The design and furniture supply sector meets in Bergamo: 200 companies, over 30 events, and more than 20 institutional partners in just 2 days

interzum, Koelnmesse GmbH’s leading event in the subcontracting sector for the furniture industry, adds a new biennial event to its global trade fair constellation: from Cologne to Guangzhou, to Bogotá and now at the crossroads of the furniture and design districts in Italy, in Bergamo,  chosen for its easy accessibility due to its proximity to Orio al Serio Airport (the airport that connects Bergamo with 137 destinations and 37 foreign countries) and Milan.

Interzum Forum Italy is the new biennial event that will alternate with Interzum Cologne, in even-numbered years. “It is important to underline that interzum forum italy is a project that responds to the needs of this historical moment in which companies are looking at concentrated, short-term and extremely effective events” – says Thomas Rosolia, CEO of Koelnmesse Italia – “To date, the two halls of the exhibition complex are almost full and we hope to reach 200 exhibitors from all over the world of the Function & Components, Materials & Nature, Textile and Machinery sectors,” continues Thomas Rosolia.

An event – therefore – that develops a contained and effective format: two days during which meeting companies in the sector and deepening the most topical issues for industrial districts.

The event aims at different subcontracting chains witnessing constellation developments in recent years. The companies traditionally producing and processing for the furniture sector have also turned their attention to the contract nautical sectors, camper vans and automotive. Trends, new technical and technological solutions, new materials, products and processes with low environmental impact, production and services digitalisation. A matrix of topics and formats to respond to all the requests by international speakers. The extended programme of meetings includes a mix of activities and side events – partly borrowed from interzum cologne and partly newly designed – which comprise Talks, Trend Stages, Product Stages, Matchmaking and dedicated event areas. The strong point of interzum forum italy will be the rich conference program profiled all sectors of subcontracting – materials, components, coatings, lighting systems, upholstery, machinery and equipment for the production of furniture, upholstery and textile upholstery and the various audiences of the event: companies and operators in the furniture and design sectors, manufacturers of materials and technologies for furniture, general contractors, companies and design studios, planners and interior designers.

Exhibiting companies will also be able to nominate their products and services for the interzum forum italy award. An exceptional jury – made up of international experts in environmental matters, technological innovation and trendsetting – will select the best proposals, particularly those that will interpret market developments by indicating developments for the supply chains represented at the fair. There are 6 awards in the Innovation and ESG & Sustainability categories, divided into the 3 thematic areas: Functions & Components, Materials & Nature and Textile & Machinery.

Matthias Pollmann, Vice President Trade Fair Management Koelnmesse, speaking at the interzum forum italy press conference, said: “I am pleased to be present today, in a prestigious context such as the ADI Museum, to meet designers and experts who testify to the ferment of the sector and its international vocation“.

Interzum forum italy boasts numerous collaborations with institutions, universities and research bodies. These include the CSIL study centre, the Digital Innovation Observatories of the School of Management of the Politecnico di Milano, the Department of Materials Science of the University of Milano-Bicocca, and the consortium company POLI.Design, and the Alibaba E-commerce platform.

In addition, the support of The European House of

Ambrosetti and CATAS, as well as the patronage of Federlegno Arredo, the Department of Economic Development of the Lombardy Region, the Italian-German Chamber of Commerce AHK Italien, ASCOM Confcommercio Bergamo, CdO Bergamo, Confartigianato Bergamo, Bergamo Chamber of Commerce and AIPI, Italian Association of Professional Interior Designers.

interzum forum italy will take place at the Bergamo Exhibition and Congress Centre, on 6 and 7 June 2024.