President Riccardo Cavanna: “Together stronger for world-leading sector representation.”
The first Members’ Meeting of Federazione Confindustria Macchine was held on January 28 at the NH Milan Congress Centre in Milanofiori. The new Confindustria entity was created through the initiative of four founding members, namely the presidents of four leading Confindustria associations of capital goods manufacturers: Paolo Lamberti, president of Acimac (Association of Italian Manufacturers of Machinery and Equipment for Ceramics); Enrico Aureli, president of Acimall (Association of Italian Manufacturers of Woodworking Machinery); Massimo Margaglione, president of Amaplast (National Association of Manufacturers of Machinery and Molds for Plastics and Rubber); and Riccardo Cavanna, president of Ucima (Union of Italian Manufacturers of Automatic Packaging and Processing Machinery). By virtue of the proposing parties, the full wording of the new association is Federazione Confindustria Macchine per Ceramica, Legno, Plastica e Gomma, Imballaggio e Confezionamento.
Each of the federated sectors represents a made-in-Italy excellence, a reference in the world for their respective customer sectors, with strong export percentages. The total cumulative turnover of the new federation is more than 18 billion euros (based on the 2024 preliminary figures published by the four Associations), generated by about 1,300 companies employing nearly 70,000 people.
The Assembly appointed Riccardo Cavanna, former president of Ucima since 2022, as president for the two-year period 2025-2027.
“Today we are kicking off the future” Cavanna said. “A future for which we have worked so hard over the past few years. The establishment of Federazione Confindustria Macchine represents a landing in a new world. Here we will be able to multiply our talents and ambitions, to make each of the sectors we represent stronger: services, communication and promotion of the sectors, lobbying activities, synergies to face the great challenges of the future of industrial manufacturing, such as the ecological transition and artificial intelligence. In a fast-changing world, we felt the need for stronger and more specific political representation for our four sectors specializing in manufacturing and supplying capital goods. I would also like to thank all of my fellow Presidents of the other Associations who honored me with their trust and indicated me as the sole candidate. Of course, thanks also to all the entrepreneurs who voted for me in the assembly. Finally, I would like to extend an invitation,” the newly appointed president concluded, ”to the Capital Goods Associations that are watching our project, some with distrust and skepticism and some with curiosity: let us build this new project together! We have as entrepreneurs, presidents and directors not only the pleasure but also the duty to dream big because our companies need to dream big together with us”.
Sealing the first Members’ Meeting of the newly formed organization was a round table discussion on the future of Italian instrumental mechanics: speakers included Maurizio Marchesini, Confindustria Vice President for Labor and Industrial Relations; Lara Ponti, Confindustria Vice President for Environmental Transition and ESG Goals; and Marco Nocivelli, Confindustria Vice President for Industrial Policies and Made in Italy.
