A pact of resilience across key capital goods sectors will be the focus of the upcoming edition of The Innovation Alliance, scheduled to take place at Fiera Milano from 27 to 30 May 2025.
The event will feature machinery and technological solutions for major manufacturing industries. It brings together four sector-specific trade shows—GreenPlast, Ipack-Ima, Print4All, and Intralogistica Italia—offering an overview of an end-to-end supply chain. Coverage will include technology for rubber and plastic production, packaging and processing for both food and non-food sectors, customization through printing, and warehouse logistics.
The event represents an industrial segment with a turnover of 25.4 billion Euros, employing over 90,000 people and showing a strong export profile—averaging 64%, with peaks of 78-79% in packaging and plastics machinery. These industries serve core sectors of the Italian and European economy, including food and pharmaceuticals.
Spanning 11 halls and involving 1,700 companies—27% of them international—Innovation Alliance 2025 will present a cross-sectoral platform for technology and market dialogue. Discussions will address production continuity, resource optimization, and sector-specific responses to current global conditions.
Focus on innovation amid trade uncertainty
Italian capital goods exports currently face two challenges – a slowdown in the German economy and protectionist measures from the United States. These two markets represent more than 25% of sector exports. In response, Italian businesses are advocating for tax relief, investment incentives, and regulatory simplification within the EU.
Despite these pressures, industry data from AISEM, ACIMGA, ARGI, AMAPLAST, and UCIMA show a stable level of orders in 2024, with projections for a moderate export increase in 2025. Innovation continues to be viewed as the main driver of growth, with a focus on increasing automation, integrating robotics, and using digital tools such as AI, IoT, and remote design systems.
Exhibitors will present technologies aimed at improving efficiency and reducing energy consumption. The event will also explore emerging business models like servitization, where ongoing support and tailored services accompany the sale of equipment.
Beyond the exhibition, the Alliance will facilitate exchange among companies operating at different stages of the production cycle—from plastics to packaging, printing, and logistics. Organizers aim to promote coordination and investment strategies that respond to global challenges and support long-term industry development.
