GIMAV General Assembly: new Officers, new image, Vitrum to boost industry's global competitive edge

Discussions with association members clearly indicate how crucial the international trade show hosted by Fiera Milano is and the desire to “make it a great edition” in 2021.

NEW TEAM

Elected at the June 23rd General Assembly of GIMAV, the Italian Association of Manufacturers and Suppliers of Machinery, Systems, Accessories and Special Products for glass processing, is the team that will lead the sector in the turbulent months to come.

In the name of continuity, Michele Gusti, President of OCMI OTG SPA, was re-elected to the post of Association President. In thanking his colleagues for their unwavering vote of confidence, he declared: “I will put my skills to work for our industry, tapping into the experience gained during the last biennium. I know I can count on the valuable input of my colleagues, who will be working alongside me to guide the Association.”

Two new team members were added, both making a welcome return to the GIMAV Board – Federica Bovone, General Manager of ELETTROMECCANICA BOVONE SRL and Michela Pezza, Managing Director of FRATELLI PEZZA SRL.

NEW IMAGE

Two new logos, one each for GIMAV and VITRUM, were also displayed during the meeting. The new look is a return to the origins that openly revisits the bond between the Association and Italy’s international glass processing technologies trade show.

“There is absolutely no reason to hide this fact; on the contrary, we are very proud of our ties with GIMAV,” – stated Dino Zandonella Necca, President of VITRUM and President and CEO of ADI SRL and R.B.M. ITALIA SRL. “Trade show organizers typically tend to be profit-driven and their interests coincide with maximizing the bottom line. Its close relationship with GIMAV, instead, puts VITRUM in a position to consider the real interests of the sector, which the show promotes internationally. The COVID-19 pandemic has unmasked many of those incompatible positions, highlighting how events that claim to have only the good of the exhibitors at heart, were really just interested in revenue.”

In addition to updating the image of the Association and the glass industry trade show, the new logo explicitly echoes their common origins, summed up in the "V" that closes the name of the Association and, like a mirror image, opens that of the show. A stylized Italian flag is a reminder that, underlying both, is Italy’s glass processing technologies industry.

VITRUM REASSERTS THE COMPETITIVE NATURE OF ITALY’S GLASS INDUSTRY

Although, in large part, the meeting was focused on association business, the industry report and the election of Board members, almost all the discussion between members revolved around the Vitrum trade show scheduled for October 5-8, 2021 at Fiera Milano.

Many of the compelling insights grew out of considerations, skillfully put forth by President Gusti, all aimed at highlighting the “irreplaceable” role played by the Italian show.

“Finally, industry players are starting to draw the conclusion that to lose VITRUM would lead, in the medium term, to Italy’s glass processing technologies industry losing its competitive edge in international markets,” stated GIMAV President Gusti.

“Globally speaking, there are various well-organized and overall attractive trade fairs, but companies are beginning to have a deeper understanding of how none of those shows will ever be able to play the role that VITRUM does. Precisely

because it’s held in Italy, it is, above all, dedicated to reaffirming Italy’s glass industry leadership and promoting the distinctive features that make it an industry of excellence around the globe,” continued VITRUM President, Zandonella Necca.

“We will work together” – the two presidents said in unison – “to make this a great VITRUM, offering exhibitors, in 2021, the best platform to showcase all of their qualities. We have no doubt that the Italian businesses will know how to take advantage of it to further increase their competitiveness in global markets and jump right into the recovery before and better than their international competitors.”

LIST OF BOARD MEMBERS FOR THE 2020 – 2022* BIENNIUM

*At its first meeting, the Board of Directors will name the two Vice-Presidents from among the elected Board Members