Numbers were up at the 19th Xylexpo/Sasmil show in Milan on May 26-29.

The biennial exhibition of technologies, materials, machinery and supplies for the furniture and woodworking industry, saw 43,255 trade attendees from Italy – up 3.6% on the previous show – and 43,840 visitors from abroad – a 0.11% increase on 2002.

The 1,190 exhibitors were in buoyant mood, saying that although the global economy is still in the doldrums, the results of the show were anything but disappointing.

The organisers said that Italian buyers are at last starting to spend which could allow the industry to look to the short- and mid-term future with more confidence.