The first edition of the Buyers Days USA & Canada, organised by GIMAV from 2 to 6 November 2026 in collaboration with ICE – Italian Trade Agency, recently came to a close. The event brought together 9 North American buyers and 16 Italian companies for 140 B2B meetings and a programme of 5 company visits.
Organised to listen to companies’ needs and assess market trends against a complex geopolitical backdrop, the initiative placed direct contact between manufacturers and potential customers at its heart. This approach also reflects one of the core principles of VITRUM 2027, whose new vision and projects were presented and discussed during the Buyers Days.
Industrial synergies: the strong link between the Buyers Days and VITRUM 2027
The common thread linking GIMAV’s B2B initiative and the evolution of the international glass exhibition is the need to encourage direct dialogue between supply and demand across the industry: between technology suppliers and end users.
As Barbara Antonini, President of VITRUM 2027, explains: «Presenting VITRUM 2027 at the Buyers Days Welcome Dinner, in front of delegates from the United States and Canada, meant sharing from the outset the vision guiding the new edition: to make the event an international meeting place for industrial demand and technological solutions. The Buyers Days, organised by GIMAV with ICE, clearly reflect one of our goals: to encourage meaningful exchanges between technology providers and end users, focusing on production requirements, investment plans and process innovation. This is the role VITRUM aims to strengthen: bringing together players from across the supply chain and creating the conditions for technical and commercial dialogue to develop into new industrial partnerships.»
USA and Canada at the heart of the first Buyers Days
Why were the United States and Canada chosen for this first edition? The answer lies in the strategic importance of these markets for the Italian glass machinery industry, as highlighted by the figures presented during the institutional session on 3 November.
According to the data presented, Italy remained the leading supplier of glass-processing machinery to the United States in 2025, with exports worth USD 186.6 million and a market share of 26.45%, ahead of other major suppliers including Germany, China and France. Meanwhile, Canadian imports of Italian glass machinery increased by 23.36% compared with the previous year. These figures underline why the two countries were selected for the first edition of the initiative.
Alongside the extensive programme of B2B meetings, the delegation visited the production facilities of FOREL, ADI, Adelio Lattuada, CMS and FENZI, gaining first-hand insight into Italian manufacturing expertise, innovation and industrial organisation.
A separate initiative dedicated to the hollow glass sector brought together Antonini, O-I and Zignago Vetro. Antonini was also among the supporters of the Buyers Days. Lakisha Woods, President of the National Glass Association, took part in the event, helping to strengthen institutional dialogue with the US association. Supported by eight companies — Adelio Lattuada, ADI, Antonini, CMS, FENZI, FOREL, Officina Meccanica Schiatti Angelo and Triulzi Cesare Special Equipments — the initiative marks the launch of a format that GIMAV intends to develop in other international markets, taking into account the feedback and needs of its member companies.
What buyers and companies valued about the Buyers Days
The format, centred on face-to-face meetings, received positive feedback from both international delegates and Italian companies.
For international buyers, the opportunity to engage directly with Italian technology providers reinforced the importance of Italian machinery for their markets.
«I found this meeting organised by GIMAV very interesting and useful for my business,» said Joshua Foster of HMI Glass (USA). «At the moment, in my particular market, industry activity is somewhat subdued; companies have simply slowed their investment plans. One of the strengths of these meetings in Italy is that the country is a leading supplier of glass machinery to the US market. I grew up around this equipment, which helps the glass industry in Boston continue producing and remain a benchmark in glass processing. At VITRUM 2027, I hope to see improvements in equipment through automation, along with new ideas and approaches that can keep glass-processing machinery at the forefront of the US market.»
Italian manufacturers also welcomed the outcome of the Buyers Days and are already looking ahead to the sector’s future. One hope is that personalised matchmaking opportunities can be incorporated into and expanded within the new format of VITRUM 2027. As Roberta Triulzi of Triulzi Cesare Special Equipments explains: «At VITRUM 2027, it would be great to meet buyers specifically interested in Made in Italy and the innovations presented by Italian companies, from markets such as North America, North Africa and Saudi Arabia. It would also be valuable to arrange personalised meetings for each company, based on its specific requirements.»