Wood and technology biennial trade fair 40% bigger and, in combination with Intralogistics VLC show, poised to showcase more than a thousand companies and brands, with 35% of exhibitors coming from 24 countries in the year’s most international trade show.
More than 120 talks and presentations, ten exhibition spaces, educational events and visits to historic buildings in intense Programme of Events.
FIMMA + Maderalia opens its doors next Tuesday, 14th May, running through to Friday 17th and occupying six halls on levels 2 and 3 at Feria Valencia.
Valencia, 13th May 2024.- All is set for a massive FIMMA + Maderalia. Spain’s great biennial trade fair for the wood, furniture, carpentry and contract sector is poised to celebrate its 40th anniversary in style next week, in what is expected to be an historic edition. Every aspect of the fair will be bigger too, especially the offering on show, the additional activities and the number of international exhibitors present.
The event takes place from Tuesday 14th to Friday 17th May in parallel with logistical solutions show Intralogistics VLC. The figures for the two shows are particularly impressive as the joint offering will consist of over 1000 exhibiting companies and brands, occupying more than 80,000m2 of Levels 1 and 2 at the Valencia exhibition centre and making it the biggest industry event taking place in Spain in the first half of 2024.
FIMMA + Maderalia 2024 in figures
Driving these impressive figures is the fact that the biennial FIMMA+Maderalia fair is currently riding high, with an offering reminiscent of the huge FIMMA+Maderalia shows of the 1990s and 2000s. The fact is that the wood industry’s biennial fair is 40% bigger this year, taking up six halls with 12% more exhibition content courtesy of 440 direct exhibitors and 925 companies and brands represented. What is particularly notable about these numbers is the extremely high proportion of international exhibitors: 35% of the total number are foreign, hailing from 24 countries. This makes the fair Feria Valencia’s most international event in terms of products on show. Notable at FIMMA+Maderalia is the strong presence of countries such as Italy (42 exhibitors), Portugal (24), China (17), Germany (12) and France (11), and there will also exhibitors from Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Holland, India, Ireland, Malaysia, Poland, San Marino, Slovenia, Switzerland, Turkey, the United Kingdom, the United States of America and Uruguay.
What is more, this edition of FIMMA + Maderalia has also prompted significant interest amongst foreign visitors, as is well demonstrated by the hundred international buyers from 23 countries who will be taking part in the trade mission being co-ordinated by ARVET, COFEARFE and IVACE +I Internacional (35% more than took part last time round). An international specifier mission is set to boost these figures. Arranged by ICEX, it is targeted at the industry’s key markets, such as Morocco, Portugal, Italy and Germany.
The ‘B2B Company Meetings’ between international visitors and exhibiting companies will be another significant feature of the cosmopolitan aspect of the fair. The initiative is being organised and promoted by ARVET, COFEAFE and IVACE + i Internacional and almost a hundred professionals from 20 countries have already registered to take part.
Exhibitions, programme and y digitalization
This year, the products on show at FIMMA + Maderalia will be complemented by ten themed exhibitions and areas, such as a co-working space designed by José Manuel Ferrero, a timber-constructed house being built live, a carpentry workshop and a zone showcasing new products and materials.
Notable too is the Lecture Programme that has been put together, featuring more than 120 talks and technical sessions. Live demonstrations relating to industry 4.0, talks by architects about the contract sector, full educational courses, specialist presentations on 3D-printing, coverings and sustainable design are just some of the topics being covered by the impressive programme. Building with wood will be a particular highlight, with dedicated educational sessions being delivered in the Maderaula. The notion of showcasing the virtues of wood as a material to use in construction will be taken a step further with a series of visits to historic buildings such as the Palau de la Generalitat, as part of the ‘València Open Wood’ initiative.
FIMMA + Maderalia will also be demonstrating a commitment to innovation, digitalization and social networks in the form of a ‘Startup Zone’ where five young companies will be showcasing their latest innovations geared to the industry such as artificial intelligence projects. The fair will also be hosting visits from the leading specialist ‘influencers’ and ‘makers’,who will beposting about everything that happens at the fair on their platforms.
“An historic edition”
The Organising Committees for both FIMMA and Maderalia have said they are satisfied now, following the long months of work leading up to the fair and expect it to be “an historic edition”. For Maderalia president Alejandro Bermejo “prospects are very good. The increase in the numbers of exhibitors and visitors shows the fair is growing and indicates it will be a success, making it the leading event both in Spain and in Europe. The major players in the wood, refurbishment and construction sectors gather at Maderalia. The majority of the associated companies’ clients come to visit, as do heads of purchasing, installers, specifiers and so on. It is a perfect showcase for products and innovations and for interacting with regular and potential customers”.
FIMMA Organising Committee chairman Santi Riera, for his part, feels that “the outlook could not be better. A huge effort has been invested this year to show the latest technologies in manufacturing, along with the innovations that are setting trends amongst manufacturers. Everything that is going on in the sector will be on show at FIMMA + Maderalia and nobody should miss going”.
Opening times and tickets
FIMMA + Maderalia runs from Tuesday 14th to Friday 17th May and is open from 09.00 to 18.00, closing an hour earlier, at 17.00, on Friday. Entry is via the Foro Centro, with FIMMA located in halls 1 and 2 on Level 2 and Maderalia in halls 1, 2, 3 and 4 on Level 3.
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