Good edition for Futurmoda and technology took center stage
FUTURMODA closes its 53rd edition with over 5,000 visitors and a clear focus on innovation and sustainability.
Keep reading...A dynamic, well-visited fair that closed with a more than positive balance. Expoprotection 2024, the biennial safety exhibition in Paris, held from 5 to 7 November, recorded an attendance of 17,700 visitors, a figure that represents a growth of +7% compared to the event two years ago. On show, in Hall 1 of the Parc des Expositions at Porte de Versailles, were 660 exhibitors, 55% of whom came from abroad, representing 40 different countries, testifying to the growing role that the event plays in the sector’s international calendar.
A good fair that reflects an expanding market. The data released by Atlas d’En Tout Sécurité lead to optimism: the French safety market grew by 7% in 2023 for a total value of €36.6 billion, a dynamic that seems destined to be replicated in 2024 even if the specific PPE sector (which includes footwear) showed lower growth (+4.4%) than the general average. The breakdown of the market by product type sees footwear accounting for 16% of the total value.
The French event provided a comprehensive and up-to-date overview of safety products, technologies and services in various fields, from occupational safety to fire prevention, from cybersecurity to emergency management.
The area dedicated to safety at work offered a broad review of the latest generation of PPE (Personal Protective Equipment), including exoskeletons for the ergonomic handling of loads, intelligent fall protection systems and respiratory protection devices with high-efficiency filters. In this field, the range of safety footwear was, as always, very well represented with the presence of the major players in the sector, including around twenty Italian companies that used the Parisian trade fair platform to launch the latest product novelties in both components and finished footwear. As has been the case for many years now, research has focused on the desire to lighten working footwear to improve the perception of comfort while preserving the safety aspect, even for use in the most difficult contexts. A challenge that affects every component of the shoe: from the toe cap to the anti-puncture plate, from the upper materials to the sole components. To arrive at the optimum result, increasingly sophisticated combinations of materials and devices are being experimented with, promising top-level technical performance at a lower weight to ensure better product ergonomics. In parallel, innovation focuses on the development of eco-friendly materials and solutions, with footwear made from recycled materials and production processes with low environmental impact.
In the range dedicated to PPE, great attention was obviously also paid to technical clothing, which sees the use of increasingly innovative fabrics that combine comfort, resistance and protection, as well as to safety signs, with digital and interactive solutions for risk prevention.
More generally, this edition of Expoprotection was characterised by its focus on technological innovation, with the presentation of solutions based on Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR). In addition to showcasing products and services, Expoprotection provided an important opportunity for discussion and debate on security issues. The programme of conferences and workshops offered participants the opportunity to explore topical issues such as: The evolution of the European regulatory framework on safety at work; The management of psychosocial risks and the promotion of organisational wellbeing; The impact of technological innovation on safety and privacy; Training and awareness strategies for a widespread safety culture.
The next Expoprotection will be held in 2026, also in Paris, from 3 to 5 November.
