Applitech 2025, the European trade show exclusively dedicated to the supply chain of appliances and consumer electronics, took place at Bologna Exhibition Centre. Co-organized by Senaf and A151, it was much more than an exhibition: it was a true business and networking event.
In parallel with the exhibition, Applitech 2025 hosted three–days of conferences, round tables and talks. During these meetings, industry leaders, technical experts, academics, associations and institutions shared the latest researches, analyses, practical cases, market trends and technological solutions driving the sector forward.
At the opening of the conferences, Andrea Carinato Cavalieri Ducati (Sales, Marketing & Communication manager Appliances & Electric Motor Engineering Division, Tecniche Nuove) and Alessandro Garnero (Editorial Director of Ha Factory and Manufacturing Division, Tecniche Nuove) introduced the rich program of talks and round tables.
The journalist Ferruccio De Bortoli was also with them. He emphasized how participants at the event could provide useful considerations that could be translated into economic policy. In fact, these organizations daily live production and trade issues. De Bortoli also highlighted the resilience of Italian companies, which reacted better than expected to the critical issues generated by U.S. tariffs, demonstrating that “growth is a goal within our reach”.
Designing the future
Alberto Gilardi, Senior Consultant at TEHA, developed the first theme presented at Applitech 2025: “Designing the future: challenges and opportunities in the international reference scenario”. Among the main challenges listed, Gilardi cited the effects of climate change on the economy. In fact, if global warming were to exceed the threshold of +3°C compared to the pre-industrial average, 10% of global GDP would be at risk.
Furthermore, data indicate that EU is growing too slowly compared to China and the US in terms of GDP, productivity, and R&D investment. However, despite the uncertain global context, Italy is showing signs of economic vitality. Cumulative GDP growth in the post-COVID period is above the EU average, and exports continue to be significant. In particular, Italy is the second largest EU country in terms of exports in the appliances sector (finished products + components), with a value of almost 11 billion euro.
The speech was then discussed during a round table featuring Salvatore Majorana (Director of Kilometro Rosso), Massimiliano Mastalia (Head of Wealth & Large Corporates at UniCredit), and Gianni Simonato (CEO of Mentor MyAcademy). The round table was moderated by Ferruccio De Bortoli. Among the considerations put forward, it was highlighted that the continuous succession of critical issues in recent years has developed companies’ ability to react quickly to challenging events. However, the growing importance of China is also emerging in European markets, with competitors now boasting a high level of technological know-how. In order to compete, technological innovation (and AI in particular) is essential, and this highlights the issue of the skills needed to make innovation a reality. Finally, another central theme is the need to move from “doing” to “doing together” in order to be more competitive.
The double pincers
Carlo Alberto Carnevale Maffè (Associate Professor of Practice of Strategy and Entrepreneurship at SDA Bocconi School of Management) contributed to Applitech 2025 with a video in which he explored the theme “Caught in the Double Pincers”. The first pincers are “geopolitical” and are characterized by tariffs, energy volatility, and dependence on China for components and semiconductors. The second pincers are the EU’s “regulatory narcissism”, characterized by excessive bureaucracy and high costs for companies. For Carnevale Maffè, a strategy to address this situation includes nearshoring and strengthening production in Europe for high value-added components. Other strategic factors are open innovation, the presence of regional hubs for collaborative research and innovation, and training.
On the regulatory front, Carnevale Maffè cites Ecodesign, Right to Repair, and Digital Product Passport. These can enable companies to compete globally on a basis other than price alone. Selling performance rather than products and focusing on servitization can enable Italian companies to stand out and be more resilient, innovative, and competitive in the new global “disorder”.
Strategic role of Appliance industry and its supply chain
The next talks featured two speakers from the associative world. The first was Marco Imparato (Director General of APPLiA Italia) who spoke about the scenarios and prospects characterizing the Appliance industry (both domestic and professional) and the supply chain.
He illustrated what makes the Appliance industry in Italy strategic. In particular, both the household appliance supply chain and the extended catering supply chain boast high added value, which is comparable or even higher than other key sectors of Made in Italy. Imparato also highlighted the critical issues. He explained that excessive regulatory burdens, high energy costs, asymmetries in global competition, and a lack of recognition of the strategic role of appliances are the main causes of the crisis afflicting the European household appliance industry. For this reason, the Association is taking steps to promote change in three specific areas: regulatory reform & strategic deregulation; ensuring a globally competitive operating environment; and targeted innovation & skills. APPLiA Italia also shared some thoughts to offer insights to institutions on which paths to take and how to structure effective industrial policies in Europe.
Regulations on circularity and sustainability
Matteo Rambaldi (Senior Policy Director, Energy, APPLiA Europe) spoke about European regulations on sustainability and circularity. There are four pillars in this area: energy labeling, the new ESRP Regulation 2024/1781 (an evolution of the Ecodesign regulation), the Right to Repair Directive 2024/1799, and the WEEE Directive. With regard to the ESPR, Rambaldi pointed out that it is an ambitious project that covers different types of products and various parameters, including durability, repairability, and recyclability. He also stressed that the European Commission is seeking to go beyond energy efficiency labeling. In fact, it would like to identify also a label that includes various environmental parameters. However, this is a complex issue that could take a long time.
With regard to repairability and durability, some European countries (particularly France) already have regulations in place. However, Rambaldi stressed the need for Europe to take charge of common regulation. Another issue that the European Commission has turned its attention to is the recycled material content in products. At present, however, Europe does not seem inclined to set minimum requirements.
As regards to recycling, shredding is currently the most common practice, and products are generally disassembled only if it is advantageous to do so. Rambaldi also mentioned the revision of the regulations for cooling appliances: the preparatory studies are expected to be completed in 2027.
Finally, the speaker stated that without adequate market surveillance, laws risk being ineffective. For APPLiA, it is important that Europe is active not only in defining the rules but also in how the rules are controlled. For this reason, it proposes the creation of a European Surveillance Authority.
Trends, supply chain and new technologies
The second round table at Applitech 2025, moderated by Alessandro Garnero, brought together Roberto Fogliata (Commercial Director, NIQ), Andrea Rossi (EFCEM President and PMO & SysEng Manager, Electrolux Professional), Davide Rossi (General Director, AIRES), and Davide Passarella (Business Unit Director, Zoppas Industries Heating Element Technologies).
The main market trends and the differences between the domestic and professional channels were highlighted. Furthermore, on the subject of the supply chain, it was emphasized that the issue of reshoring is less popular than in the years immediately following Covid. As for technology, AI is considered an essential prerequisite for staying in the market, particularly with regard to production processes and product optimization. On the retail front, technological innovations are capable of bringing new developments to the back-office. However, investment in human resources and the importance of service and assistance should not be overlooked.
Made in Italy excellence
Julia Ruth Adam (Industrial Mechanics Officer at ICE – Capital Goods Office) focused the attention of event participants on the theme “Made in Italy: driving excellence in appliances”. She presented the various services and activities offered by ICE, including consulting, participation in trade fairs, and training. Julia Ruth Adam also spoke about the OpportunItaly program. It is a national campaign to accelerate Italian exports, promoted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and the ICE Agency. OpportunItaly is designed to connect Italian companies with potential customers, distributors, buyers, or foreign partners interested in Made in Italy know-how and innovation. It offers companies a digital showcase to present their products, communicate the value of their brand, and reach qualified foreign operators.
Italian excellence was then “explored” during a round table attended by various representatives of Made in Italy: Maurizio Gorato (Sales Director General Vapeur–Menikini), Diana Micca (Export Sales Manager Fulgor Milano), Lorenzo Poser (Marketing Director Falmec), Andrea Pozzolini (CEO Rhea Vendors Group), Luca Sabbatini (CEO Elchim), and Alessandro Spagnolo (industrial designer).
The discussion between the speakers revealed that Made in Italy combines advanced technology (thanks to investments in R&D) with the pursuit of beauty that makes products recognizable. It also combines sustainability and durability. And it transfers the value of a territory, which preserves vast know-how while continuing to innovate, into the product. This allows companies to meet the needs of very demanding consumers.
They are brands with a strong export vocation. From North America to the Middle East to Australia, Made in Italy continues to be appreciated abroad. The domestic market, on the other hand, still needs to be developed for some companies. Finally, some speakers pointed out that, in a challenging global context, networking is important to strengthen Made in Italy companies.
What kind of intelligence for the home?
At Applitech 2025, Ernesto Santini (Founding member and Councillor of SBA) proposed a talk on the topic “What kind of intelligence for the home? Critique of the present and probable evolution”. Today, everyone is talking about Artificial Intelligence, but, as the speaker explained, there is not just one type of AI. Generally, among the best-known models are LLMs (Large Language Models). They saw a surge in popularity in 2022-2023 but are now experiencing saturation and declining quality, with significant risks arising from the fact that the models are beginning to feed on information generated by the AI itself.
“The AI we know – Santini emphasized – is not what we need. Household appliances require reliability, not fantasy. And the home is a promise of stability, not a gadget”. According to Santini, the best way is a specific AI, thanks to which each device becomes a specialist. This “path” is characterized by local data, targeted models, and consistent results. In this context, for example, the washing machine optimizes cycles on a local basis and the thermostat learns habits without the cloud. This ensures privacy, reduces costs, and maintains customer trust. Santini then highlighted the need for IoT+AI chips for Italian industry.
The contribution of institutions
The institutional perspective was brought to Applitech 2025 by Honorable Andrea De Maria, Secretary of the Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry into Security Conditions and the State of Decay in Cities and their Suburbs. He recalled that Italy is the first EU country to pass a law on Artificial Intelligence. De Maria emphasized the importance of this legislative act, while identifying some shortcomings. The law aims to promote a more anthropocentric, transparent, and secure use of AI. In concrete terms, the measure has led to the creation of two government agencies: the National Cybersecurity Agency and the Agency for Digital Italy. In addition, the national strategy for AI will be defined and updated every two years by the Department for Digital Transformation of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers.
To accelerate competitiveness and adoption, the law also activates a €1 billion investment program for startups and SMEs in the fields of AI, cybersecurity, and emerging technologies. Finally, with regard to the activities of the Commission of which he is secretary, De Maria spoke of urban quality, which also means investing in house and smart cities.
The potential of AI and the issue of interoperability
The speech of Honorable De Maria was followed by a round table moderated by Dario Colombo, Digital Content Manager at Tecniche Nuove. Representatives from industry and associations shared their opinions: Alberto Di Luzio (General Manager, Midea Italia), Sabrina Giannarelli (Marketing Manager, Ha Built-In division, Samsung Electronics Italia), Ettore Jovane (Vice President, Samsung Air Conditioner Europe), and Domenico Di Canosa (President, Smart Buildings Alliance for Smart Cities).
The speakers pointed out that if AI is perceived as a gadget, the real value of this innovation is not understood. Artificial Intelligence must simplify the consumer’s life: if all operators in the supply chain (including installers) are aware of its advantages, they will be the first to promote it. Finally, the issue of system interoperability emerged, which still needs to be worked on.
Plants and digitalization in the building system
At a time when digitalization offers previously unthinkable prospects for development, Pietro Cerami (President of ACISM) explored the topic of “The role of plants and digital technologies in the building system”. Cerami explained that there can be no interoperability without standardization. Standards, he said, if done well, facilitate competitiveness. He also highlighted the importance of associations in achieving the goal of interoperability, as they enable networking and a broader vision.
Cerami then illustrated the activities of ACISM, the National Association of Measuring Instrument Manufacturers. He highlighted the importance of measuring instruments not only in terms of smart homes and building systems, but also in terms of the green economy, smart grids, and smart cities.
Pietro Cerami’s speech was followed by a dedicated round table, in which Gabriella Cadorin (General Manager of Tecnoplast Italy) took the floor together with Domenico Di Canosa, Alberto Di Luzio, and Ettore Jovane, who had already participated in the previous round table.
Among the considerations put forward, it was highlighted that measurements are fundamental in home and building systems. They are important for understanding how to optimize the systems themselves. In this context, digital technologies can make measurements easier and more efficient.
The round table also focused on new materials that open up new opportunities for building with greater sustainability criteria. Finally, the speakers emphasized the need for a more systemic approach that brings together all the players of the home and building systems.
The role of subcontracting in innovation
At Applitech 2025, ample space was dedicated to supply chains. Mauro Barchiesi (President of CONFAPI Industria Ancona) gave a talk entitled “The innovation of the finished product stems from subcontracting”. Barchiesi explained that subcontracting is the heir of artisanal knowledge. It is a laboratory of innovation where SMEs play a fundamental role: they transform prototypes into products and bring quality to production. However, the President of CONFAPI Industria Ancona pointed out that many SMEs are involved in product development, but then these products are manufactured abroad. It is therefore essential to keep production in Europe.
Mauro Barchiesi’s speech was followed by three round tables, attended by numerous representatives of the Appliance supply chain.
Coffee, Cooking and Hood: the networking of supply chains
The round table dedicated to the coffee supply chain featured the following companies: Abag, Cromoplastica C.M.C., Cross Point, CTF Automazioni, Marposs, and Zoppas Industries. They were joined by Maurizio Santini, Associate Professor at the University of Bergamo, Department of Engineering and Applied Sciences. Santini illustrated an innovative (patented) scientific method that uses X-ray micro-tomography to study porous media. This can also be applied to determine exactly the physics of the coffee extraction phenomenon.
Another important supply chain concerns the Cooking segment. Six representatives outlined its peculiarities at Applitech, comparing their opinions: Business Company, CTF Automazioni, Everel Group, Fulgor Milano, Nuova Saimpa, and TB Engineering.
Also the supply chain of the Hood segment expressed its opinion on the topic of innovation. The companies involved in this last round table were: Abag, Bora, Cagnoni, Cappe Baraldi, CTF Automazioni, and NTT.
From advanced components to measurement and testing systems, treatments and finishes, automated lines, robotics, and after-sales, the high technical know-how of the Appliance supply chain emerged, as did the ability of companies to work in co-design with customers and also provide customized solutions. In addition, the speakers highlighted the importance of creating networking opportunities to foster innovation.
