Lorenzo Primultini, president of Acimall (the Italian Woodworking Machinery and Tool Manufacturers Association), speaking to European timber sector media including TTJ at Milan’s National Science and Technology Museum, said the return of Casadei-Busellato was the latest boost to Xylexpo.
He said 350 exhibitors were currently booked, covering 24,000m2, which he admitted was a couple of months late on organiser Acimall’s target. But he was hopeful that this would grow to 450 exhibitors covering 30,000m2 when Xylexpo opens on May 13.
“We feel it is important this year to communicate to everyone our commitment and determination to making Xylexpo the event for the woodworking industry,” said Mr Primultini.
“We know that internal fights and most of all the economic crisis has driven the Xylexpo project away from the minds of a few. We don’t want this to happen again and we are willing to focus all our energy to provide international operators with an effective, functional and well-attended platform.
“The unification we have achieved this year is a major step and from now on we will press forward.”
But because of the continuing economic crisis in Italy, Mr Primultini predicted bigger exhibitor numbers would probably not come until the 2016 show.
Enrico Pazzali, managing director of Fiera Milano, reminded the press that Xylexpo was now once again “the only national exhibition for the Italian sector”.
This follows the cancellation of rival show Technodomus, which major brands Biesse, Cefla and SCM had supported for several years until announcing their return to Xylexpo this year.
Two UK exhibitors are currently booked in for Xylexpo – sawmill machinery manufacturer Stenner and Planit Software. This year will see the launch of the Xylexpo Innovation Awards.
