Tecnargilla 2008 reports growth

Tecnargilla 2008, the world’s largest exhibition of ceramic technologies and aesthetic solutions, reported total attendance of 31,432 visitors, 1.9% up on 2006 and with foreign attendance up by a substantial 11.2%.
The foreign attendance of 12,313 was the most positive aspect of the biennial show organised by Rimini Fiera in cooperation with Acimac (Italian ceramic plant and machinery manufacturers’ association). Foreign visitors accounted for 39.2% of total attendance at Tecnargilla 2008. This is a sharp increase compared to the 35.9% of 2006, further demonstrating the strong appeal that Tecnargilla exerts on manufacturers all over the world. It is an even more significant figure considering that many markets and consequently many ceramic producers are experiencing a period of stagnation or crisis. Italian attendance fell slightly to 19,119, down by 3.2%. Peak attendance was on Thursday 2 and Friday 3 October.

“I am very pleased with this result,” commented Acimac’s chairman Pietro Cassani. “It is the result of the extensive preparatory work that has been done in particular by the Italian exhibitors, who have succeeded in showcasing truly innovative technologies and energy saving and aesthetic solutions, further underscoring their world leadership position. This result repays all the efforts that have been made and I hope will inject fresh vitality into the ceramic industry. The figure for foreign visitors is particularly positive and demonstrates the strong interest in our exhibition on the part of the whole ceramic world.”

“I had been expecting good results from this edition of the show because during a downturn in the ceramic industry our exhibitors have seen our exhibition as a venue for launching cutting-edge solutions for producers all over the world,” commented Lorenzo Cagnoni, chairman of Rimini Fiera. “The presence of such a large number of foreign visitors underscores the international scale of Tecnargilla and at the same time of Rimini as a city with the logistics and hospitality facilities required to accommodate visitors from all over the world.”