Events

Simac Tanning Tech strengthens international focus

Name: SIMAC Tanning Tech
Start: 2026-09-15
End: 2026-09-17
Location: SIMAC Tanning Tech

Sep 14, 2026 Italy

Simac Tanning Tech strengthens international focus

With the sector’s exports under pressure, Simac Tanning Tech is strengthening its international focus by targeting new markets and attracting qualified buyers to its 52nd edition

The International Exhibition for Technology and Machinery in the Footwear, Leather Goods and Tanning Industries, which will take place alongside Lineapelle at Fiera Milano Rho from the 15^th to the 17^th of September 2026, will host 290 exhibitors, brands and innovative organisations from the sector across an area of 12,900 square metres. 30% of these exhibitors are international, hailing from over 20 countries.

The 2026 edition of Simac Tanning Tech aims to enhance the visitor experience with two initiatives: the Buyer Journey and the VIP Programme.

To that end, the organisation has arranged the exhibition for specialisation to help visitors identify suitable technological solutions for their needs more easily. Meanwhile, the VIP Programme will bring together newly selected, high-potential operators with established buyers and industry professionals.

More than 200 international guests are expected to attend, including 130 members of official delegations from 26 countries, supported by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and the Italian Trade Agency (ITA).

The increased international focus comes against a challenging backdrop for the sector. In the first five months of 2026, total exports fell by 9.78% year-on-year. While Europe proved more resilient, Asia weakened and the Americas recorded mixed trends. Meanwhile, exports of tanning machinery to Africa increased.

This year’s edition will have a particular focus on Latin America. In collaboration with ACCAL and the International Italo-Latin American Organisation (IILA), the event will seek to foster dialogue with footwear production systems across the region, exploring their technological and investment requirements.

Simac Tanning Tech is also expanding its activities in Africa. Following a Kenya-focused initiative in 2025, attention will turn to Egypt and Robbiki Leather City this year, with a significant Egyptian delegation expected in Milan. The project, developed in collaboration with AICS Cairo and local partners, focuses on modernising the tanning supply chain by investing in infrastructure and technology, developing skills, and making production processes more sustainable.

The growing focus on Latin American and African markets is evident among the buyers, who hail from countries such as Colombia, Argentina, Brazil, Peru and Mexico in Latin America, as well as Egypt, Ethiopia, Niger, South Africa, Tunisia and Morocco in Africa. There is also a notable Asian presence, with buyers from India, Indonesia, Pakistan and Uzbekistan.

“This is a strategy built around the sector’s needs”, said Mauro Bergozza, President of Assomac, “which consolidates Simac Tanning Tech’s role as an industrial platform capable of bringing together technology, expertise and markets”. In this context, he highlighted that the trade fair is designed to facilitate purchasing decisions regarding the technological solutions best suited to creating value.

Image Credits: internationalleathermaker.com

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