Tecna 2021 confirmed as an in-person exhibition

Tecna (the new name of the historical Tecnargilla) will be back as an in-person show in Rimini from 28 September to 1 October 2021 with a wide range of new services for exhibitors and visitors

With a new name, a more agile exhibition format, the highest safety standards and a wide range of new services, Tecna (formerly Tecnargilla) will be back as an in-person show in Rimini from 28 September to 1 October 2021, reasserting its role as the world’s most important exhibition for supplies to the ceramic industry.

This is excellent news, because at such a complex and challenging time for industry in general the ceramic machinery sector needs to come together at a suitable physical location where it can reaffirm its innovative nature and its role as an incubator of ideas and above all resume face-to-face meetings with customers, three years after the last edition of Tecnargilla held in 2018.

Organising the show as an in-person event also sends out a clear back-to-business message, boosted by the strong recovery in the ceramic industry in many countries which will inevitably lead to new investments in plant and equipment. As early as the first quarter of 2021, the Italian ceramic machinery manufacturers recorded 33% growth in sales (exports up 37.9%, especially to Spain and China, and a 27.3% increase in domestic Italian sales), while 79% of surveyed companies are expecting to see a further upturn in business in the second quarter and are looking ahead to four months of assured production.

Tecna 2021 will also mark the debut of the new slogan “How to make it”, intended to underscore the excellence of the design and technological innovation showcased in the Rimini exhibition centre. This year’s show sees the launch of a new hybrid formula that combines an in-person event with activities organised on a digital platform. A packed programme of events and talks, both on-site and via streaming, is already being planned to explore current and future trends in the ceramic industry.

• New services for new needs

In response to the changes in progress, Tecna 2021 has organised the exhibition around a series of innovations and services that have proved highly popular with participating companies.

After listening to the needs and wishes of companies, the organisers have first of all redesigned the exhibition spaces in accordance with the new regulations and are proposing a new layout that will enable exhibitors to show off their innovations, technologies and projects to maximum effect. As a result, Tecna 2021 will occupy a total of eight halls, two less than in 2018, on a single side of the Rimini exhibition centre. The reorganisation of the spaces will ensure better visibility for both large and small companies and more streamlined visitor flows.

A number of changes have been made with the aim of easing the organisational workload for exhibitors and reducing the cost of participation. These include shortening the duration of the exhibition to just 4 days (Tuesday to Friday) instead of the usual 5; providing the option of flexible and customisable pre-furnished stands; and extending the possibility of penalty-free cancellation, both for exhibition spaces and stands.

The response from the companies has been extremely positive. By the end of April, more than a hundred exhibitors had confirmed their participation in Tecna 2021, occupying two thirds of the available space. Moreover, the new exhibition project is attracting the interest of companies operating in allied sectors that have never previously taken part in the show. These important results reinforce Tecna’s leadership position among international trade fairs in the sector and reaffirm its role as the premier showcase of technological and process innovation in the field of surface coverings.

• A focus on visitors

Tecna 2021 has been making equally important efforts to ensure the highest levels of visitor attendance. Destination management activities for selected foreign buyers have been greatly expanded compared to the past, while exhibitor companies will be able to organise both in-person and digital B2B meetings. The digital platform in particular will open 15 days before the physical exhibition and will continue to operate for three days afterwards. To facilitate the arrival of international buyers, the trade association ACIMAC is working with the Italian government to set up so-called “green corridors” that will make it easier for visitors to travel to Italy.

Moreover, there are a number of indications that suggest international travel may be returning to normal, including the easing of lockdown measures in many countries, especially in Europe, and the review of quarantine measures, which are no longer required in Italy for stays shorter than 120 hours. On top of this, the vaccination programme is moving forward and the Green Pass that is expected to be launched in the EU area on 1 June will allow freedom of movement as well as the first Covid-free flights.

• Tecna Next grows

As we have said, Tecna 2021 will also be a digital show and will offer exhibitors and visitors an enhanced digital experience with an outstanding programme aimed above all at international buyers.

The advantage for the organisers is the fact that they do not have to start out from scratch. Tecna Next, the social platform launched last November, has already demonstrated its ability to act as a bridge between the world of technology suppliers and professionals working in the global ceramic industry. The results have been excellent, with an average of more than 1,400 monthly users from 64 countries.

Highlights of the virtual programme include the 4 design talks and the cycle of technical webinars entitled “Ceramics: what’s next?”, organised by CeramicWorldWeb.it. The first 5 events held from December to March attracted more than 3,200 professionals, with an average of 344 Italian and 297 international participants per webinar. The series will continue in May and June with another four appointments, before resuming in September with a new programme that will be further intensified during the exhibition.