Out of The Tunnel, Racing Towards Vitrum 2015

The first months of the year appear to have confirmed the start of a positive trend for the Eurozone, and this time there really is an impression that we have reached the end of the tunnel.It’s not that Europe has started racing, that’s not it, but the driving force of the world’s two main economies, the United States and China, is supporting Europe’s production capacity and ensuring a sufficiently large flow of orders to stimulate its ever dynamic business activity and search for new ways to grow. The much hoped-for decline in the value of the Euro has finally been reached, balancing the exchange rate with the US$ and helping to partially soften the effects of the dramatic fall in the ruble and Russian economy in general. What is happening is that the world glass market, like all developed industrial sectors, is caught up in the workings of the global economy, where the imbalances of single local markets are being offset and spread across the big melting pot of general economics. After Glasspex the reactions were largely positive; we are expecting reassurances from China Glass about the country’s huge business potential which is within the reach of all western companies that will be able to accompany the Chinese market in its unceasing transformation process; we will be returning from Mir Stekla knowing that, although country is going through a deep crisis, it still needs the technology our companies can deliver; at Glass Build America we will find the warm welcome that this strongly-expanding sizeable market can ensure.



At the end of this long journey and just before the winter, Vitrum 2015 will finally go from being a place of high hopes and expectations, as was the case over recent years, to being the stage of success stories and major innovations. Everything is going in that same direction. After almost 7 years of more or less serious difficulties, manufacturing companies have become much more flexible in overcoming obstacles and identifying the opportunities of international market demand. Italy and Milan in particular, will be under the spotlight for six consecutive months hosting more than 20 million visitors at EXPO. During this magical moment Vitrum 2015 will do its share to make Italy one of the most welcoming countries in the world. Visitors to Vitrum will have access to a number of very useful services catering to every special need and designed to make their stay in the city as pleasant as possible. More details are available in the newsletter.