A growing number of visitors, less exhibitors. This is a quick balance of 2009 edition of Made Expo, the international exhibition of architecture, design and construction which was held in February 4-7 at the new expo centre Fieramilano Rho of Milan.
The number of visitors increased by 17.1 percent as compared to the last edition (200.126 visitors of which 19.202 were foreigners from 118 countries). On the other hand the number of exhibitors decreased. 1.739 exhibitors attended the event, against 1.914 in 2008.
The Milan event recorded the huge presence of qualified industry professionals, mainly architects, designers, door and window manufacturers, operators of the construction and finishing industries.
Wooden products for the construction industry – including prefab houses and structures (increased by almost 58 percent in terms of exhibition area covered in Hall 2, as confirmed by Assolegno), floorings, stairs, doors and windows – played a central role during the exhibition together with the construction industry, engineering services (especially architecture and design studios), concrete, metal structures and other components and materials such as equipment, ceramics, construction machinery, insulation. According to the estimates provided by the Study Center of Cosmit/Federlegno-Arredo on official figures (Istat and industry associations’) the construction system as a whole had an estimated economic value – in terms of turnover – reaching 315 billion euros in 2007; 8.5 billion euros only for the industry of wood-based products.
