ITALIAN SMEs AND THEIR “KNOW-HOW” JOIN FORCES TO MEET THE CHALLENGES OF TRANSITION
Following the positive response to its debut edition in 2025, which welcomed over 3,000 professional visitors and 125 exhibitors across the halls of Piacenza Expo, Metal Materia is preparing to double in scale. The second edition, already scheduled for 5-6 November 2026, positions itself as a useful and necessary event for the Italian metallurgy and metalworking supply chain.
At a time when national GDP is strongly supported by capital goods manufacturing and subcontracting, the need to work as a network is no longer an option, but a strategy for survival and growth for Italian SMEs.
SUBCONTRACTING: THE BACKBONE OF THE ITALIAN ECONOMY
More than 50% of the Italian metalworking industry consists of artisan businesses and small to medium-sized enterprises. It is within these workshops that true “know-how” resides, a distinctive added value made up of technical precision and production flexibility, which has made Made in Italy a globally recognized benchmark of excellence. Today, however, the fragmentation of the production system calls for new forms of aggregation.
Metal Materia was created precisely to address this need: to provide SMEs with a platform for developing effective networking pathways, facilitating access to major contracts that require reliability and cross-disciplinary expertise.
TRANSITION, INNOVATION AND PEOPLE: THE PILLARS OF METAL MATERIA 2026
The challenges of the coming two-year period will be shaped by three major transitions:
- Digital: The integration of AI into manufacturing processes is no longer science fiction. From predictive maintenance to supply chain optimization, SMEs must adopt these technologies to remain competitive in international markets that are increasingly demanding in terms of tolerances and delivery times.
- Energy: With operating costs under pressure, energy innovation in metal melting and processing has become a priority. Metal Materia 2026 will dedicate significant space to solutions aimed at reducing consumption.
- Skills: In a sector where 68% of companies struggle to find qualified personnel, the trade fair positions itself as a meeting point for emerging professional profiles.
A DISTINCTIVE AND PRACTICAL TRADE FAIR
Piacenza Expo once again confirms itself as the ideal venue for a B2B event specifically tailored to SMEs. As highlighted by the venue’s management, Metal Materia is not merely a showcase, but an innovative trade fair tool that redefines the supply chain. From precision metal fabrication to heat treatments, from foundries to steel products, from fasteners to IT solutions for design, every segment of the supply chain fits seamlessly here. This is complemented by an in-depth analysis of production costs, material costs, and sector-specific logistics dynamics.
The return of the event in 2026 promises to strengthen its role as an accelerator, transforming the challenges of transition into concrete business opportunities through technical seminars, workshops, and demo areas where innovation can be experienced firsthand.
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METAL MATERIA
The SME Exhibition for Mechanical Engineering and Metallurgy
November 5-6, 2026 Thursday 9:30 AM – 5:30 PM | Friday 9:30 AM – 5:30 PM
Organizing Secretariat: Piacenza Expo | Tel. +39 0523 602711 | industria@piacenzaexpo.it www.metalmateria.it
