From 5 to 7 March, METEF 2025 returns to BolognaFiere to propose solutions for aluminium production, processing, and applications, and to push the development of the sector. Central themes of the event will be environmental and energy sustainability, challenges that pressurise the sector but fail to discourage entrepreneurs: more than 7 out of 10 declare a medium to very high level of confidence.
In a global context of fierce competitiveness and at a time of major international challenges, the aluminum industry is preparing to meet again at METEF, the leading international trade fair for the aluminum supply chain organized by Senaf, at BolognaFiere March 5–7, 2025.
The 13th edition of METEF, which will be held concurrently with the manufacturing industry exhibition MECSPE, returns to Bologna focusing on the established expertise and experience of the industrial segment to boost the development of the industry through an extraordinary heritage of culture that, as of today, has to measure itself against new requirements for sustainability and production efficiency.
After a slowdown in the sector in 2023, 2024 started off on a recovery for laminates: their production increased by 8 percent in the first nine months of the year, and forecasts for the last quarter look no different.
The 2024 production estimate is about 560 thousand tons, with apparent domestic consumption slightly lower due to an export value higher than imports.
Seven out of ten entrepreneurs have great confidence in the sector
Foreign trade of Italian laminates is also reported to have increased in the first half of 2024: +5.3 percent for imports and +14.3 percent for exports.1
The scenario outlined by this data has also seen an increase in the confidence of entrepreneurs in the sector; in fact, according to the MECSPE Observatory analysis, more than 7 out of 10 entrepreneurs report a medium to very high level of confidence in the sector.2
The positive data underscore the industry’s willingness to grow and does not want to slow down despite the pressing international and energy sustainability challenges.
Precisely in this regard, METEF is preparing to be an unprecedented showcase for proposing new solutions and best practices that can help entrepreneurs ride the innovations and opportunities in the industry, especially from a sustainability perspective.
This element has also gained wide currency with the approval of MIMIT’s Transition 5.0 Plan in August, which grants access to new incentives for the entire supply chain with a view to green transitioning.
In Bologna, the third Aluminium Energy Summit
METEF 2025 offers an ideal stage for fostering dialogue between the different players in the supply chain: raw material producers, technology suppliers, semi-finished product manufacturers and, above all, the key participation of the main national and international industry associations.
In particular, the heart of the next edition of METEF will undoubtedly be the Aluminium Energy Summit.
The successful event, now in its third year, aims to investigate best practices and innovative solutions in the aluminum field, thanks to talks by leading industry figures.
A packed schedule that aims to illustrate the benefits of this powerful and indispensable material to all players in the manufacturing industry and provide the sector with concrete solutions to reduce the CO2 footprint throughout the aluminum supply chain.
«METEF aims to position itself as a high-added-value moment for the supply chain.» Rossano Bozzi, of METEF says:«METEF 2025 will be the first event in this journey of change for the aluminum community. In an increasingly competitive global environment, sustainability has become a top priority, and our exhibition will provide an interesting overview of the most innovative solutions to reduce energy consumption and optimize production processes. We are working with all stakeholders in the supply chain to build a more sustainable, efficient, and innovative future for the aluminum industry.»
METEF’s role in the sector
For 25 years, the METEF exhibition has been Italy’s only point of reference for the aluminum industrial supply chain: from raw, primary, and recycled materials, to machinery, equipment, production and processing plants, semi-finished products, castings and finished products in the diecasting, gravity and low-pressure foundry, extrusion, rolling and stamping sectors, to machining, assemblies, finishes and recycling technologies.
METEF is an event created and shaped in close collaboration with businesses and industry insiders. Today, in a global context of heated and difficult competitiveness, it is revived by focusing on the established expertise and experience of the industry segment.
As is customary, the industry’s top national and international associations’ unwavering support helps refocus attention on the industry’s development through an extraordinary cultural heritage that must tackle the new frontiers of technology and sustainable innovation.
METEF, for which Senaf has been appointed as the organizer, will be held concurrently with MECSPE, a landmark event for the manufacturing industry in Italy.
The two events will be located in separate pavilions but adjacent to develop synergies and achieve common goals. A strong alliance between two events that are well known and established in their respective target markets, as well as complementarity and completeness of the product range offered, aim to offer visitors a complete and unmissable experience.
1 Assomet data, September 2024.
2 MECSPE Observatory on the Manufacturing Industry conducted by GRS Research and Strategy on a sample of 196 Italian manufacturing companies working in the aluminum sector through CAWI methodology during June 2024.
