Through its international TECNAwards programme, TECNA recognises the most significant technology investments made by exhibiting companies’ customers around the world. The 2026 edition honours investments made during the period 2024-2026. The ceremonies will be held on 22 and 23 September in the TECNA Future Hub in Hall D3 at the Rimini Expo Centre.
In previous editions, the TECNAwards were held on a single day and consisted primarily of the award presentations themselves. This year sees the introduction of a new two-day format combining the presentations with institutional keynote speeches, Industry Outlook reports from the MECS research centre and roundtable discussions featuring the award-winning companies. The two days are also divided up according to geographical area. The 22 September programme focuses on the Americas, while 23 September is dedicated to Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Africa.
22 September – The Americas
The programme kicks off at 2.30 pm with the inaugural conference featuring opening remarks from Maurizio Renzo Ermeti, Chairman of Italian Exhibition Group; Bruno Bettelli, Chairman of ACIMAC and representatives of Rimini City Council. They will be joined by the Honorary Consul of Brazil in Bologna and the Ambassador of Mexico to Italy, who will present awards to the winners from their respective countries.
Next up, Alessandra Pastorelli, Head of the Office for Guidance and Supervision of the Italian Trade Agency (ITA) at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, will give a keynote speech on the opportunities arising from the EU-Mercosur agreement. Genaro Lozano, Ambassador of Mexico to Italy, will speak at 3.00 pm, followed by the ribbon-cutting ceremony at 3.20 pm.
The awards ceremony opens at 3.30 pm with the presentation of the TECNAwards to six companies from Brazil, this year’s Country of Honour. The winners are: Delta Industria Ceramica, represented by President Eder Pereira; Ceramica Villagres, represented by President Vanderli Vitorio della Coletta and CEO Felipe Buschinelli della Coletta; Ceramica Carmelo Fior, represented by Commercial Director Gerson Luis da Silveira; Lef Pisos e Revestimentos, represented by CEO Luiz Fernando Ortigossa; Embramaco, represented by Industrial Director Mauro Palma, and Incepa, represented by Industrial Director Kirtus Kampmann. The awards will be presented by Marcus Vinicius de Menezes, Honorary Consul of Brazil in Bologna.
At 3.50 pm, Luca Baraldi from the MECS research centre will present an Industry Outlook on the ceramic market in the Americas. This will be followed at 4.00 pm by a roundtable discussion, where Lourdes SPL, represented by President Jorge Gallo, Grupo Corona, represented by COO Jaime Alberto Ángel Mejía, and Florida Tiles will explore the future of the industry together with the Chairman of ACIMAC.
The second round of awards for the Americas will begin at 4.40 pm. The New Plant award goes to Ceramica Lourdes SPL from Argentina, while Graiman from Ecuador and Florida Tiles from the USA will receive the New Technology awards. Ambassador Lozano will present the Italian Technology Ambassador award to Mexican company Interceramic. The Sanitaryware category award will go to Grupo Corona from Colombia, while Argentine firm Palmar will receive the Heavy Clay award.
At 5.00 pm, Mauro Vandini, President of the Global Ceramic division of Mohawk Industries, will be named Tile Person of the Year in recognition of his managerial expertise and strategic vision, his prominent role in the international ceramic industry and his in-depth knowledge of the North and South American markets. The award will be presented by ACIMAC Chairman Bruno Bettelli.
23 September – Rest of the world
The second day begins at 3.30 pm with the Made in Italy Champion award, which goes to Italgraniti in recognition of its ongoing commitment to investing in innovation and advanced Italian technology in pursuit of manufacturing excellence.
At 4.00 pm, Luca Baraldi will present his second Industry Outlook, focusing on Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Africa, followed at 4.20 pm by the most extensive round of awards in the two-day programme. The New Technology awards go to Royal Ceramics from Vietnam, DBL Ceramics from Bangladesh and Zanobia from Syria. Mountain Ceramics Company from Rwanda will receive the New Plant award, while Poulina Group from Tunisia and Nature Brique from Benin will receive the Heavy Clay awards. The Italian Technology Ambassador awards go to Simpolo (India), RAK Ceramics (United Arab Emirates), Guocera (Malaysia), NG Kutahya (Turkey) and Ceramica Cleopatra (Egypt). The first part of the ceremony will conclude with the Tile Person of the Year award for Asia, which goes to Tho Tuck Foo, General Manager of PT Satyaraya Keramindoindah in Indonesia.
At 4.40 pm, the international roundtable discussion will bring together three of the award-winning companies: Ceramica Cleopatra, represented by Vice Chair Daniela Rebottini, RAK Ceramics, represented by CEO Abdallah Massaad, and NG Kutahya, represented by Chairman Erkan Gural.
At 5.20 pm, the focus shifts to Europe with the presentation of the New Technology award to Energieker, the Innovative Product award to Spanish firm Argenta Cerámica and the Sustainability award to Florim. Spas Shopov of Bulgarian company Izida Ceramica will receive the accolade of European Tile Person of the Year. Finally, the Sustainability Ambassador award goes to Italcer Group and will be collected by CEO Graziano Verdi.
At 5.40 pm, Verdi will remain on stage to give the closing keynote address in his dual capacity as Chairman of CET and CEO of Italcer Group.
The two-day programme will conclude with the Tecnaperitivo at 6.00 pm.
