Bigger and Better

ITALIAELEVA’s third iteration presented by ANICA and ANACAM draws additional exhibitors to a much larger venue.

Held at the Rome Marriott Park Hotel on June 16-18, the ITALIAELEVA 2016 conference and fair was bigger and better than ever in its third year, in terms of both number of exhibitors and space occupied. The event retained existing exhibitors and gained new ones from Italy and abroad. Hundreds of attendees visited 80 booths housing 90 exhibitors within 5,000 m2, a remarkable increase from the 1,000 m2 of the previous year. A spirit of cautious optimism prevailed, as it was reiterated that Italy has a high number of elevators for its population compared with other countries and a construction market that is forecast to grow. Italy is also enjoying a strong and growing modernization market and remains the top supplier of components in the world.

ITALIAELEVA is hosted by ANICA (Italian elevator components association) and ANACAM (Italian elevator association), which represents approximately 400 enterprises in Italy. Products and services displayed this year included components, complete elevators, stairlifts and mechanized car-park systems, along with consulting and remote-monitoring offerings. The array of displays reflected all aspects of the Italian elevator industry, which consists of small and medium-sized enterprises.

Exhibitors described the state of and outlook for the industry. When asked if the winds of worldwide economic recovery are also being felt in Italy, they observed that, despite tough times experienced recently, it is vital investments be made to ensure a strong future. Italy, they said, will always be one of the world’s major markets. According to data from the European Lift Association, there are approximately 2,000 companies employing 23,000 people in Italy supporting an installed base of nearly one million units in service.

There were years when elevator-industry revenue fell: in 2014, including both exports and domestic products, it was approximately EUR2.2 billion (US$2.45 billion), down from EUR2.6 billion (US$2.9 billion) in 2009, according to AssoAscensori data. For the Italian market only, it was EUR1.58 billion (US$1.76 billion) in 2014, versus EUR2.1 billion (US$2.34 billion) in 2009.

As the number of new installations has dwindled, Italy’s modernization market has picked up, exhibitors observed. The construction industry in Italy is projected to grow by 3.2% in 2016, according to ANCE and the Association of Builders.

Further, Italy’s machines and people are both aging, which bodes well for the modernization market. Almost 40% of elevators operating in Italy are at least 30 years old, according to ANACAM, ANICA and AssoAscensori, and many of these are in need of refurbishment.

A Warm Welcome

During the ribbon-cutting ceremony, a reminder was issued about how ITALIAELEVA was born of the desire of ANICA and ANACAM to create a powerful, participatory and collaborative business event. Fabio Liberali, Elevatori magazine editor in chief, greeted the audience, saying that ITALIAELEVA has earned an excellent reputation and that the Italian elevator industry, likewise, holds a prime position at the global level.

Liberali’s speech was followed by greetings from several representatives of major international expositions such as Russian Elevator Week, Moscow International Exhibition Lift and Interlift/AFAG. Among the guests was AssoAscensori Chairman Roberto Zappa.

General Meetings and Conventions

Concurrently with ITALIAELEVA, ANICA and ANACAM held their general assemblies, during which tasks were discussed and board memberships renewed or established. It was stated that, in April, ANICA President Paolo Vicini was reelected president for a second consecutive term. For ANACAM, President Michele Mazzarda relinquished his office after a two-and-a-half year extension.

A national management council for ANACAM was elected, for which eight of the 12 members are new. The council consists of:

• Edoardo Rolla (president, newly elected)
• Massimo Bezzi (board member, Trentino-Alto Adige Region, reelected)
• Antonio Ciani (Piemonte Region, reelected)
• Andrea Codebò (Piemonte Region, newly elected)
• Roberto Corradini (Lombardia Region, newly elected)
• Roberto Enriquez (Puglia Region, newly elected)
• Giuseppe Febert (Calabria Region, newly elected)
• Michele Mazzarda (Lazio Region, reelected)
• Piero Mosanghini (Campania Region, newly elected)
• Luca Pierazzoli (Toscana Region, newly elected)
• Dante Pozzoni (Lombardia Region, newly elected)
• Ivan Ferrarini (Emila Romagna Region, replaced Gianluca Bertazzoni as ANACAM Giovani –professionals under 40– delegate)

In accordance with ANACAM rules, two vice presidents, along with a secretary general and administrative secretary, will be appointed during the first meeting.

Several topics were discussed during the congresses. These included the amount of time it takes for companies to get paid, which is estimated to have decreased slightly compared to when the previous survey was conducted. A MediaCom presentation using data from Osservatorio revealed that, for small and medium-sized enterprises, the time is approximately 170 days, which can increase to 185 days in the case of ANACAM enterprises.

Dario Trabucco, a professor from IUAV University of Venice, then spoke about elevators’ role in addressing issues related to an increasing world population and urbanization. He pointed out technological advancements in elevators can help ensure efficient transportation and become a key part of “smart cities.”

An extensive paper by Paolo Tattoli, president of the Italian Organization for Standardization, on relevant standards, particularly the novelties brought about by the new Lifts Directive (2014/33/EU), was then presented.

A gala dinner took place at the Casina Valadier, from which one can enjoy one of the most beautiful views in Rome overlooking the countryside, rooftops and spires. The restaurant itself is located in a neoclassical building that evokes Roman history. The building was constructed between 1816 and 1837 by Giuseppe Valadier, a renowned Roman architect and urban planner who rebuilt the Casino Della Rota, a 17th-century building built on ancient cistern ruins, into its current neoclassical form. Approximately 450 people attended the gala, where they enjoyed traditional Italian cuisine and live music.

ITALIAELEVA proved once again it is valued by both exhibitors and visitors. Zappa observed the event allows communication among industry leaders about topics such as safety, accessibility and energy savings. This, he stated, helps associations when they work with public authorities.

Vicini said he is confident ITALIAELEVA will continue to grow and help those in the industry respond to market needs.

ANACAM President Mazzarda observed ITALIAELEVA is gaining momentum, stating:

“I see it as an event that started off slowly but has turned out to be something important. We have received excellent feedback from both exhibitors and visitors. ITALIAELEVA contributes to the industry as it helps ensure uniformity.”

The next ITALIAELEVA will be held in June 2017.