The past four years’ recession seriously hit the leather and footwear technology sector, which reached its lowest ebb in 2005. 2006 saw the beginning of what we could call the phase of readjustment and the end-of-year data confirm that the recovery is underway.
Exports for 2006 signal mainly stability for tanning machinery, a strong recovery for footwear machinery and a slight fall for leather goods machinery. The result is an overall +4.5% which certainly prompts confidence after a far from positive phase.
This then is the setting for the sector’s new technology fair, which will see SIMAC and Tanning Tech held together in Bologna from 17 to 20 April. In all, there are nearly 400 exhibitors on a surface area of more than 20 thousand square metres. The pavilions are as follows: SIMAC (footwear and leather-goods machinery) in pavilions 31, 32, 33 and 34; and Tanning Tech (tanning machinery and chemical products) in pavilions 32 and 35. The international nature of the two events is ensured by the presence of exhibitors from 20 countries.
Thirteen delegations are expected, from Argentina, Brazil, China, Ecuador, Egypt, Iran, India (2 collectives), Morocco, Peru, Poland, Slovakia and Vietnam.
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