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Press Release22nd January 2024

Best Tech Awards presentation: visitors agree the best technologies
displayed at VITRUM 2023 were by Tecnovati Com, Softsolution,Adelio Lattuada and Forel. GIMAV meeting: news about the next
edition coming soon.
The awards ceremony for the categories “Flat Glass Technologies”, “Robots & Automation”, “Software, Virtual
Reality & Artificial Intelligence” and “Accessories, Components & Other Glass Technologies” was held
Wednesday morning in Milan. In the afternoon, the GIMAV meeting on the future of VITRUM.
Milan, 22 January 2024 – Held on Wednesday, 17th January in Milan, the VITRUM Best Tech Awards ceremonyhonoring the companies that, based on visitor votes, exhibited the most powerful and innovative technologies atthe 2023 edition.
Welcoming the online audience and those present in person at the venue were GIMAV Managing Director and Vice
President Nicola Lattuada, along with CEO, Fabrizio Cattaneo. They were followed by greetings and introductorycomments by VITRUM and GIMAV President Dino Zandonella Necca who, connected remotely because unable toattend in person, commented: “I am extremely proud of this initiative because it emphasizes the technological aspect thatsets VITRUM apart and reinforces its reputation as a key international venue at which to showcase the excellence of glassprocessing machines and accessories. In the last few years, there has been much debate over trade shows, but
technologies are constantly evolving in order to keep pace with innovation and changing times. This is why we believe thatexhibits at the physical trade show are essential to allow visitors to experience them “hands-on.”
The ceremony continued with presentation of the Best Tech Awards.
In the “Accessories, Components & Other Glass Technologies” category, Nicola Lattuada presented the award toLeonardo Ghizzani CEO of Tecnovati Com: “Professionally, we are proud of the recognition accorded to a valuable
product like Tecno Sunblock and of Tecnovati’s commitment to introducing innovative, green products to the marketplacethat look to the future, improving comfort, along with significant energy savings,” stated Ghizzani, illustrating the technology
presented for the very first time in Europe at VITRUM 2023. “Tecno Sunblock is thermochromic glass that blocks the heatof direct sunlight, changing the glass from transparent to opaline as the temperature increases, without the need for any
manual or electrical input. We carefully researched and designed the product and its characteristics to ensure its quality
and reliability before concluding an exclusive European distribution agreement.”“We would like to express our sincere gratitude for the prestigious Best Tech Award,” remarked Jonas Pfannenstill,
International Sales Manager of Softsolution, while accepting the Software, Virtual Reality and Artificial Intelligence
category award. “The state-of-the-art technology exhibited at VITRUM 2023 introduces innovative software functionalities

that redefine the standard for the most relevant quality aspects of glass products. This award acknowledges ourcommitment to technological progress and underscores our leadership position in the industry. Our customers especiallyappreciate the scanner’s AI functionality, which constantly adapts the method of categorization based on user feedback.
We would like to thank them for their ongoing support which drives us to further improve our technology and to maintain aleadership position in the constantly evolving landscape of flat glass software.”In the Robots & Automation category, the Best Tech Award was presented by Board Member Barbara Mazza to Nicola
Lattuada himself, partner in Adelio Lattuada Srl: “We have participated in VITRUM since the very first edition and wecontinue to believe in it,” stated Lattuada. “Innovation, technology and research are essential to us, too, and we believethat VITRUM is the best place to showcase our products to customers from around the world. At VITRUM 2023, alongwith our partner, Knittel Glass, we exhibited a robotized line: a variable angle edging machine with 13 grinding wheels anda KUKA robot, whose unique feature is that the robot is not attached to the floor but moves at super-high speed along a
dedicated track, allowing it to reach a maximum speed of 2.35 m/s. This offers a number of advantages: greater flexibility
and productivity, reduced labor costs because it requires only one operator, greater safety and increased energy savings.”
Next came conferral of the Best Tech Awards in the Flat Glass Technologies category to Riccardo Vianello, Vice
President and CEO of Forel SpA: “I am extremely honored to receive this award, above all because it acknowledges thework of our group and at the same time, adds value to Italian technology around the world. Let’s remember that glassindustry technology is largely in Italy and therefore we need to leverage the power of VITRUM to exhibit it. At VITRUM,
Forel displayed all eight of its patents developed during the year, including application of the thermoplastic spacer profile,which was hugely popular with the international audience. I believe that only by exhibiting the innovations at the fair,”concluded Vianello “will we attract and intrigue an international audience and make VITRUM great. Forel’s commitment inthat regard is certain to continue.”
The Best Tech Awards ceremony concluded with presentation of a symbolic recognition of the visitors to VITRUM
who, with their contribution, enlivened and made this initiative possible. Selected to represent them were four
product testimonials among those that voted for the companies awarded – they will have the opportunity to experience aPremium Glass Experience at VITRUM 2025.
In the afternoon, during the course of the Extraordinary Meeting, GIMAV members exchanged ideas and exploredpossible scenarios to ensure the best future for VITRUM.
Upon conclusion of the meeting, GIMAV CEO Fabrizio Cattaneo commented: “Although at their first edition, the Best TechAwards immediately gained traction, offering a further opportunity for visibility to the companies that participated in VITRUM
2023 by exhibiting their technological innovations in the fields of glass processing machines and accessories.
In all likelihood, we will bring back the awards at the next edition of VITRUM; speaking of which, today’s discussion has
been very useful and effective: more news to follow!”