In June, Barbara Antonini – President and CEO of Antonini Srl – was elected President of VITRUM 2027. More than just a title, the role represents a real challenge, given the spirit of renewal behind VITRUM’s new format. But who is Barbara Antonini? And what is her vision for VITRUM? We spoke to her directly to find out.
Let’s start with a key question: what will be at the heart of the event? Why did you choose to place the Glass Economy at the centre of the new vision for VITRUM?
«We made this choice because we believe that today it is no longer enough to describe the industry through individual technologies or separate segments of the supply chain. Glass is much more than a material: it plays a fundamental role in entire industries, from packaging and construction to automotive and design, as well as in the most advanced applications. VITRUM therefore aims to evolve from a place where technologies are exhibited into a platform where the value generated by glass is showcased and developed.»
Concretely, what does this mean?
«It means bringing together those who develop production plants, those who manufacture and process glass, those who supply raw materials and technologies and, above all, those who use glass to create products, solutions and new markets. Bringing the Glass Economy to VITRUM ultimately means broadening our perspective: building on our industrial expertise to embrace applications and end-market demand. We see the future of the event precisely in this convergence of technology, industry and markets.»
What is the Glass Economy for you, Barbara Antonini?
«For me, the Glass Economy is the economy that develops around glass and because of glass. It encompasses the technologies, expertise, companies, applications and markets that transform an extraordinary material into industrial, economic and social value. Above all, however, it represents a different way of looking at our industry: no longer as a series of separate sectors, but as an interconnected system.»
So the Glass Economy offers a new perspective on the industry as an integrated system. Can we describe it as an ecosystem?
«I would say so. An ecosystem in which an innovation developed by a machinery manufacturer can provide a solution for a glass producer and, in turn, enable a new product in an industry far removed from our own. The Glass Economy is therefore the value created when these areas of expertise come together. And it is precisely this connection that we want to make increasingly visible, tangible and international through VITRUM.»
Even before being President of VITRUM, Barbara Antonini is President and CEO of Antonini Srl…
«At present, yes. In keeping with our company tradition, my cousin and I alternate as President every two years. I will therefore soon take on the role of CEO, while my cousin will assume the Presidency.»
Can you tell us a bit about your company?
«Today, Antonini is a specialist supplier to the hollow glass industry, offering a comprehensive range of equipment and technologies: annealing lehrs, decorating lehrs, tempering lines, NIS and thermal shock systems. This range is complemented by a variety of important accessories and equipment for completing production lines, such as cold-end treatment systems, scrapers and reburners. Our goal is to provide customers with as comprehensive a range of solutions as possible. For accessories that we do not manufacture ourselves, we work with highly qualified partners, carefully selected to ensure the quality and reliability our customers require. In this way, we can meet the needs of glass manufacturers with a broad, coordinated offering. For this reason, I would describe Antonini not simply as a manufacturer of high-quality annealing and decorating lehrs, but as a leading supplier of a wide range of technologies for hollow glass production.»
What have you focused on in recent years to address the challenges of a changing and increasingly demanding market? And which areas of production are you concentrating on?
«In recent years, we have placed a strong emphasis on innovation, technology and product customisation. The ability to tailor our machines to customers’ specific needs is an important part of how we work. As we operate in a wide range of international markets, it is essential to understand different production requirements and offer reliable, technologically advanced machinery. One area we are currently focusing on in particular is glass insulators. We design and manufacture machines for glassworks that produce insulators, and we see significant growth potential in this sector. Here too, technology and innovation are essential if we are to continue growing and meeting the demands of an evolving market.»
Speaking of international markets, and given that we have been discussing a major international event such as VITRUM, which overseas markets does your company primarily target?
«Antonini has a strong international focus: approximately 95% of our turnover comes from exports, and our machines are installed in around 90 countries worldwide. Latin America is one of the markets where we have historically had a particularly strong presence, with many of our machines installed there over the years. However, as we know, the region is currently going through a particularly difficult period, so I would not describe it as our main market at present.»