The Italian Packaging Machinery Manufacturers’ Association UCIMA has celebrated its 40th anniversary with a prestigious gala evening entitled “L’Anima del Packaging” (“The Soul of Packaging”), held in the splendid setting of the Ducal Palace in Modena, home of the Military Academy. This special event was organised to honour Italian excellence in the packaging industry, a pillar of the national economy that has achieved a global leadership position through its innovation, ability to adapt to market challenges and strong commitment to sustainability.
The event aimed to capture the essence of what packaging represents today: identity, technology, innovation and communication. For loose or bulk products, packaging is essential in revealing the product’s true nature. Italian-made technologies transform packaging into a form of protection, functionality and storytelling.
This message was further underscored by an immersive exhibition that allowed visitors to follow the journey of a raw material through the various stages of a packaging line, from its initial bulk state to its final form as a packaged product.
This concept was echoed by the artist Mr. Savethewall, who during the evening created an NFT (Non-Fungible Token) digital artwork entitled “Frog or Prince Charming? Trust packaging!” During the event, the artist’s iconic frog was transformed into Prince Charming, complete with regal attire and crown, symbolising the transformative power of packaging.
The event was both a celebration of past achievements and successes and an opportunity to look to the future. It was attended by senior executives from leading companies in the sector as well as numerous representatives of the world of politics, the institutions and industry associations.
Presentation of the new UCIMA logo
To mark its 40th anniversary, Ucima unveiled a preview of its new logo, designed to visually capture the evolution and modernity of the packaging industry. The updated logo reflects not only the technological progress and continuous innovation that define the industry, but also Ucima’s commitment to sustainability, creativity and forward-looking approach to the future.
“The automatic packaging machinery industry is a driving force of the Italian economy,” remarked Valentino Valentini, Deputy Minister of Enterprise and Made in Italy. “It stands as a symbol of Italian excellence thanks 
to its constant focus on research and development. In today’s increasingly complex economic and geopolitical environment, it is vital for industry and government to work together to address challenges within both the European and wider global contexts. The Ministry is deeply committed to tackling these challenges collaboratively to ensure the continued competitiveness and leadership of our companies.”
“This event marks a new beginning for us,” said Riccardo Cavanna, Chairman of Ucima. “We’re not here to dwell on the past or rest on our laurels, because our instinct, our mission, our very nature is forward-looking. We’ve always chosen to focus on the future, driven by a constant desire to grow and develop our companies and to expand into new markets across the globe. So this event is not the culmination of a journey, but rather a springboard for the future of our industry and community. It’s about exploring how we, our companies and our markets will evolve. This isn’t the final day of our first forty years, it’s the first day of the next forty. May our rich history propel us forward as we accelerate towards the future.”
