On international track: Sicurezza is hosting top market players from thirty nations who are presenting leading-edge products, solutions and services that make people and property more secure and improve quality of life. A program for and with international top buyers is another hint that Sicurezza is on the way to be more and more international. A clear signal for the next edition in 2017.

The biennial Sicurezza International Exhibition of Security & Fire Prevention is a privileged showcase for the technologies that protect and safeguard our daily lives at home, in the office, in town and out and about.

Occupying 10% more space (32,000 m²) having attracted 333 direct exhibitors from 30 nations plus more than 100 brands represented, Sicurezza offers a perfect snapshot of a security market that looks to be in fine health.

Despite the backdrop of a major economic downturn, the industry continues to register growth. In Italy it closed 2014 up 4.98% on the previous year with turnover of €2 billion – stable even taking into account the general phenomenon of downpricing. Video surveillance registered the highest growth, up by close to 10% on an annual basis. Burglary prevention also performed well, up 7%, as did fire detection, which was up 2% (source: ANIE Sicurezza).

In 2015, industry performance seems to have remained in positive territory according to ANIE Sicurezza’s appraisal of early Q3 results, which bear out the good performance registered in 2014. The various market sectors show a positive trend on multiple levels. Companies are increasingly capable of seizing opportunities on dynamic foreign markets and are deploying more resilient investment; they are investing in research and innovation in order to be able to customize products and solutions and to cater to the special needs of each end market.

Corrado Peraboni, CEO of Fiera Milano, says: “Many sectors of production in Italy are pinnacles of excellence for their ability to combine high levels of innovation with typical Italian taste and design. This is why they are so highly appreciated by foreign players. These crown jewels of Made in Italy are spearheading initiatives at the Fair and are capable of attracting companies and buyers from around the world to Milan. Although it may be a niche market, Sicurezza is without doubt one such jewel, as is borne out by the 27% growth in foreign companies that have decided to invest in the event. After becoming Italy’s leading industry event, Sicurezzais increasingly becoming the benchmark for the Southern Europe and Mediterranean market.”

The confirmed attendance of 130 top hosted buyers from 31 nations, including from attractive parts of the world like Egypt, the Maghreb, Russia, South Africa, Georgia and Kazakhstan, is a strong driver for the internationalization process. Through Fiera Milano’s EMP business matching platform, high-budget potential buyers are already in touch with exhibitors and have arranged more than 950 meetings at stands while the Fair is on.

On the supply side, all sectors of the market have upped the ante. Video surveillance continues to go from strength to strength: the top Italian and multinational names are all here. A wider selection of products for passive security is also on show, this year out in force with brands and offers of great interest such as the latest-generation/electronic locks.

Advanced products are being showcased for access control; in burglary prevention, bespoke solutions are available for every situation, from the home to the office right through to sensitive environments; in fire prevention, which is an important part of surveillance, a number of top players in Italy are at the Fair.

IT-based solutions continue to grow in importance, paving the way for a future of potential opportunities and integration into other sectors, as well as embracing the IoT, the Internet of Things. Massive opportunities lie in managing and monitoring technology online, with a number of interesting state-of-the-art solutions on show. Sicurezza Drone Expo is a brand-new addition this year, dedicated to the use of drones for security-related purposes. Many of the most interesting and beneficial uses of this agile and versatile technology are in private and public security.

In addition, adding more value to security where it is most needed, Sicurezza 2015 plays host to many different vertical areas dedicated to a burgeoning world of applications to help industry professionals make the best choices for their needs, and to understand the potential of the emerging technologies on show.

Last but not least, at Siczurezza 2015 trade associations, specialist publishers and companies are staging training and professional learning opportunities for industry professionals to stay competitive in an increasingly international marketplace and to cater optimally to ever-more-demanding end-users.

Sixty-seven events over the three-day fair cover the hot-button issues of the moment, from the future of the industry to the Internet of Things, thoughts on installers’ jobs, the use of drones in security, new developments in passive security, fire protection regulations and technologies, IT investigations, solutions for retail, developments in private and tangible demos of products and technologies.

Sicurezza is becoming more and more important in the world of security - so we can look forward already to the next edition in 2017.

GIT SECURITY will keep you updated with more details and results of the show - both here online, as well as in the upcoming issues of the printed GIT SECURITY.