Organised by Fiera di Genova in association with the Italian manufacturers’ association ANCASVI, there’s still a lot of politics wrapped up in this show, but that shouldn’t matter much to the average visitor or potential buyer.

What parks and attractions operators want to know before they attend a show is if there’ll be much to see when they get there, and how good the social/networking opportunities will be.

Social events included a pleasant welcome reception at Genoa’s pleasant Galata Museo del Mare (Museum of the Sea) and a full evening’s entertainment at the fourth Golden Pony Awards on Friday night (see over page). A limited number of seminar sessions were held, mainly in Italian.

Exhibits covered a total area of 12,000 square metres inside and outside Fiera di Genova’s Pavilion C – the same space used at the 2003 Euro Amusement Show, indeed several exhibitors took the same positions they did back then.

On display was a decent selection of locally-made equipment including, outside, a 30-metre Fabbri Booster, Sky Shooter by Memo Park, a hanging-leg version of the Crazy Wave by Sartori and, inside, a 14-car Sartori Techno Jump, Gosetto toy ride, Pama Rides rodeo bull, carousels by Bertazzon, Lamborghni, IE Park and Memo Park, plus numerous inflatable, play equipment and gondolas and boats from various rides and attractions.

“We need an outlet like this so that people can come to see the rides,” highlighted Enrico Fabbri of the Fabbri Group, and also a prominent member of ANCASVI. “People should come to where the manufacturers are because we can display the rides in an affordable way. In Milan or Rome the costs would be double.”

Italians only?

After last year’s event, we commented that this was an exhibition by the Italians for the Italians. This year Andrea Sartori, from the family manufacturer of the same name, told us: “We know all the Italian customers already, we hoped to see more foreigners here, not just a few.”

The Halloween/school holiday period, a busy time for many parks, surely restricted attendance from various Northern European countries, but according to organisers visitors did come from China, Syria, Jordan, Iran, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Russia and Montenegro.

“We have seen customers from Turkey, South Africa, Germany, Denmark, Spain and Russia,” confirmed Andrea Munari of IE Park. “And I genuinely believe this show is helping to wake the sleepy Italian market, which is still mainly travelling.”

Like IE Park, the 70 or so exhibitors were nearly all Italian on this occasion. It seemed that the handful of companies from France and Turkey that supported the show in 2005 couldn’t be tempted back, although the show’s clash with the Muslim festival of Eid may explain the absence this time of any Turkish contribution.

Sabrina Carraro of Dotto Trains, who decided to come only at the last minute with her company’s new electric-powered train, was happy enough with the results: “It’s gone quite well, but then we did not have big hopes. Mainly the people are coming from Italy.”

Quiet aisles

Last year Technical Park did not exhibit at all, instead it traded out of Park Rides’ stand, but this time the firm’s president Fabio Martini bit the bullet and signed up for a booth of his own. “Where are here because the other companies are,” he sighed, “but it is the same as last year.” How was it last year? “Too small” and “not important.”

“It’s quiet, too quiet for us,” remarked Augusto di Santi of the SBF/Visa Group. “We have never seen the aisles crowded. It’s better in Europe if we have less fairs and more visitors – in Italy, the UK or wherever, I don’t mind.” But the show hadn’t been a total waste of time: “One Spanish customer came one day and then the next day signed a contract at our factory. The timing is good actually, people can still decide for next season.”

As well as making a stand against the ‘competition’ (EAASI and the Euro Attractions Show), Technofolies was conceived because other shows come too late for some manufacturers to get the winter work in. For the coasters boys and other major suppliers – who are already looking to 2008 and beyond – that’s not an issue. As such, Technofolies is unlikely ever to become a true ‘one stop shop’ for the buyer, but as a showroom of working equipment it’s as good as any exhibition right now. The event will return next Autumn, dates to be confirmed.

A WORD FROM THE PRESIDENT

ANCASVI president/chairman Michele Bertazzon explains why Technoflies is still important to the Italian manufacturers.

This was the second edition of Technofolies and a chance to see if we were ‘understood.’ Last year there was a lot of confusion. People weren’t sure: ‘ Do we go here or Vienna?’ We don’t actually need thousands of people – the show organisers might not agree – but just a few goods ones.

What this show does is give the chance to exhibit at an affordable cost. Margins are low so we have to watch costs, we cannot afford to go round the world exhibiting rides like we did 20 years ago. It makes more sense to have the show in Italy, but we don’t just want it to be an Italian show, that’s not the concept.

We know Genoa is not the best place, but Fiera di Genova is a very good partner. They are not in it just to get money; they are willing to help us with low costs and good services. When we started we contacted Verona and Milan, but they were not even interested because amusement rides are not big business.

And the door is now open again to EAASI, we are having discussions [some of the Italian firms that ‘boycotted’ EAS will be back in 2007], but it will take time. We need co-operation across Europe.

In the meantime, we look forward to welcoming everyone back to Genoa in 2007 for the third edition of Technofolies.

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