The 2026 edition brings together 12 technical presentations addressing the main drivers of transformation in industrial finishing: process innovation, environmental and economic sustainability, digitalisation, and artificial intelligence, alongside an increasing focus on organisational structures and skills.
The programme for SMART’26 – Surface Manufacturing Advanced Research Trends, the conference promoted by UCIF ANIMA Confindustria, taking place on 20th
May 2026 in Milan at the Centro Congressi Fondazione Cariplo, is now available online.
The contributions highlight a paradigm shift: from process redesign, including those traditionally regarded as auxiliary, to advanced water and wastewater management, and the application of digital technologies and predictive models to enhance efficiency and quality.
Key topics also include technology transfer from the automotive sector to manufacturing, the introduction of objective metrics for sustainability, and the role of the workforce in high-performance industrial models.
SMART’26 thus confirms its status as a key event for the supply chain, providing an integrated perspective on the sector’s evolutionary trajectories.
The complete programme, including speakers and presentation titles, is available online.
Participation is free upon registration.