sector's technicians and organised by Acimac in cooperation with the Italian Ceramic Society. There will be three courses:

• Efficiency and energy auditing in the ceramic production process (Monday 22 September, 2.00 pm)
• Ceramic panels and large-format tiles: Problems and solutions in the choice of raw materials and in the grinding, pressing and firing stages (Wednesday 24 September, 10.00 am)
• International technical standards for tiles: The current international picture and recent developments (Wednesday 24 September 2014, 2.00 pm).

One of the most eagerly anticipated events (almost a thousand international visitors have already registered online) is the 6th Annual Acimac Meeting on digital decoration and glazing technologies for ceramic tiles, to be held on Tuesday 23 September from 12.30 pm to 6.30 pm.

CE marking for ceramic tile lines: operating instructions for the sorting, packaging and palletisation department is the title of the conference to be held on Friday 26 September aimed at Italian ceramic industry technicians.

Download the program of all the events at Tecnargilla