The strength of the construction sector on show at Veronafiere
06.05.2026The 32nd edition of SaMoTer. Scheduled 6-9 May 2026, the triennial International Construction Machinery Exhibition is under the spotlights again at the Verona Exhibition Centre with 526 exhibitors (124 international from 22 countries), bringing together the leading brands and their global excellence in construction site mechanization. In all, 6 show halls and 3 outdoor areas will welcome visitors to the exhibition alongside demo areas for dynamic tests for an overall total of 52 000 m².
SaMoTer 2026, organized by Veronafiere in partnership with Unacea (Italian Construction Machinery Union) and Cece (European Construction Equipment Federation), was presented end of April in Rome
© Veronafiere Ennevi
The trade fair, organized by Veronafiere in partnership with Unacea (Italian Construction Machinery Union) and Cece (European Construction Equipment Federation), was presented end of April in Rome, in the Nassirya Hall of Palazzo Madama – the Senate of the Republic of Italy.
The presentation was attended by Adolfo Urso, Minister of Enterprise and Made in Italy, Federico Bricolo, President of Veronafiere, Maurizio Forte, Central Director of ITA-Italian Trade Agency (in video-connection), Luca Nutarelli, Director of Unacea, Stefano Fantacone, Research Director of CER (Centro Ricerche Europeo) and Matteo Pasinato, SaMoTer event manager (their comments are given at the end of this press release). Other attendees also included the undersecretary of MIMIT, Mara Bizzotto, and Senator Matteo Gelmetti. The event was moderated by journalist Giuseppe De Filippi.
From the left: Stefano Fantacone, Adolfo Urso, Federico Bricolo, Matteo Pasinato and Luca Nutarelli
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SaMoTer is the only exhibition in Italy specifically for the construction equipment supply chain: from earthmoving to hoisting/lifting, demolition and drilling, not to mention crushing and quarry/construction site vehicles, as well as concrete, the road-building sector, without overlooking equipment, engine components, spare parts, logistics, services and ICT solutions. The Italian construction equipment sector plays a strategic role in the national mechanical engineering industry and is a key enabler for the development of infrastructures and the sustainable transition of the construction industry.
SaMoTer confirms its status as a b2b platform of international calibre: this year, more than 60 top international buyers have been invited from 23 countries in Central and Eastern Europe, Scandinavia, the CIS region, Eurasia, the Middle East, North Africa, and sub-Saharan Africa. In addition, there a further 40 operators were selected from target markets thanks to the collaboration with ITA-Italian Trade Agency, not to mention all the other high-profile professionals arriving from abroad.
The construction machinery sector enjoys a vocation for exports and this event is a preferential venue for consolidating business relationships, presenting innovations, and identifying new business opportunities in emerging and established markets through a series of targeted meetings.
Impressions of last SaMoTer in 2023
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Research conducted by CER (Centro Europa Ricerche) on behalf of Unacea (the Italian Construction Equipment Union) was presented today. it indicates turnover in the sector of € 4 billion and, including allied fields, employs 85 000 people. The sector also enjoys a strong international vocation, with approximately 70 % of production sold on international markets (exports were valued at € 3.2 billion in 2025) and a structurally positive balance of trade.
26 000 construction machinery units were sold in Italy in 2025. The market has doubled in size in just under a decade: 13 500 construction machinery units were sold in 2017. The market peaked in 2022, with 29 700 units sold. We are now seeing a physiological adjustment.
In terms of the number of machines sold, the Italian construction equipment market was the third largest in Europe in 2025, behind Germany and the United Kingdom but having overtaken France. In the period 2019-2025, the Italian market moved against the European trend and posted an overall expansion of 38.8 %. In the same period, the European average posted a 9.4 % downturn. France, Germany and the United Kingdom saw setbacks of 28.3 %, 22.7 % and 5.8 %. Italy is now the only major European market to surpass its pre-Covid dimensions. In the wake of these results, Italy today covers an approximately 15 %. share of the European market. Its share in 2019 was 9.6 %.
Impressions of last SaMoTer in 2023
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Construction machinery has helped activate a significant portion of the non-residential building sector, generating a total value of production of € 135 billion, an increase of 69 % in the four-year period 2019-23 (the latest year for which ISTAT data is available).
The share of Italian construction industry companies with medium-high investments in research and development now exceeds 35 %, compared to an average value for the entire economy of 11.1 %. This distinctive propensity for innovation is confirmed by the share of companies investing in technology and digitalization, ranging between 35 % and 44 % (less than 20 % for the economy as a whole).
It is precisely for this reason that the main topic at SaMoTer is technological innovation applied to construction sites, with a focus on Industry 4.0, automation, artificial intelligence, connectivity, data management, machine sustainability, reduced emissions, and new infrastructure solutions, as well as safety, training, and rental, thereby helping to promote the most current trends in the sector. This context in turn welcomes SaMoTer Lab, the dynamic and high-visibility high-tech exhibition area designed to offer visitors an effective and full immersion experience of the most advanced solutions in the sector. This proposal is flanked at SaMoTer by the second edition of the “Digital Construction Site” – a demonstration initiative created in collaboration with “Quelli del Movimento Terra” to provide an experiential space for live presentations of how digital technologies are changing construction site processes, while also improving efficiency, safety, sustainability, and productivity.
Impressions of last SaMoTer in 2023
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Innovations in 2026 include the debut of the SaMoTer Academy, the strategic project developed with Engim Veneto in response to one of the sector's most pressing challenges: the shortage of qualified operators.
This project is intended to become a permanent training ecosystem active year-round capable of integrating cultural and technical-professional training. The 32nd SaMoTer is also eagerly awaited given its impressive calendar of conferences and workshops: Collaboration with institutions, trade associations, companies, research centres, and specialized publishers means there are 56 events where operators will find previews and indications of international scope. Conferences in the SaMoTer Arena especially include “Construction machinery and production chains” (6 May, 4:15 pm) and “Hydrogeological risk in Italy: economic impacts and necessary protection investments” (7 May, 2:45 pm), organised by SaMoTer in collaboration with CER-Centro Europa Ricerche.
Impressions of last SaMoTer in 2023
© Veronafiere Ennevi
Second edition of the “Digital Construction Site” at SaMoTer 2026
The second edition of the “Digital Construction Site” will be held during SaMoTer 2026. The Triennial International Construction and Earthmoving Machinery Exhibition welcomes back the initiative focusing on technological innovation and the digital transformation of the construction sector in Outdoor Area F, spanning over 5000 m². Following a successful first edition, the trade fair (organized by Veronafiere in partnership with Unacea and Cece) once again hosts an experiential and demonstration venue specifically for live demos of how digital technologies are transforming construction site processes to improve task management, optimize work times, and ensure the highest site safety standards. Intelligent sensors, advanced control systems, and digital solutions enable all operating stages to be monitored with greater precision, thereby reducing errors, wasted resources, and risks for operators.
Impressions of last SaMoTer in 2023
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The Digital Construction Site project implemented in collaboration with “Quelli del Movimento Terra” as part of SaMoTer's evolution towards a trade fair increasingly focused on content and transfer of technology, thereby confirming its role as a key international stage for the construction sector, through a format that brings together exhibitions, dynamic demonstrations, training and networking. The companies investing in the value of this idea which have so far decided to attend this year in the high-tech area include: CASE, CGT Caterpillar, Develon, Leica Geosystems, Komatsu, Morooka, Takeuchi, Topcon, Spektra-Trimble Group and Volvo CE. The "Digital Construction Site" itinerary reproduces a bumpy road, with ups, downs and critical points, taking visitors through all the main aspects of modern construction sites, highlighting the central role of technology in supporting the daily work of operators and improving overall organization.
“Digital Construction Site” demos will be held twice daily (11:00 am and 2:30 pm) for the entire duration of the main event, offering visitors numerous opportunities to watch operating simulations and gain a first-hand understanding of how these technologies function. Machinery and operators will create during all sessions a realistic representation of work on a construction site. Operations follow a comprehensive and optimized process that begins with a site survey, continues with digital modelling and design, and concludes with uploading the project into the machinery and then carrying out work in the field. This configuration provides for a clear before-and-after view of the task in hand, effectively demonstrating the role of technology in controlling heights, slopes, and safety. Construction site activities include all the main operating stages: from the identification of underground services and removal of pipes, to excavation and roadbed correction, through to the creation of the new profile in accordance with the project, pipe laying and backfilling, finalising embankments, followed by precision levelling, compaction and asphalting.
Impressions of last SaMoTer in 2023
© Veronafiere Ennevi
"The Digital Construction Site," said Matteo Pasinato, SaMoTer Event Manager, "is conceived as an open workshop where innovation is not only described but also demonstrated in action, through effective examples and real-world applications. The goal is to provide operators with useful tools and insights to help them tackle the challenges posed by digitalization, such as data management, machine connectivity, and process automation. In this context, the project slots perfectly in line with SaMoTer's mission to accompany the entire supply chain towards a more advanced, integrated and internationally competitive site model.”
Technology is currently revolutionizing the construction site world: timelines are increasingly tight, quality standards are increasingly stiffer, and margins for error are virtually null. Without overlooking another fundamental topic: safety. Intelligent systems effectively operators recognize obstacles and people, prevent risk situations and make construction sites better controlled and protected environments. Against this background, innovation and digitalization become true allies of companies and operators.
Before and after the demos, the companies taking part will hold an exclusive “Walk Around” experience for small groups of up to 10 visitors. This ensures direct contact with technologies and industry professionals to promote more in-depth, practical, and interactive training. The walk-arounds will offer participants the opportunity to observe at first hand the technologies used on construction sites, gain detailed understanding of their operation through dedicated technical explanations, and attend practical demos with machinery operating under full control in a safe and supervised environment.
