Italy is the main exhibitor at APLF 2022 for the first time in Dubai

Yesterday Dubai World Trade Center opened its doors to APLF Leather & Materials+ and Fashion Access in Halls 1 to 5. The fair will be staged until Friday 01 April. With the latest news from the fair, the economic newspaper Zawya reports that from Italy - “the main exhibitor at APLF 2022” - exhibit technology manufacturers: “Italy is the 1st European producer of machinery for leather goods and 70% of its turnover is exported”  

Representatives of the Italian Trade Agency and of ASSOMAC at the inauguration of the Italy Pavilion at APLF Dubai

The Italian Trade Agency, in collaboration with the Embassy of Italy in the UAE, the Consulate General in Dubai and ASSOMAC (the national association of Italian manufacturers of footwear, leather goods and tanning technologies), is hosting 49 companies at APLF 2022.  After a gap of three years since its last edition in Hong Kong in 2019, APLF, the world’s leading international trade fair for the leather industry, is taking place for the first time in Dubai at the Dubai World Trade Centre from March 30th to April 1st 2022.

Italy is the leading European manufacturer of tanning machines, footwear and leather goods with a turnover of 440 million in 2021; the industry currently employees over 3,900 people across 235 enterprises and it exported around Euro 305 million worth of machinery last year globally, about 70% of the total turnover.

Asia is the main destination market for Italian manufactures with Euro 90 million of machineries exported in 2021, accounting for 30% of the total country’s export for this sector.

Italy is the second largest global leather machinery supplier to the UAE and increased its exports of machinery for tanning, footwear and leather products to the UAE by 80%, reinforcing the two countries strong trade partnership in the sector. This follows 2 years of steady consecutive growth of Italy’s market share with the UAE, with an increase to a quota of 35% in 2021 from 3% in 2019, showing how Italian advancements in technology in the manufacturing of leather is highly regarded in the UAE and how much Dubai and UAE are becoming an even more important trade hub for this sector too.

Commenting on Italy’s participation at APLF Dubai, Amedeo Scarpa, Italian Trade Commissioner to the UAE, said, “This is the first time that APLF is coming to Dubai, and we are looking forward to reinforcing our strong relationship with the UAE and wider region. We are supporting Italy’s leading companies in leather machinery, and they will be showcasing some of the industry’s latest innovations and technology. Around 80% of the industry’s tanning machinery is produced in Italy, thanks to knowledge in tanning being passed down through generations.  In recent years, Italy has made significant investments into innovation and technology in the sector, developing sophisticated technology and machinery to produce leather with a superior colour and texture. We are developing technology not only to create better products, but also to reduce the environmental impact of the tanning process”.

Roberto Vago, Manging Director ASSOMAC, said: “After last February in Milan, APLF 2022 marks the return of the widest international trade fair in the global leather industry.  The hybrid formula, physical and virtual, will be the new strategic direction followed, to reinforce the connection between all the different actors of the supply chain. The expertise of the Italian industry is currently still leading the market, especially in terms of technology solution in the digital and sustainable domain. Occasion to meet our traditional and new customers; great opportunity thanks to the support of ITA (Italian Trade Agency) and MAECI (Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation).

I firmly believe that the event in Dubai, will play a potential role for the international market, as a prelude of the other well expected events of this sectors next September 2022 in Milan”.

The Italian pavilion will be supporting the following 49 companies during APLF 2022 later this month:

1. ALBANY INTERNATIONAL ITALIA SRL
2. BAGGIO TECNOLOGIE SRL
3. BARNINI SRL
4. BAUCE TRI.MA SRL
5. BERGI SPA
6. BIODERMOL AMBIENTE SRL
7. BOMBELLI GIANCARLO SPA
8. BRUSTIA-ALFAMECCANICA S.R.L.
9. CHIMICA ITALIANA INTERNATIONAL SRL
10. CORICHEM SRL
11. COSTRUZIONI MECCANICHE PERSICO SRL
12. DANESE SRL
13. DERMACOLOR S.R.L.
14. DMS ITALIA SRL
15. EMMECIPI SRL
16. EQUITAN SRL
17. ERRETRE SPA
18. ESCOMAR ITALY SRL
19. EVOLUTION TECH SRL
20. FELTRE SRL
21. FRATELLI ALBERTI SRL
22. GE.MA.TA. SPA
23. GER ELETTRONICA S.R.L.
24. GFP SRL
25. GOZZINI 1906 TURINI GROUP SRL
26. HUENI ITALIA SRL
27. I.C.A.I. SPA
28. ITALPROGETTI SPA
29. KYMERA SRL
30. LAMEBO SRL
31. MARIO CAIMI SRL
32. MEC MAN SRL
33. MODALUX SRL
34. MOSCONI SPA
35. OFFICINA MECCANICA G.B.L.  SRL
36. OFFICINE DI CARTIGLIANO SPA
37. OFFICINE MECCANICHE ALPE SPA
38. OMAC SRL
39. PAJUSCO TECNOLOGIE SRL
40. REVOMEC SRL
41. RIZZI FLAMAR SRL
42. ROTACOAT SRL
43. S.C. COSTRUZIONI MECCANICHE SRL
44. SIT SPA MATTEI FELTS
45. SPRAYTECH SRL
46. TODESCO SRL
47. UNPAC UNIONE NAZIONALE PRODUTTORI AUSILIARI CONCIARI
48. VOLONTE’ SYSTEM CONVEYOR SRL
49. WEGA S.R.L.