Cersaie, energy costs at the centre of the debate

More space, more exhibitors and, hopefully, more visitors. But, above all, a richer and more varied experience for the professionals who will be exhibiting and visiting the 42nd edition of Cersaie, the International Exhibition of Ceramic Tile and Bathroom Furnishings, organised by Confindustria ceramica with the support of the Emilia-Romagna Region and in collaboration with BolognaFiere, in Bologna from 22 to 26 September.

Because, as the chairman of Confindustria Ceramica's Promotional Activities and Trade Fairs Committee, Filippo Manuzzi, explained during the presentation press conference, in the age of artificial intelligence, in which ceramic products can easily be seen and known all over the world, in order to attract professionals to the trade fair it is necessary to offer them a 360-degree experience of the culture, style and values that underpin those products. An experience of which - in addition to the trade fair in the strict sense of the word - also the city, with its artistic and cultural heritage, the country's food and wine excellence and (a very thorny issue) the area's ability to welcome operators from all over the world for five days, providing state-of-the-art and effective infrastructures and services.

The fair must also be the place where the ceramic and bathroom furnishing industry and market can meet to discuss not only stylistic and production trends but also strategies and global scenarios, in an international context that presents increasing difficulties for companies in the sector: more than 250 realities, with 26 thousand employees, generating a production turnover of 7.5 billion in 2024, 82% of which was generated abroad. Starting with US tariffs, which put a key market for the Italian ceramics industry at risk, and the many wars and geopolitical tensions taking place in the world. Although, added Mannuzzi, what worries companies most of all is the issue of energy costs, which puts the competitiveness of Italian companies at risk and which, not by chance, will be the focus of the inaugural conference on Monday 22 September.

A topic also addressed by the Vice-President of the Emilia-Romagna Region, Vincenzo Colla, who reiterated the need for strong interventions by the Italian government and Europe to support companies in the field of energy: 'It is time for a bridging operation on energy cost systems, since in Italy they are among the highest in the world. We have beautiful made-in-Italy companies, which, however, will not make production capacity precisely because of energy costs'. This is why it is necessary to include, in the next decree, the issue of price calming, on companies and families, in order to find a solution, added Colla, who asks Europe instead to 'ground the competitive compass, the large strategic supply chains, to recover technological sovereignty, because without it there is no political sovereignty and no added value to make welfare and I am afraid that we find ourselves squeezed between Silicon Valley and China'.

But let's take a look at the numbers and innovations at Cersaie: with 155 thousand square metres (10 thousand more than last year), the event redefines the stand layout of the total 620 exhibitors (of which approximately 40% are represented by 28 different foreign countries). Halls 31-32 are dedicated to non-ceramic materials, interior finishes, and the bathroom-wellness sector, while the new Hall 19 expands the exhibition area of the Laying Sector by one thousand square metres (+35%). "I Portici di Cersaie" also design a new entrance for the fair: at the Costituzione entrance turnstiles, visitors will be greeted by a photographic path leading to the main square (The Square), a project by architect Dario Curatolo.