The next edition of BI-MU/SFORTEC, the international exhibition dedicated to the most qualified offer of metal cutting and metal forming machine tools, robots, automation systems and auxiliary technologies, will take place from 30 September to 4 October 2014 at Fieramilano.

Promoted by Ucimu-Sistemi Per Produrre, the association of Italian manufacturers of machine tools, robots, and automation systems, the exhibition is organised by EFIM -Ente Fiere Italiane Macchine.

In line with tradition, centrepiece of the event will be BI-MU, the two-yearly machine tool exhibition, now in its twenty-ninth edition, which will be joined by SFORTEC, an event dedicated to technical sub-contracting and services for the industrial sector.

In 2012 the exhibition was attended by 58,875 visitors from 77 countries. The analysis of the visitor attendance data shows that all the main end user sectors were represented by own operators. 20.7% of visitors belonged to the machine tool sector, 16.2% to the automotive sector, 5.4% to the civil aviation and aerospace sector, 5.2% to the energy sector, 4.1% to the food sector, and 4% to the packaging sector. (The list of the main customers of the machine tools companies that have visited the exhibition can be found at www.bimu.it).

According to the results of the survey carried out at the end of the latest edition, the operators that crowded the 90,000 square metres of total exhibition space to discover the offer of the 1,160 companies (45% from abroad) belonged to the company areas that are more strategically connected with purchasing decision processes: 20.8% cover a technical position, 15.8% a production position, 12.1% a top management position, while 11.6% a commercial role, and 7.3% work in purchasing. On the other hand, 85% of those interviewed stated that they are involved in the purchasing processes of their companies.

The high profile of visitors is first and foremost due to the rich presence of qualified and the loyalty of exhibitors, which during the twenty-eight edition showcased 3,000 machines, for a total value of 466 million Euros.

To facilitate the meeting between demand and offer of production systems, as usual BI-MU will include a session of B2B meetings between Italian exhibitors and highly qualified end users of some of the most dynamic markets. During 2012, 2,000 business meetings actually took place.

To enhance the presence of the operators at the event, together with the traditional conference program of Quality Bridge, the organisers will also present Il Mondo Della Finitura Delle Superfici (The World of Surface Finishing), showcase of the most qualified offer from finishing system manufacturers, and Pianeta Giovani (Planet Youth), an area dedicated to students who want to understand the contents and the characteristics of the production system sector.

Updated information, services and - important new issue for the 2014 edition - the possibility for the exhibitors to register directly on line (in addition to the still available traditional paper application forms), are only some of the support tools that can be found on the new websites www.bimu.it and www.sfortec.it