Bergamo reinforces its position as a global hub for the industrial valve and flow control industry
Giovanna Ricuperati, President of Confindustria Bergamo: “A landmark edition that marked a major step forward and significantly strengthened the exhibition’s international standing”
Paolo Agnelli, President of Promoberg: “Our goal has been achieved: increasing global visibility for a cutting-edge industry while generating valuable business opportunities and high-level industry dialogue”
The next edition of IVS-Industrial Valve Summit will take place at the Bergamo Exhibition Centre from May 16–18, 2028
Bergamo, May, 2026 – The sixth edition of IVS – Industrial Valve Summit, the leading international event dedicated to industrial valve technologies and flow control solutions, concluded with record-breaking results. Organized by Servizi Confindustria Bergamo and Promoberg, the event took place at the Bergamo Exhibition Centre from May 19 to 21, 2026.
Organizers confirmed that the seventh edition of IVS will return to Bergamo from May 16 to 18, 2028.
A record-breaking edition
IVS 2026 closed with a total attendance of 20,400 visitors from 72 countries across five continents, marking a 36% increase compared to the previous edition, which welcomed 15,000 attendees.
The 2026 edition featured 420 exhibitors, up 30% from 2024, representing 20 countries. In addition to Italy, exhibiting companies came from Spain, Germany, France, the UK, the United States, the Czech Republic, Poland, the Netherlands, Portugal, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Croatia, Finland, Ireland, Mexico, South Africa, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates. International exhibitors accounted for more than 25% of the total.
The event itself also expanded in both scale and scope, moving to a three-day format while further strengthening its scientific and technical programme. This evolution has increasingly positioned IVS as a global platform for industry dialogue, technological innovation and market analysis.
IVS 2026 hosted 68 conferences, roundtables and technical sessions – 30% more than in 2024 – organized around six thematic areas, with dedicated focus on AI and nuclear energy. At a time marked by geopolitical uncertainty and industrial transformation, the Summit further consolidated its role as a strategic forum for understanding market dynamics and future industry developments.
Exhibition space also expanded significantly, reaching more than 21,400 square metres across four exhibition halls – approximately 40% larger than the previous edition. These figures further confirm IVS as a must-attend event for the global industrial valve and flow control supply chain.
The IVS-Prometeia Observatory The Oil & Gas Valve Industry in Italy 2026
During the Summit, the new edition of the IVS–Prometeia Observatory, The Oil & Gas Valve Industry in Italy 2026, was officially presented. Developed with the support of the Research Department of Confindustria Bergamo, the report provides a comprehensive overview of the Italian industrial valve sector, confirming both its strategic role within Italian manufacturing and its leadership position in Europe.
According to the report, Italy’s industrial valve industry includes more than 146 companies, employs over 10,000 people, and generates more than €3.8 billion in revenue, confirming the sector as one of the key pillars of Italian mechanical engineering.
Italy also remains Europe’s leading producer of Oil & Gas valves, accounting for nearly 40% of total EU production. The industry is heavily concentrated in Lombardy – particularly in the Bergamo area – which alone generates almost 70% of total national sector revenues.
In 2025, Italian Oil & Gas valve exports exceeded €4 billion (+5.4%), driven primarily by Western Europe and North America. This performance consolidated Italy’s position as the world’s third-largest exporter, behind China and Germany, with a global market share of 9.9%.
Since 2020, global demand has progressively shifted toward North America and the Middle East–North Africa region, now among the fastest-growing energy markets worldwide. Italian manufacturers successfully adapted to this structural transition, strengthening their presence in high-value markets, while Asia gradually lost relevance within Italy’s export mix. Despite slower growth trends, Western Europe remains a core destination market.
In 2025, Italy outperformed competitors in 38 markets representing 44% of global Oil & Gas valve imports. Particularly notable was the country’s performance in high-growth destinations, where Italian companies gained market share in 18 fast-expanding markets accounting for more than 30% of total global imports.
International synergies and partnerships
A key driver behind the increase in international participation was the collaboration with organizations including ICE – Italian Trade Agency, AVR ANIMA, Confindustria Assafrica & Mediterraneo and UNIDO ITPO Italy. IVS also established partnerships with BVAA, Fluidex, SPAP, CzechTrade, Evolen, CEIR, SPE and ESA, including through dedicated country pavilions. These collaborations brought to Bergamo international delegations composed of institutional representatives, entrepreneurs, decision-makers, speakers and specialized operators.
Organizers also welcomed qualified buyers from leading end users and EPC contractors, fostering business opportunities and strategic networking opportunities across the global energy supply chain.Within this framework, new opportunities also emerged in high-potential emerging markets, particularly across Africa, where demographic growth and rising energy demand are creating increasing demand for industrial development and infrastructure investment.
On Friday, May 22, additional targeted matchmaking activities further connected international delegations with companies operating across the broader Oil & Gas supply chain.
Statements
Giovanna Ricuperati, President of Confindustria Bergamo, remarked: “This edition marked a turning point for IVS, representing a major leap forward and giving the exhibition an increasingly international dimension, both in terms of exhibitors and visitors. Participation in the scientific and technical sessions also grew significantly. These results confirm IVS as a leading global event for the sector and demonstrate the effectiveness of a supply-chain-focused approach that could successfully be applied to other industrial excellences within our territory”.
Paolo Agnelli, President of Promoberg, said: “The IVS 2026 edition further highlighted the strategic importance of an exhibition strongly supported by Promoberg together with Confindustria, an event capable of promoting industrial excellence on a truly international scale. IVS fully achieved its objective of attracting growing global attention to a highly advanced sector, while creating important business opportunities and unique moments for scientific and technological exchange. The growth recorded this year, combined with the high quality of participating companies and the extremely positive feedback received from buyers and operators, further confirms the value of the project. IVS represents a flagship event within the internationalization strategy of Promoberg and the Bergamo Exhibition Centre. We are strengthening synergies with local stakeholders and international partners while developing new initiatives aimed at positioning our exhibition hub at the centre of one of the world’s most strategic macro-regions”.
Francesco Apuzzo, President of Valve Campus, commented:“IVS 2026 marks another important step in the evolution of the event, particularly in terms of the value generated by its technical and scientific contribution to the industrial valve supply chain. Over the course of these days, we welcomed a highly qualified audience including specialized operators, end users, EPC contractors, companies, universities and international experts, all contributing operational experience, application case studies and high-level expertise. The scientific programme demonstrated growth not only in the quantity of content, but also in its depth and ability to address the industry’s most relevant challenges. The quality of speakers further confirms IVS as an authoritative platform with a pragmatic and application-oriented approach. This consistency over time has enabled the Summit to strengthen its identity and grow edition after edition while remaining closely aligned with the real needs of the market. The direct relationship between industry, end users and technical expertise remains one of the key factors behind the event’s strength and international recognition”.
