“At the Heart of Glass”, or in heart of glassof an Italian industry of excellence in the world which with its supply chain will return to the limelight in Vitrum25the international reference fair that will be held in Milan Fair in Rho from 16th to 19th September 2025, the international salon promoted by Gimavan association adhering to Confindustria, which brings together Italian suppliers of machinery, accessories, equipment and special products for glass processing. The 2025 edition was presented at Fiera Milano during the events in the fashion and fashion accessory, machinery and technology for footwear and leather processing sectors, and whose key times were explored in depth in the conference “Building as green as glass” with sustainability at the centre of producers’ attention.
A vital and dynamic industrial sector, as highlighted by Assovetro and Gimav data, it is positioned as second largest manufacturer in Europe with a turnover of 9.6 billion eurosto which are added others 3 billion from the machinery and technology industry for glass production; 28,800 highly specialized workers employed by the sector, plus 9,000 in the technology sector: a supply chain which overall generates over 12.5 billion in turnover and employs almost 40,000 highly specialized workers with a strong retention.
Among the main areas of use in the sector, the following stands out:buildingwhich develops throughout the entire supply chain over 1 billion in turnoverand it is expected in strong growth in the near future because with the aim of achieving the zero emissions by 2050set by the Energy Performance of Building Directivehas to face a crucial challenge which will impact the glass market by requiring a Doubling of glass production for construction and an increase in resources employed in this sector estimated at 7,000 units. Glass, therefore, will play a key role in tecological construction management and will contribute to the creation of new job opportunities. The industrial sector of machines and technologies for production and processing of glass in 2023 consolidates growth recorded in recent years, with a turnover of almost 3 billion euros and the confirmation of its role of excellence of Made in Italyhighlighted by the ability to penetrate the international market with exports constituting two thirds of the total turnover.
All reasons why Vitrum25 will be aturning point edition so much so that I am already over 50 companies ready to participatewith more than 5 thousand square meters of exhibition space already sold since last September 1st, confirming that the companies that have decided to exhibit understand its importance as an essential event and “photograph” a market with excellent development prospects to be seized by also placing the essential role of technologies at the center.
Through VITRUM25, existing synergies between companies will be strengthened and new ones will be created, with the aim of elevating the role of glass in the global industry, also with the support of the most important national sector associations, Assovetro, Gimav and Glass Group, and international ones, such as Glass for Europe, Abravidro and Glaas Inc.
A series of areas dedicated to highly relevant initiatives will highlight the new collaborations and synergies hosted by VITRUM25 in the pavilions. There will also be collaborations with synergic events such as NetZero Milan (expo-summit on the decarbonisation of industry) to explore in parallel the issues related to the ecological transition and the crucial role of glass in terms of sustainability.
In conjunction with the event, the Glass Week 2025an important one calendar of events that will involve Milan among which the exhibition stands out “Glass: an endless story of materials, men, products“, organized in collaboration with the Italian committee of the International Association of the History of Glass, which will offer a fascinating retrospective dedicated to the history of glassmaking.
It is worth highlighting the sinnovative support that will be dedicated to companies who will participate in Vitrum25 through facilities designed with the aim of maximising and enhancing your presence at the fair through acomplete and advantageous exhibition experience as access to advanced digital platforms which will allow optimal management of customer relations with dedicated tools and the possibility of connecting in real time with potential partners and customers that will allow to present innovations and discuss the most relevant trends in the sector. Not only a technological showcase, therefore, but an effective business hub, where every company will have the opportunity to expand its network and strengthen its brand identity.
Topics and perspectives explored in the conference “Building as green as glass – Exploring how glass is building greener cities and shaping a more sustainable future”dedicated to the challenges and opportunities related to sustainability and decarbonisation in the construction sectorwhich highlighted the crucial role of glass and innovative technologies to promote green construction and the circular economy, in an ever-evolving context.
Institutions, associations, companies and professionals have taken stock of the legislation, providing a precise picture of the public action plans and private initiatives that are implementing the Green Deal in concrete projects of decarbonisation of real estate assets, from possible procedures for the adaptation or maintenance of existing buildings, to the design of new constructions.
Starting from the latest revision of the Minimum environmental criteriathe new ones have been illustrated best practices which allow to obtain a product which is not only functional and durable, guaranteed by the Uni brand and the posa qualità brand, but also and above all sustainable, thanks to the development by specialized companies of low carbon emission products using recycled glass and renewable energy.
We also look at the most advanced technologies, both those already developed and those whose full potential has not yet been explored, such asartificial intelligencewhich also in this field presents itself as a potentially very powerful ally.