19
Sep
Aerospace between challenges and opportunities: supply chain, skills, and sustainability at the heart of MECSPE Bari 2025
MECSPE BARI 2025
Apulia, the Driving Force of Italian Aerospace: a growing and highly specialized supply chain.
Acierno (DTA): “Italy has complete space capabilities, and Apulia accounts for over 10% of the national aerospace sector.”
- Italy among the European leaders in the Space Economy: complete supply chain, over €7 billion in public investment allocated by 2027, and third place in Europe in terms of the ratio of space investment to GDP.
- Voices from the Industry: Tebis, Campolucci Mechatronics, GROB Italy, and Renishaw share the challenges — and the opportunities — of a rapidly expanding supply chain, driven by digital innovation, skills development, and supply chain strengthening.
Milan, September 9, 2025 – The third edition of MECSPE Bari, the manufacturing innovation trade fair in Central and Southern Italy organized by Senaf, is fast approaching. From November 27 to 29, 2025, the 20,000 m² exhibition space at the Nuova Fiera del Levante will host conferences, demonstrations, and initiatives centered around the event’s three pillars: sustainability, training, and innovation.
Aerospace is among the key sectors featured: an increasingly vital part of the Italian economy. In 2024, Italy’s Space Economy exceeded €20 billion in revenue—approximately 1% of GDP—with research and development investments exceeding 5% of the sector’s output value.
Italy also plays a leading role at the European level, consistently ranking among the top countries: third in terms of space investment relative to GDP, with a complete value chain and a strong presence of highly specialized SMEs—accounting for approximately 80% of the sector. Over €7 billion in public funding has been allocated to support the national space ecosystem between 2023 and 2027.
This trajectory was further strengthened in June 2024 with the Government’s approval of the first-ever Space Economy Bill, which established a dedicated fund and introduced a comprehensive legal framework to support the entire value chain. The Italian aerospace sector can also count on a solid national infrastructure, with 13 aerospace districts spread across the country.
Among these, the Apulian district stands out for its size and dynamism. The Apulian Aerospace Technology District (DTA) has over 100 companies, more than 8,000 employees, and a turnover of over €1.5 billion. The sector’s international vocation is confirmed by export data, which grew by +15.6% in 2023 and +6.6% in the first quarter of 2024.
Innovation, supply chain, skills: the challenges and opportunities of aerospace according to the President of the Apulian Aerospace Technology District, Giuseppe Acierno.
Regarding the current state of the sector and Puglia’s role within it, Giuseppe Acierno, President of the Apulian Aerospace Technological District (DTA), states:
“Italy has a significant and well-established industrial and scientific heritage in the aerospace sector, ranking among the leading European countries in terms of capabilities, revenues, and workforce across the entire value chain.” He further emphasizes that:
“Puglia plays a prominent role within this framework, showing strong growth and development dynamics in both the aeronautics and space sectors — each accounting for double-digit shares (over 10%) of national revenues and employment.”
The success of the Apulian aerospace district has also been driven by the support of regional institutional policies and the work of the Apulian Aerospace Technological District (DTA), which has fostered a rich innovation ecosystem. Over the years, this has led to the creation of Higher Technical Institutes (ITS), a Digital Innovation Hub, a Business Incubator Center, and the Grottaglie Test Bed, significantly contributing to the growth of research and development investments, in close collaboration with its academic and industrial partners.
Regarding the main challenges and opportunities facing the Italian aerospace supply chain, Giuseppe Acierno identified three strategic priorities:
- Supply chain resilience: the aerospace supply chain is highly complex and currently faces component shortages, delivery delays, and rising costs. While major industry players are working to improve efficiency across the value chain, a clear long-term vision and sustained investment are essential.
- Sustainability: now a central issue for the entire sector — especially in light of new EU regulations — companies must adopt innovative materials and processes to decouple economic growth from environmental impact.
- Skills development: the skills gap remains significant. Investing in human capital is crucial to tackle innovation, ecological transition, and the technological challenges that lie ahead.
As for the technological and market trends reshaping the aerospace landscape, Giuseppe Acierno highlights the profound impact of digital innovation.
Technologies such as artificial intelligence, which enhances system efficiency, optimization, and simulation; digital twins, which facilitate innovation, testing, and the design of more sustainable solutions; cloud computing and high-performance computing (HPC), which enable advanced solutions and maximize the use of vast data sets; and quantum computing, with its superior processing power and implications for data analysis and system understanding — are all revolutionizing aerospace processes, products, and services.
He also points to new materials and electrified systems, which are strengthening the operational effectiveness of aerospace solutions while reducing their environmental impact.
“The sector is undergoing a remarkable transformation driven by the emergence of new technologies that will redefine products, services, and processes,” says Acierno. “The entire system requires strong policy support and investment to enable companies to maintain competitive standards and market presence — which will increasingly depend on their ability to adopt and manage innovation.”
In this context, the role of the Apulian Aerospace Technological District (DTA) as an enabling platform for growth and investment attraction becomes even more strategic — especially in light of the ongoing dialogue with companies attending MECSPE Bari, which are increasingly interested in engaging with the key players of Italy’s aerospace ecosystem.
Featured Companies: Insights from the Field
Exhibiting companies at MECSPE Bari confirm the growing interest in the aerospace sector and its future prospects. Feedback collected from participants reveals a shared sentiment across businesses: strong attention to the opportunities offered by the sector’s expansion, accompanied by common challenges such as supply chain pressure, shortage of skilled personnel, and the need for more agile and sustainable production models.
Companies are adapting to a rapidly evolving landscape, where efficiency, innovation, and resilience are the key factors for remaining competitive.
As already highlighted by Acierno, Giancarlo Grinza, General Manager of Tebis Italia — a leading provider of process solutions for the manufacturing industry, offering CAD/CAM/MES software to support the adoption of advanced digitalization — also sees the aerospace sector undergoing deep transformation:
“Projects that once required years and massive investments must now focus on efficiency and production speed to keep up with market evolution. Companies are managing multiple projects simultaneously and need to automate processes and plan resources more effectively. Building robust supply chains has become essential, as geopolitical tensions have exposed the vulnerabilities of globalized models. In this context, SMEs with strong mechanical know-how can seize new opportunities in aerospace, meeting needs that the automotive sector is no longer able to fulfill. Finally, sustainability will become an increasingly central challenge, with both political and market pressures pushing for CO₂ emissions reduction.”
According to Campolucci Mechatronics — a company specializing in precision mechanics with advanced expertise in mechanical and optical design — the aerospace sector is experiencing a sharp increase in production volumes, driven by constantly evolving geopolitical scenarios.
The surge in production, often under tight delivery schedules, is creating challenges for companies, particularly related to a complex supply chain and the urgent need to recruit qualified personnel in a short timeframe.
The rising demand, combined with uncertainty about long-term outlooks, makes it necessary — though not always easy — to adopt lean manufacturing models based on greater flexibility and faster response times.
At GROB Italy, the Italian branch of the German GROB Group specializing in machine tools and production lines for electric motors, attention is also drawn to a contraction in investments in Italy’s machine tool sector. In this context, manufacturers must carefully evaluate which sectors are most strategic for investment, especially in light of intense global competition.
Currently, aerospace, defense, and general mechanics are showing strong growth, offering concrete development opportunities. The main challenge lies in providing increasingly flexible and customized products, supported by after-sales services and targeted training. Investing in highly specialized personnel is therefore crucial to maintain competitiveness and added value.
Finally Filippo Miccoli, Key Account & Area Sales Manager at Renishaw — a global leader in precision metrology, motion control, spectroscopy, and additive manufacturing — highlights the significant challenges facing the sector:
“Despite the enormous growth potential of the aerospace market — particularly in Asia-Pacific, where the industry is expected to grow exponentially through 2030 — the sector is struggling to meet demand. The main obstacles include raw material shortages, inflation, sustainability pressures, and strict regulations. Many companies are attempting to adapt their technical and production capabilities, often transitioning from the automotive sector, which is facing a slowdown. However, they encounter difficulties due to a lack of certifications. Perhaps the most critical issue is the shortage of qualified personnel — a problem that began during the COVID-19 pandemic, which triggered an exodus of skilled workers, leaving many companies without the technical expertise they need.”
The insights gathered from companies and from Giuseppe Acierno, President of the Apulian Aerospace Technological District (DTA), confirm the central role of aerospace in industrial development. This is echoed by Maruska Sabato, Project Manager of MECSPE:
“The contributions from companies participating in MECSPE Bari offer a real and dynamic picture of the aerospace sector, which is undergoing a profound transformation — marked by major opportunities as well as complex challenges. What emerges is a supply chain in the process of reorganization, with a strong focus on digitalization, sustainability, and the development of new skills. MECSPE Bari will be the ideal platform to connect industrial vision with practical solutions, in service of innovation.”
Meet These Companies at MECSPE Bari 2025 and in Bologna in 2026
From November 27 to 29, 2025, the Fiera del Levante will host the third edition of MECSPE Bari, the leading trade fair for manufacturing innovation in Central and Southern Italy.
The event will feature: 20,000 m² of exhibition space; 13 thematic halls, live demonstrations and the Training Plaza 5.0, organized in collaboration with the ITS Academy Cuccovillo Foundation
The journey continues in Bologna, from March 4 to 6, 2026, with the national edition of MECSPE — the key event for the entire Italian and European manufacturing supply chain, including the aerospace sector.
The figures of MECSPE BARI 2023
15.000 professional trade visitors, 20,000 sq m of exhibition area, 511 companies attending, more than 150 conferences and workshops, 11 special initiatives, 3 halls, and the Exhibition Core “Transizione energetica e industria 4.0: sostenibilità nell’industria manifatturiera”. (Transition and Industry 4.0: Sustainability in the Manufacturing Industry.”)
Facts and figures of MECSPE BOLOGNA 2025
100.000 square meters of exhibition space, 66,573 professional visitors, more than 2,100 companies attending, more than 120 conferences, 13 trade shows, 17 special initiatives and 2,000 square meters of MECSPE LAB – Innovation Space.
MECSPE Exhibitions
Machines and Tools – Machine tools, Equipment, Tools and Design Software; Sheet Metal Working Machines – Bending, Stamping, Cutting, Assembly, Welding, Materials and Software; Digital Factory – Industrial Informatics, IoT, Industrial Sensing, Cloud-manufacturing, Automatic Identification Technologies, Applications, Devices, Instrumentation and Intelligent Components for Process Interpretation and Interconnection; Logistics – Packaging, Packaging, Handling, Material handling, Lean manufacturing, Warehouse management software, Supply chain management, Security Systems, PPE, Third party; Mechanical Subcontracting – Precision Machining, Metal Carpentry, Mechanical Constructions, Fasteners, Foundries, Minuteries, Wire Processing, Third Party Industrial Processing, Micromachining; Elettronica Italia – Cem (contract electronics manufacturer), Wiring harnesses, Ems (electronics manufacturing service), Pcb (printed circuit board manufacturers), Engineering and design studios; Eurostampi, plastics , rubber and composites – Plastics, rubber and composites processing, Machinery and equipment, Auxiliary equipment, Innovative materials, Molding, Extrusion, Packaging, Blowing, Molds, Models, Normalized mold components, Design, Simulation and design software, Micromachining; Additive Manufacturing – 3D Printing, Rapid Prototyping, Rapid Manufacturing, Systems and services for reverse engineering, Additive Technology, Materials, Services, Hardware: 3D printers and scanners, accessories, Simulation and design software; Treatments and Finishes – Surface treatment equipment, Furnaces, Electroplating, Chemical and electronic processes, Washing, Metallization, Enameling, Galvanizing, Products and accessories for treatments, Heat Treatments, Painting; Nonferrous Materials and Alloys – Nonferrous materials processing (Aluminum, Titanium, Magnesium, Light alloys), Die castings, Foundries, Contract industrial processing, Technologies, Design, Engineering; Automation and Robotics-Automation and Robotics, Assembly, Assembly and Handling; Control and Quality-Certification and Quality Control, Metrology, Measuring Instruments, Laboratory Testing, Calibration, Analytical Equipment, Vision; Power Drive-Mechanical Power Transmission Parts, Hydraulics, Pneumatics, Mechatronics, Motion Control, Maintenance, Compressed Air.
For further information: www.mecspebari.it | www.mecspe.com
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