From April 29 to May 2, nine Italian companies will take part in North America’s leading trade show for the ceramic industry, at a pivotal time for the U.S. market
The international tour of We Are Acimac, the promotional brand of the Italian Association of Manufacturers of Machinery and Equipment for Ceramics, continues. Following successful stops at Indian Ceramics Asia and Expo Revestir, the spotlight now shifts to Coverings, scheduled from April 29 to May 2 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida.
The Italian collective, organized by Acimac in collaboration with the Italian Trade Agency (ITA), will include nine companies: BMR, Cami Depurazioni, Certech, Gruppo Tecnoferrari, Omar Crane, Sacmi, Surfaces, System Ceramics, and Tecnomat.
Coverings is a strategic event for several reasons, starting with the central role of the U.S. market, which accounts for a domestic production of 87 million square meters of tiles. In 2023, Italy exported ceramic machinery to the NAFTA area worth €179 million, representing 10.4% of the sector’s total exports.
However, the U.S. market is currently facing uncertainties due to duties introduced by the Trump administration, now set at 25%. These duties affect critical components of the production process, such as sorting and glazing lines, as well as several customs codes related to spare parts—including steel. All other machinery and equipment are subject to a 10% increase. These measures pose a risk to the entire supply chain, impacting not only Italian manufacturers but also Italian-owned ceramic production plants in the U.S., with direct consequences on costs, supply chains, and new investments—at an already delicate time for the industry.
To address the situation, Acimac has set up a technical task force, together with the associations under the umbrella of the Federazione Confindustria Macchine, with the aim of monitoring regulations and providing practical support to affected companies.
In this context, the presence of Italian companies at Coverings takes on even greater significance: maintaining a strong foothold in the market, strengthening ties with local partners, and reaffirming the quality and reliability of Italian technology is essential to safeguard the competitiveness of Made in Italy, even in today’s challenging landscape.