Vitrum 2019 Showcases Industry 4.0

Glass equipment, machinery and technology took center stage last week at Vitrum 2019, held Oct. 1-4 across two halls at Fiera Milano Rho in Milan, Italy. Exhibitors at this year’s event promoted the glass industry’s automation, integration and optimization solutions—all part of Industry 4.0 manufacturing.

“Automation: this is our future,” says Carey Brayer, glass vice president of sales for Vitrum exhibitor Intermac. “Take action. Take the steps, get the technology, to allow you to do more.”

Visitors to the show were able to see Industry 4.0 solutions for all steps of glass processing—from order entry to fabrication to handling and more. Intermac, for example, displayed a CNC glass workstation that is fed glass by an articulating robot loader. Forvet promoted its completely automated processing capabilities for heavy glass, which Michael Spellman, owner of IGE Solutions, calls a game changer—the introduction of “lights out automation,” where every process can be completely automated. Adelio Lattuada demonstrated its parallel vertical edgers, complete with a handling robot. The company pairs the machinery with an online portal for real-time tracking of production. (Check out more technologies on display.)

The Vitrum 2019 seminars addressed the challenges and opportunities of Industry 4.0. One growing concern among companies as they move toward more interconnected and online production is cybersecurity. During the show, Giuseppe Francesco Bonacci, head of the Corporate Litigation and Compliance Department of LR Lex Avvocati Associati offered insights on virtual defense policies with a view to safeguarding corporate data and technological know-how from such attacks.

Seminars also included a look at development of international standards for glass processing machinery and a discussion of “What’s Hot” in glass processing, focusing on glass restoration.

In addition to promoting the processing solutions on the floor, Vitrum 2019 organizers, in partnership with the Italian Trade Agency and the Italian Ministry of Economic Development, focused on bringing international visitors to the show. The efforts reflect the Italian glass industry’s increased growth in exports of glass equipment, tools and products, organizers say.

“This exhibition … is on a continuous growth curve as tangible proof of the growing importance and development of the Italian glass processing industry,” says Giovanni Rodia, director of external relations for ITA. “The 3 percent increase in exports [of glass processing equipment from Italy] in 2018 is noteworthy, but even more significant is the 20 percent rise in exports posted in the first half of 2019.”

“Vitrum 2019 managed to involve the anticipated number of professionals, whose high business potential was extremely valued. Thanks to the 120 professionals in the ITA delegation and to the efforts expended by the Associations within the glass international community, Vitrum has become increasingly international, as the international visitors far outnumbered the Italians,” says Vitrum President Dino Zandonella Necca.

The next edition of Vitrum will take place Oct. 5-8, 2021.