FIERAMILANO-RHO, Italy – Xylexpo, a biennial international tradeshow for woodworking and furniture machinery and technology, saw more than 11,200 attendees at the 2024 edition, which concluded last week.
Around 27% of attendees hailed from countries outside of Italy. Among those, 70% came from Europe, 18% from Asia, 5% from the Americas and 5% from Africa. Show officials called the numbers “highly encouraging.”
“We must admit we expected lower figures, considering the difficult period for trade fairs, but as it seems, Xylexpo’s long tradition has once again shown its attraction power,” said Dario Corbetta, exhibition director, a few hours after the end of the event. “Also, the decision to stay within the standard working days – Tuesday to Friday, leaving the Saturday free – was rewarded and ensured consistent attendance, after the opening day, on all exhibition days.”
The 2024 show saw some declines from 2022, however, , which attended the event. Attendees in 2024 numbered about 5,000 lower than 2022, and certain big names – such as Italian machinery maker Biesse – were notably absent. Fordaq also noted an increase presence in Chinese exhibitors.
The decline in attendees, at least in part, could reflect industry as a whole, which declined 8.1% in 2023 from 2022. According to Federlegno Arredo, the Italian federation of woodworking and furniture industries, the domestic market fell 10% for the year while exports fell 4.5%.
Still, , including high interest in sessions about “Industry 5.0” or the emerging industrial phase that sees humans working alongside A.I.