July, 29, 2025 - The annual Assembly of Amaplast - Italy's national trade association representing some 170 manufacturers of machinery, equipment, and moulds for plastics and rubber processing, and member of Confindustria - was held on 24 June 2025 at Villa Borromeo in Cassano d'Adda.

During the Assembly, Massimo Margaglione (photo) was confirmed as President for the 2025-2027 term, alongside Gabriele Caccia and Barbara Ulcelli, who were appointed Vice Presidents.

In his talk, Massimo Margaglione illustrated the performance of the Italian plastics and rubber processing machinery industry, commenting on the results of the fifth edition of the National Statistical Survey carried out by the MECS-Amaplast Statistical Studies Centre. The survey focused on approximately 430 manufacturers (representing over 15.000 employees), who generated revenues exceeding 4.82 billion euros (+1.4%), with exports accounting for more than 74% of the total sum.

This performance is particularly reassuring considering the multiple ongoing geopolitical tensions, the complex legislative framework, and the occasionally disadvantageous decisions imposed by European institutions.

Vice President Barbara Ulcelli commented on the survey results concerning the structure of the association and, more broadly, the structure of the Italian plastics and rubber processing machinery industry, covering aspects such as geographical position, company size, and workforce. She also provided an update on ongoing negotiations for the renewal of the National Collective Labour Agreement (CCNL), represented by Federmeccanica, of which she is a General Council member.

Vice President Gabriele Caccia focused on topics concerning his field of work, including Amaplast's participation in industry fairs over the past year, the results of Greenplast 2025, and the preparations for Plast 2026.

The guest of honor at the assembly was Professor Carlo Cottarelli, who delivered a lecture on the current global economy and its potential future developments with a special emphasis on Italy.

Industry Data

According to the findings of the fifth edition of the National Statistical Survey by the MECS-Amaplast Statistical Centre, the Italian plastics and rubber processing machinery industry closed 2024 with a 1.4% increase in turnover, reaching over 4.82 billion euros. This result surpasses the preliminary forecast published in March, which had anticipated a slight contraction in production.

The stability of the sector can largely be attributed to the strong performance of exports, which increased for the fourth consecutive year. According to ISTAT data, exports increased by 1.5% compared to 2023, reaching a total value of 3.62 billion euros.

Exports, accounting for three quarters of total production, peaked in the final quarter of the year, particularly in December.

While more established markets such as the European Union and North America registered modest growth, other regions - despite accounting for smaller shares - proved to be more dynamic. Significant increases in demand were observed in the Far Est - especially in China and India - as well as in non-EU European countries (Turkey), Sub-Saharan Africa, and the Middle East.

Conversely, imports declined by 7% over the course of the year, ending just above 1 billion euros.

The macro-level data emerging from the latest National Statistical Survey outline an industry composed of approximately 430 manufacturers of plastics and rubber processing machinery, equipment, and moulds, collectively employing over 15,000 people.

Most of the companies are located in Lombardy (53% of production facilities), followed by Veneto and Emilia Romagna (each with 14%), and Piedmont (nearly 9%).

Moreover, a direct relationship between company size and revenue-generating capacity can be observed. While most companies fall into the three smallest turnover brackets (up to 10 million euros), employing 72% of the sector's workforce, it is the larger enterprises that account for the majority (78%) of total industry turnover. As a result, as company size increases, so does average revenue per employee and focus on exports.

Vice President Barbara Ulcelli emphasized that the average revenue per employee in the sector stands at approximately 320,000 euros, significantly higher than the national industrial average. This figure rises even further within Amaplast companies, approaching 330,000 euros.

As far as end markets are concerned, the largest share of revenue comes from the packaging sector (roughly 29% food-related and 17% non-food). The packaging sector is followed by the automotive industry (nearly 16%), construction (12%), and medical applications (5%).

Industry Trade Fairs

In addition to information on the numerous international trade fairs Amaplast took part in over the past year, Vice President Caccia presented the outcomes of the second edition of Greenplast - the international exhibition-conference organized by the association's service company, Promaplast srl. The event centred around materials, technologies, and processing innovations within the plastics and rubber sector, with a strong emphasis on environmental sustainability and energy efficiency.

The 2025 edition - held from 27 to 30 May as part of The Innovation Alliance alongside trade fairs such as Ipacklma, Print4All, and Intralogistica Italia - welcomed 200 exhibitors (75% domestic and 25% from 19 foreign countries) across 5,500 square metres. The event registered nearly 17,400 attendees, based on pre-registration and shared visitor tracking data across all fairs, all accessible with a single entry ticket.

Positive feedback was also received for the conference "Shaping a sustainable future for plastics", organised in collaboration with AMI-Applied Marked Information, a global leader in consultancy and event planning for the plastics industry. The event brought together experts from across the entire plastics supply chain to discuss the challenges and opportunities of ecological transition.

The next edition of Greenplast is scheduled to take place from 28 May to 1 June 2028, once again in conjunction with Ipacklma and Intralogistica Italia.

With regard to upcoming fairs, Vice President Caccia noted that preparations for Plast, the historic trade show organised by Amaplast-Promaplast srl, have already begun. The twentieth edition will once again take place at FieraMilano Rho-Pero, from 9 to 12 June 2026. The association joined forces with Acimall (which represents woodworking machinery manufacturers and is a promoter of Xylexpo) to launch a new joint exhibition project called MATEC (MATerials and TECnologies) combining both shows. In collaboration with Assocompositi, it will also feature the first edition of Composites Future, a conference-exhibition dedicated to composite materials - a natural bridge between the plastics and woodworking sectors.

Global economy

In his speech, Professor Carlo Cottarelli provided an overview of the global economy - projected to grow by 2.8% in 2025, barring any additional shocks that may further exacerbate the uncertainty many businesses already fear. The US and China are expected to be the main drivers of this growth.

He then studied the trajectory of the performance of the Italian economy over the past few decades and pointed out the factors hindering its growth, including, first and foremost, the heavy tax burden, excessive bureaucracy, high energy cost, the sluggishness of the justice system, and the increasingly alarming demographic decline.