The 29th edition of TECNA – The Global Expo for ceramics and more is set to open in just a few days’ time, running from 22 to 25 September 2026 at the Rimini Expo Centre. An international showcase for the ceramic and surface industries, TECNA is organised by IEG – Italian Exhibition Group in collaboration with ACIMAC. Its international reach is reflected in the presence of 310 exhibiting brands, 39% of them from 19 countries outside Italy: Spain, China, Turkey, India, Germany, France, Portugal, the United Kingdom, Bulgaria, the United States, Bangladesh, the Czech Republic, Egypt, Greece, the Netherlands, Poland, Ukraine, Sweden and the United Arab Emirates.
The conference programme will take place in the TECNA Future Hub in Hall D3 and will feature nine events across all four days of the show. Some of the themes addressed are longstanding industry challenges, such as where to source raw materials, how to balance costs and quality and which regulations are about to change. Others are new to the show and reflect just how far its scope has expanded, including invisible QR codes fired into tiles at over 1,000 °C, humanoid robots picking orders in warehouses and advanced ceramic materials of interest to the aerospace industry.
Tuesday 22 – Opening conference, TECNAwards and geopolitics
The programme will begin at 2.30 pm in Hall D3 with the opening conference and the first TECNAwards ceremony, dedicated to the Americas. TECNA’s international awards programme recognises the best technology investments made between 2024 and 2026 by customers of exhibiting companies. This year, the awards adopt a new two-day format, with a programme that also includes institutional keynote speeches, roundtable discussions and Industry Outlook presentations from the MECS (Manufacturing Economic Studies) research centre.
The proceedings will open with institutional remarks from Maurizio Renzo Ermeti, Chairman of Italian Exhibition Group, Bruno Bettelli, Chairman of ACIMAC, and representatives of Rimini City Council. Alessandra Pastorelli from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation will give a presentation on initiatives supporting Italian companies abroad and the opportunities arising from the EU-Mercosur agreement, after which ambassadors from South American countries to Italy will take the floor. At 3.25 pm, the ribbon-cutting ceremony will be followed by the resumption of the TECNAwards programme and a roundtable discussion in which four award-winning companies will share their views on the future of the industry.
Wednesday 23 – Raw materials, sourcing and the second day of the TECNAwards
At 10.30 am, a conference entitled Geopolitics, Raw Materials, Energy organised by the Italian Ceramic Society will address the raw materials challenge with a focus on geopolitics, energy and innovation. The conference will be opened by Cristina Siligardi, Chair of the Italian Ceramic Society and Professor at UNIMORE, and moderated by Paola Giacomini, Editor-in-Chief of Ceramic World Review. Among the speakers, Giuliano Ferrari, Vice Chairman of Ceramicolor-Federchimica, will discuss raw material supply challenges. The conference will conclude with a roundtable discussion featuring representatives of Florim Group and Marazzi Group.
At 12.30 pm, Marco Scalari, R&D Director of Surfaces Group, will present DryTech Process, a finishing technology that eliminates the use of water.
In the afternoon, starting at 3.30 pm, the TECNAwards return to the stage. Following the previous day’s focus on the Americas, the second day turns to Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Africa.
Thursday 24 – Logistics, traceability, regulations
At 10.00 am, TECNA and Logisticamente.it will host a conference entitled Manufacturing Intralogistics, examining a key issue for the sector: while ceramic production has become increasingly automated in recent years, internal material handling has lagged behind. The conference will compare technologies and operating models through real-world case studies, with Stefano Bianchi of AB Coplan introducing a speaker line-up that includes Polytec, TecnoFerrari Group, Studio 1 Automazioni Industriali, SACMI Intralogistics and AETNA Group.
At 12.00 pm, Colorobbia and Personas y Tecnología will present a ceramic ink that can be used to apply invisible QR codes to surfaces. Invisible to the naked eye and detectable only under UV light, the codes can withstand firing at over 1,000 °C, making them suitable for traceability and for protecting designs against counterfeiting.
At 2.00 pm, the Pôle Européen de la Céramique will bring together members of its network to discuss decarbonisation, the circular economy and the transformation of the ceramic supply chain.
At 3.45 pm, the ACIMAC Technical Department will address the Machinery Regulation (EU) 2023/1230 and the Cyber Resilience Act, together with KPMG. These regulatory changes have practical implications for manufacturers, as cyber risk assessment will become part of design processes and technical documentation.
Friday 25 – Data as a competitive advantage
The final day’s conference, entitled Smart Surfaces, is curated by DIW – Digital Industries World and will feature first-hand accounts of digitalisation, servitisation and applied artificial intelligence. It will discuss not only the benefits but also costs, timeframes and resources. Taking to the stage will be Matias Ballardini, Chief Digital Officer of SACMI Imola, Marcello Scalfi from Siemens, Alberto Annovi, Technical and Safety Manager of TecnoFerrari Group, and Claudio Mingazzini, Senior Researcher at ENEA. They will be joined by Marino Crippa, CEO of Miraitek, and Saverio Mottana, CEO of Masco Group Automation. The session will be moderated by Giuseppe Biffi.
In the Decortech arena
Running alongside the main programme on 23 and 24 September, the Decortech Conference – Surfaces made to matter will have its own dedicated arena in Halls B5-D5. It will feature two days of events dedicated to surface design: Materials and Aesthetics on 23 September, curated by Patrizia Catalano, and Materials and Technology on 24 September, curated by Ascanio Zocchi. Closing the day’s events on 23 September will be the CNR – ISSMC Advanced Ceramics workshop, organised in collaboration with BEX – Beyond Exploration Expo.
