World Brush Expo
All Systems Go
Roundtable Interview with the organizers behind the launch of the Inaugural World Brush Expo As anticipation mounts for the inaugural World Brush Expo, set to unfold from May 22-24, 2024, in the picturesque city of Bologna, Italy, I had the privilege in late January of convening a roundtable discussion via Zoom with the key leaders at the helm of this transformative event. Replacing the venerable Interbrush tradeshow, the World Brush Expo aims to fill a critical gap for the brush industry, signaling a new era of connectivity and opportunity for industry professionals worldwide. Every four years, this marquee event will serve as a nexus where visionaries and innovators in the brush sector will converge to explore cutting-edge technologies, exchange insights and forge invaluable partnerships. As a joint partnership between three organizations, our discussion included: ABMA President Chris Monahan (President of Brush Fibers), FEIBP President Alessandro Acquaderni (CEO of SIT Brush) and Marco Momoli, from event organizer BolognaFiere.
Interview By Dylan Goodwin
Chris Monahan, ABMA President
Knowing the impact of Interbrush in the past, how important is the World Brush Expo to the brush industry overall? Chris Monahan: I think it’s immensely important. For one, it’s been quite a bit of time since we’ve all gotten together. The biggest factor was the pandemic. Obviously, that was such a global disruption. People who have been to multiple Interbrush events in the past understand how important it is from a global perspective. Especially now with today’s modern technology where we’re more connected now more than ever through Zoom and constant communication. To put a face with a name and to see people and to give them a hug and share wine and cheese is immensely important, especially in our industry where that human contact is such a big part of it. Plus, (a chance to see) all the technological advances that have happened in our industry since the last one (in 2016). Alessandro Acquaderni: I totally agree with Chris, a global event such as the World Brush Expo is needed for our industry. There were thoughts about changing format and changing ideas and the way it was held compared to the previous edition. The most important thing is that the event will exist because it will define the center of gravity of our industries and that people will participate as active exhibitors and as active visitors. Because the industry is made of people, as companies are made of people and the interactions between the companies and industries luckily are still decided by people.
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Marco Momoli: It is important to have a physical show again. Visitors say it is important because of the serendipity of the aisles, meaning that you can walk through the aisles of the show. You can find something, meet people that you didn’t expect to meet or find something that you didn’t expect to see. And that’s something that can happen only when you are physically in one place all together with all the other people of the same sector. That’s something that will be happening in Bologna. So that’s very important for us.