A new edition and a new all-digital format for the 15th edition of A&T. International A&T - Automation & Testing Exhibitiondedicated to Innovation, Technologies and Skills 4.0, scheduled from 10 to 12 February.
"More than 150 brands have decided, together with A&T, to ride the paradigm shift imposed by Covid and to embrace a new exhibition formula," said Luciano Malgaroli, CEO of the A&T Fair, which was presented on 3 February at a virtual conference attended by Andrea Tronzano, Councillor for Development of Productive Activities and Small and Medium Enterprises Piedmont Region Marco Pironti, Councillor for Innovation City of Turin Dario Gallina, President of the Turin Chamber of Commerce, Alberto Baban, President of the Scientific Industrial Committee of Fiera A&T and Giorgio Marsiaj, President of Sabelt S.p.a. and Industrial Union of Turin.
"The future is written: many trade fair events, testing digital formulas, will choose to maintain a hybrid formula," added Malgaroli. "The difference will be made by the digital infrastructures adopted, which are increasingly customised to the needs of exhibitors and visitors, and the ability of companies and organisers to innovate marketing and communication strategies. We have believed in this, and with us the many brands that have demonstrated through their actions that they are innovators and, despite the period of crisis, have chosen not to stop".
Alberto Baban, Chairman of the A&T Scientific Committee, added: "Events such as the A&T Fair represent unmissable opportunities to learn about the evolution of manufacturing 4.0, to share entrepreneurial behaviours and decisions aimed at waste rationalisation, safety and sustainability certification, to talk about projects and ideas of industrial creativity and to train in new digital skills".
The offer of the A&T fair
By accessing the platform designed for A&T, the uncertainties and geographical boundaries of exhibitors and visitors will be overcome, increasing business and networking opportunities in total security.
The traditional stands will become digital suites populated by leading Italian and international companies displaying their most advanced technologies in the fields of robotics, research and development, logistics and measurement and testing systems, engaging the most interested targets in a targeted manner.
Visitors, for their part, will be able to easily plan B2B meetings with exhibitors, in a targeted manner and interacting dynamically and, by accessing the space dedicated to the ICE Agency, also with foreign buyers. It will be possible to book virtual tours inside the companies' production lines, attend conferences and workshops dedicated to business networking, take part in advanced training events, and always be in direct contact - confidentially via chat or video meeting - with the companies and their managers.
The methods of access and use of content have therefore changed, but not the founding pillars of the A&T Fair: display of technologies, training and sharing of skills, updating and comparison between operators, the market and institutions.
Support from local institutions
During the presentation conference, statements of support for the initiative came from the world of institutions. Marco Pironti stressed that it is the duty of the institutions "to create the best conditions so that this type of initiative can have an adequate resonance", while Andrea Tronzano recalled how the 2020 edition of A&T was the last event in attendance before the pandemic and how a return to live fairs is desirable, despite the fact that digital has shown all its potential in this difficult past year and that digitalisation itself is one of the most important challenges for the Piedmont Region.
"A&T is a great digital showcase, but it can also help give visibility to the major projects we are supporting, such as the City of Science project in the Grugliasco industrial park," said Dario Gallina.
Giorgio Marsiaj concluded the meeting : "Turin has a long manufacturing tradition in the sectors that have allowed Italy to go from being an agricultural country to an industrial one, and the ability of our entrepreneurs to innovate has been fundamental for the competitiveness of our companies. Our region is a leader in additive manufacturing and artificial intelligence technologies. But the point on which we must insist is the role of supply chains: only by strengthening the supply chain, in all sectors, can the country's economic system recover, because a strong supply chain facilitates the implementation of projects in the medium and long term. In this sense, the Packaging District in Bologna is a good example: there, companies supported themselves and became globally competitive, triggering a re-shoring process already after the 2008 crisis. This is where their success story has its roots. The A&T trade fair can play an important role in bringing companies closer together and making them work together.
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