The 21ST International Technical Footwear Congress UITIC closed last week with positive data.
Companies must innovate to become sustainable, fully embracing the digital transformation that is the key enabler for this change. This is the main message from the UITIC Congress
The Congress opened, following the UITIC tradition, with one day of factory visits on Tuesday September 19th. This was structured in three parallel programs among which participants chose their preferred one. The options included visiting shoe factories producing high quality lady shoes and using modern manufacturing technologies, learning the best practices in the supply chain with examples in the area of materials, adhesives, leather tanning and component production. For the first time a tour included also an innovation park (Kilometro Rosso) and a technology transfer hub on industry 4.0 (MADE). All tours were sold out and were very much appreciated by the participants.
On the following day more than a hundred congress attendees had a chance of visiting SIMAC / TANNING TECH as part of the conference program; they could enjoy a guided tour of the exhibition to have hands on contact with the most important technology offered by the exhibitors.
The Congress was opened on September 21st at the NH Congress Centre in Assago (Milano) by the official addresses of Yves Morin, president UITIC, Maria Vittoria Brustia, President ASSOMAC, Giovanna Ceolini, President ASSOCALZATURIFICI and Carmen Arias Castellano, Secretary General CEC. 4 Sessions, two panels, 24 speakers, 12 panel contributors, 17 booths in the innovation showcase where research centres and institutions from all over the world presented their work. These are the numbers of a successful edition that was attended by more than 250 delegates from 22 countries and which had its most important social moment at the Gala Dinner in the beautiful Castle of Vigevano. During the dinner UITIC awarded its recognition to three distinguished members of the footwear community: Fortunato Federico from Portugal in the managerial category, Ricardo Jaime Guerra from Mexico in the technological one and Emiliano Bozzato from Italy for his scientific merits. This was also the occasion to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the association that was established in 1972.
The presentations in the four sessions covered in great details a wide range of topics related to new products and materials, the digital transformation of products and processes, the role of the workers in the scope of Industry 5.0, finally providing examples of sustainability success stories; in the panel discussion the main topics of innovation and sustainability were discussed in further details by a panel of experts. Two very enriching and rewarding days that were concluded by the renewal of the association Executive Committee: Yves Morin, after 13 years of service as President, stepped back from his position and Sergio Dulio took over as new president of UITIC. His first and foremost task being the organization of the 22nd Congress that was officially announced to take place in Shanghai in 2025.
The Congress has once again been hosted in Italy thanks to the collaboration between the promoter UITIC and Assomac association, in synergy with Messe Frankfurt and Assocalzaturifici.
The success of the Congress is also thanks to the support of:
Sponsors: Simac Tanning Tech, Apiccaps, Banca Generali, CTC, UNIC, LINEAPELLE, Arsutoria School, Atom, Main Group, Avantium, Shoe Master, Expo Riva Schuh & Gardabags, Brustia-Alfa Meccanica, Gusbi, Comelz, Industrie Chimiche Forestali e Banco Desio.
Institutional partners: ITA Agenzia, Camera di Commercio di Pavia, Assolombarda and Città di Vigevano.
Media partners: Alternativa Moda, Apparel, Arsutoria, China leather, Footwearbiz.com, Indian Leather, ILM, International Technology, La Conceria, Leather & Luxury. Leather Age, Leather Fashion Design, Style, Calzado, Serma.net, StepTechnik, Style America, Tecnica del Calzado, Turkish Leather Shoes and World Footwear.
Factories: Industrie Chimiche Forestali, Tessitura Langè, Tacchificio Villa Cortese, TFL, Calzaturificio Roveda, Calzaturificio SeymechamLou, CIMAC, Kilometro Rosso and MADE Competence Center I4.0.