UFEMAT_65_MILAN2025[77]

11 – 13  September 2025

MILAN- ITALY

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Invitation

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On behalf of Mr. Palle Thomsen, Ufemat President, and Mr. Giuseppe Freri, Presidente FEDERCOMATED, I am delighted to invite you to the 65th Ufemat Congress in Milan, Italy.

 

Marnix Van Hoe

Secretary General Ufemat

quote

On behalf of Mr. Palle Thomsen, Ufemat President, and Mr. Giuseppe Freri, Presidente FEDERCOMATED, I am delighted to invite you to the 65th Ufemat Congress in Milan, Italy.

 

Marnix Van Hoe

Secretary General Ufemat

letterpresident

Conference in associaton with:

"  Digitalisation, Artifical Intelligence
and Building Materials in Europe. "

Discover innovation and connection at UFEMAT’s 65th annual congress, taking place in the vibrant city of Milan from September 11-13, 2025. Hosted at iconic venues like Palazzo Castiglioni and featuring inspiring presentations, networking opportunities, and exclusive tours, this is the event of the year for building material professionals.

Highlights include:

  • Exclusive private visit to the Duomo Cathedral.
  • Key reports and industry insights from CRESME, SERCOMATED, and REC.
  • Visit to Mapei production plant
  • Visit to 4BILD for a deep dive into the Italian building materials market and circular economy.
  • Gala dinner at Palazzo Castiglioni
  • Industry networking opportunities.

Secure your spot now—register online today and be part of the future of our industry!

Click the link to confirm your participation before it’s too late!

Click here to register
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Letter of the President

Dear

 

After the strangest of summers, we hope this letter finds you well and the building materials industry in your country in good shape.

 

It has been some months since our last communication and we all have faced pressing national priorities during that time.  We have also adapted our working practices in order to support our members safely within a COVID-19 secure environment.

 

One thing we have all become familiar with is the virtual meeting.  It will come as no surprise that the Ufemat Annual General Assembly will be held as a virtual meeting on the afternoon of Thursday 15 October 2020.

 

As well as our formal AGM, the afternoon will include two valuable presentations. 

 

One will outline the results of a research project on the Building Materials Market across Europe undertaken by the Builders Merchants Federation’s Industry Analyst and Economist, Nyssa Patel. 

 

The other focuses on the challenges and opportunities presented by e-commerce and will be delivered by Simon Barkes, Incoming President of ETIM International.

 

Simon is the MD of an electrical wholesaling business in the UK and was previously President of the UK Electrical Distributors’ Association (EDA). He has also served as President of the European Union of Electrical Wholesalers. Together with EDA CEO, Margaret Fitzsimons, Simon was responsible for introducing the ETIM standard to the electrotechnical sector in the UK. Following this, he was involved in the creation of ETIM UK Limited, which enabled the HVAC and Plumbing and Building Materials sectors to join the initiative through the BMF.

 

COVID-19 has highlighted several valuable lessons for building materials and distribution businesses. They must be able to adapt quickly to the changing needs of customers and clients; to operate remotely; and be e-commerce enabled. To achieve this we need high-quality, structured product data that can be transferred with ease to websites, e-commerce platforms and partners in the value chain – and ETIM provides a structured solution.

 

We look forward to “virtually” seeing you at the Annual General Assembly and ask you to complete the registration form to confirm your attendance.

 

Stay safe and keep well.

 

Best regards

John Newcomb

President Ufemat

Marnix Van Hoe

Secretary General Ufemat

Program

Program

DAY 1 - Thursday, 11th September 2025

All participants are welcome at Excelsior Hotel Gallia***** for check-in and registration.


The participants of the AGM (Directors and Presidents) will be transferred to Palazzo Castiglioni to attend the AGM, which is scheduled to start at 4:00 PM.

4:00 PM Start of AGM

  • Meeting of Presidents and Directors – Sala Pavoni
  • Ufemat Youth Group in Palazzo Castiglioni – Sala Turismo

5:30 PM End of AGM

7:00 PM Transfer either from the hotel or from Palazzo Castiglioni

to the Milan city center for an Exclusive Private Visit to the Duomo

7:30 PM Exclusive guided tour of Duomo Cathedral as Mapei Guests

  • The cathedral will be closed to the public

Return to the Hotel for dinner

9:00 PM Exclusive Welcome Dinner

at at the Gallia Restaurant in Excelsior Hotel Gallia*****

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DAY 2 - Friday, 12th September 2025

8:30 AM Departure from the hotel to Palazzo Castiglioni

9:00 AM UFEMAT’s 65th Annual Conference: Digitalisation, Artificial Intelligence and Building Materials in Europe

Congress at Palazzo Castiglioni - Sala Colucci

 

Welcome Coffee

 

Institutional greetings

 

  

Presentations

  • Cresme report (Cresme - Study and Research Center for Construction Sector)
  • Sercomated report (industry/distribution - Sercomated Research and Services Center for building distribution)
  • REC report (Circular Economy project in building sector – REC Consortium)
  • The European Product Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR is a very important topic in our European Work (we also have the support of VALIPAC for a similar project in Belgium))
  • GS1 (How we can all embrace global standards to match the requirements of the Green Deal and prepare for the Digital Product Passport in Europe)

  • Keynote: Martin Tobler (CEO HGC)
    Discover how Swiss merchant HGC is leading the way in AI innovation.
    Martin Tobler presents “Charly”, their cutting-edge AI chat assistant – a best practice in how digital tools can enhance customer interaction in the building sector. More on Charly  

12:00 PM Light Lunch at Palazzo Castiglioni offered by Mapei

1:00 PM Departure to Mapei factory - Production Plant Mapei
in Robbiano di Mediglia

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2:00 PM Tour of Production Plant & Mapei Group presentation

4:30 PM End of tour

On the return trip: short visit at Giuseppe Freri’s trade business 4BILD to get insight into the Italian building materials market - REC by 4BILD Hangar (REC is very important regarding circular economy)

4bild

8:00 PM Gala dinner at Palazzo Bovara

(Circolo del Commercio)

Partners’ program

(Details subject to change)

While conference attendees are engaged, partners can enjoy a:

 

  • Cooking Class – Join a hands-on session with a professional chef to master classic Italian dishes paired with fine wines.
     
  • Free afternoon in Milan's shopping district – enjoy the city at your own pace and soak in its vibrant charm.

We look forward to offering you a day of indulgence and discovery in Milan!

All tours are subject to minimum participants.

DAY 3 - Saturday 13th September 2025

Classic Saturday programme

Special Option: Visit to the Leonardo da Vinci Museum of Science and Technology, with the possibility of exclusive access to ‘The Last Supper’ (subject to availability, as access is highly restricted and rarely granted)

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1:00 PM Light Lunch in the hotel vicinity

Extra Saturday program

2:00 PM Young Merchants’ treasure hunt

Explore the heart of Milan with a fun and engaging team- based activity designed to uncover the city's highlights in a unique and memorable way.

8:00 PM Dinner at Mamma Rosa

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Location

Piazza Duca d’Aosta, 9 - Milan

Excelsior Hotel Gallia*****

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Excelsior Hotel Gallia in Milan is an excellent base for congress attendees. Its prime location near Milan Central Station ensures easy connectivity to conference venues and city highlights. The hotel combines modern luxury with Italian elegance, offering well-appointed rooms, a renowned spa, and exceptional dining options. With state-of-the-art amenities, professional service, and a vibrant atmosphere, it provides an ideal setting for relaxation and networking after a busy day at the congress.

Congress Venue

Palazzo Castiglioni

Palazzo Castiglioni in Milan, an early 20th-century masterpiece by architect Giuseppe Sommaruga, is a prestigious venue for hosting events.

 

As one of the city’s most iconic Art Nouveau buildings, its architecture combines grandeur with intricate decorative details, making it a visually striking choice.

Located on Corso Venezia, the palace is easily accessible. The building offers modern amenities within a historical setting, including a spacious main hall with advanced audio-visual capabilities and a flexible layout suitable for various setups. Its historical ambiance and elegant architectural details provide a distinguished and memorable environment, ideal for conference attendees looking to experience a blend of Milanese heritage and functional sophistication. This balance of heritage and utility ensures an inspiring setting for networking and professional events.

Sponsors

Participation Fees

COSTS - NYX Hotel 

 

Please note: different hotel for late registrations!

 

Due to high demand, the official Congress hotel is now fully booked.
Participants registering from now on will be accommodated at:

 

NYX Hotel Milan
Piazza IV Novembre 3, 20124 Milan, Italy
Only a 3-minute walk from the original hotel!

 

Rest assured: all program elements remain unchanged,

and everything is within easy walking distance.

 

Package Cost including Conference Participant Fee: per person based on two people sharing a double/twin room

€1175.00

Single Occupancy Package Cost including  Conference Participant Fee: 

€1600.00

The Young Merchants Conference Package Cost including Conference Participant Fee: per person based on two people sharing a double/twin room.

€735.00

Young Merchants Single Occupancy Package Cost including  Conference Participant Fee:

€1160.00.​​​​​

Flight & Transfer Information

To provide participants with the greatest flexibility and choice, flights are not included and should be independently arranged and covered by each participant.

The nearest international airport to the Excelsior Hotel Gallia and NYX Hotel is MILAN LINATE (LIN). Alternative airports include MILAN MALPENSA (MXP) and MILAN BERGAMO (BGY).

PAYMENT DETAILS

Bank Name

NatWest bank PLC

 

Address

Leigh Branch

32 Market Street

Leigh

Lancashire

WN7 1DX

Account Name

Incentivise Ltd

 

IBAN

GB71NWBK60721010344942

 

BIC / SWIFT

NWBKGB2L

Click here to register

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