The 15th edition of Sicam, the International Exhibition of Components, Accessories and Semi-finished Products for the Furniture Industry, held in Pordenone from October 15 to 18, closed recording excellent results again this year. In the halls of the Pordenone fairgrounds 9,243 companies visited, compared to 8,912 in 2023, from 113 countries (112 in 2023). These figures highlight the “maturity” of an exhibition that confirms that it is a must-attend international event for the subcontracting and furniture industry. The number of exhibitors is also on the rise, 692 from 34 countries, compared to 650 in 2023, with Germany, Turkey, Austria and Spain at the top of the list.

Sicam, showcase for innovation

It was four intense days full of meetings, ideas, solutions, novelties and lots of design. Presented new materials, new trends and new technologies for the furniture industry, with a focus on high quality and creativity. Sicam is confirmed as a winning format, an annual event that attracts exhibitors and visitors from all over the world in a pleasant, “comfortable,” effective setting built to put the product at the center of attention.

During the press conference Carlo Giobbi, founder of the exhibition, commented, “Crossing the milestone of fifteen editions is an important recognition of the companies we work for, of all those exhibitors and visitors whose needs we try to interpret - and if possible anticipate -, responding with a fair that looks not only at numbers, but at the quality of content, relationships and their effectiveness.””. 

Carlo Giobbi

Biggest edition ever

In terms of exhibition space as well, Sicam 2024 was the largest edition ever with a net area of 19,135 square meters (18,420 in 2023): in addition to the temporary pavilion spaces, there were the expansions to Hall 5 made in 2023 and the spaces that were added this year to Hall 8.8.

Michele Giobbi

“We worked in agreement with Fiera di Pordenone to be able to have as much exhibition space as possible, reaching almost 20,000 net square meters, which is undoubtedly one of the greatest reasons for satisfaction on this important birthday of ours,” explained Michele Giobbi, technical manager of the event. “A result that we have sought with strength and commitment, in order to be able to accommodate at least some of the companies that are on the waiting list: in all these years we have always done our utmost to try to accommodate all those who have asked to be with us, but the choice of being able to guarantee an exhibition “on a human scale,” that can be easily visited and that allows everything and everyone to be seen, has always pushed us to maintain this dimension and not to be tempted by other solutions, convinced that it is absolutely one of the values that have made Sicam what it is today.”

An increasingly sustainability-oriented fair

This is the background to the major investment in a redesigned set-up to enable exhibitors to have a greater height, 2.5 meters, than traditionally. Set-ups that are reused every year, providing the majority of exhibitors with a much appreciated opportunity that undoubtedly has important value on the sustainability front. 

“An issue to which fair organizers are also called to pay the utmost attention,” added Carolina Giobbi, marketing and communications manager: ” Sicam has always adopted behaviors that minimize the impact of our activities. A direction on which we are working intensively and which will lead to important innovations in the upcoming editions. We have also chosen to introduce in the exhibitors' catalog new product categories - “Product with recycled raw materials,” “Product with environmental attestations (LCA or EPD ),” “Disassemblable product,” “Repairable product” - that reiterate this precise will of ours, which we carry out with many small interventions that visitors and exhibitors can touch with their own hands.”

Carolina Giobbi

A contribution to the environment

A concern for the environment that also passes through the “Save the bees” project: Sicam is among the many who have chosen to make a concrete commitment to an initiative that protects the existence of bees and their irreplaceable work.

Sicam has demonstrated its ability to integrate sustainability not only into its own operations, but also into the trade show experience offered to its exhibitors and visitors. With an ever-increasing focus on efficient use of resources, reducing waste and introducing sustainable practices, the show has set a goal of becoming plastic-free by 2025. Recent innovations include the use of recycled carpeting and badges made of environmentally friendly materials, along with a reduction in paper use.

“Our goal,” concludes Carolina Giobbi, ”is to show that even major international trade shows can be organized in an environmentally friendly way. We continue to work on all aspects of the event to make it more and more sustainable and to make sure that our commitment in this direction is tangible and lasting.”

 
 The press conference at Sicam 2024