Bruno Bettelli elected President of ACIMAC

The election took place during the Association’s Annual General Meeting held on 9 July. Bettelli will lead the Italian association of ceramic machinery manufacturers for the next four years.

At its Annual General Meeting held on 9 July, the Assembly of Acimac elected Bruno Bettelli as the new President of the Italian Ceramic Machinery and Equipment Manufacturers’ Association. The presidential team will include Vice Presidents Simone Sorrentino (Surfaces Group), Paolo Mongardi (Sacmi), and Luca Bazzani (System Ceramics).

Bruno Bettelli is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of I-TECH S.r.l. and brings to the role extensive experience within Acimac, having first served on the Board of Directors and subsequently as Vice President. For the past three years, he has also served as President of Federmacchine, the Italian federation of associations representing manufacturers of capital goods for the manufacturing industry.

In his inaugural address, the new President stressed the need to strengthen the competitiveness of Italy's ceramic technology industry by enhancing the wealth of expertise, innovation and know-how that the district has built over decades of global leadership. His message was fully aligned with the theme chosen for the 2026 General Meeting, "Evolution", which served as the guiding concept for discussions on the future of the sector. At a time when market models are changing rapidly and technological innovation is accelerating industrial transformation, evolving is no longer an option but a responsibility for companies seeking continued growth while preserving their identity.

The event brought together representatives from the business, institutional and trade association communities to discuss the challenges reshaping international competitive dynamics: from the emergence of new global competitors to the reconfiguration of value chains, as well as the need to identify new growth opportunities in international markets.

Particular attention was devoted to China's evolution and its implications for European manufacturing. Giuliano Noci, Vice Rector of the China Campus of the Politecnico di Milano, provided an in-depth analysis of the profound changes taking place in the Chinese economy and their consequences for companies operating in global markets. Alongside this, a panel discussion featuring entrepreneurs and representatives from different sectors of the Italian mechanical engineering industry highlighted the need to continue investing in innovation, skills and internationalization as key strategic drivers of competitiveness. Participants included Graziano Verdi, President of CET – European Ceramic Tile Manufacturers Federation and Chief Executive Officer of Gruppo Italcer; Nancy Mammaro, President of GIMAV and Chief Executive Officer of Mappi International; and Pierluigi Ghirelli, President of Ceramicolor and Chief Executive Officer of Zschimmer & Schwarz Ceramco.

The event concluded with a speech by Barbara Cimmino, Vice President of Confindustria for Export and Foreign Investment Attraction, who explored the topic of internationalization in a period marked by increasing economic and geopolitical complexity.

The General Meeting also featured the exhibition "Business Visions: Art, Industry and the Future through Salvador Dalí", showcasing works by the artist and organized by Dalí Universe and Lart Universe. The project fostered a dialogue between creativity, innovation and entrepreneurial culture, offering an original perspective on the relationship between industry and the future.