The SaMoTer 2026 exhibition in Verona provided a showcase for the stability of Italy’s construction and quarrying equipment sector, and the industry’s ability to tackle global challenges.
The SaMoTer 2026 triennial international exhibition, held at Veronafiere (6-9 May 2026), showcased the strength of Italy’s construction and quarrying machinery industry.
The event brought together the leading brands with a total of 526 exhibitors, of whom 124 were international companies drawn from 22 countries.
The trade fair was organised by Veronafiere in partnership with Unacea (Italian Construction Machinery Union) and Cece (European Construction Equipment Federation).
SaMoTer is the only exhibition in Italy specifically for the construction equipment supply chain: from earthmoving to hoisting and lifting, demolition and drilling, in addition to crushing, quarry and construction site vehicles, as well as concrete, the road-building sector, 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.
Research conducted by CER (Centro Europa Ricerche) on behalf of Unacea (the Italian Construction Equipment Union) was presented in the lead up to SaMoTer 2026, revealing that turnover in the sector is €4bn and, including allied fields, it employs 85,000 people.
The sector also enjoys a strong international footprint, with approximately 70 per cent of production sold on international markets (exports were valued at €3.2bn in 2025) and a structurally positive balance of trade.
Around 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.
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 per cent. In the same period, the European average posted a 9.4 per cent downturn. France, Germany and the United Kingdom saw setbacks of 28.3 per cent, 22.7 per cent and 5.8 per cent.
Italy is now the only major European market to surpass its pre-Covid dimensions. In the wake of these results, Italy now has an approximately 15 per cent share of the European market. Its share in 2019 was 9.6 per cent.
Construction machinery has helped activate a significant portion of the non-residential building sector, generating a total value of production of €135bn, an increase of 69 per cent 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 per cent, compared to an average value for the entire economy of 11.1 per cent.
This distinctive propensity for innovation is confirmed by the share of companies investing in technology and digitalisation, ranging between 35 per cent and 44 per cent (less than 20 per cent for the economy as a whole).
This research and development focus is a major reason why that the main topic at SaMoTer was technological innovation applied to construction sites, with an emhphasis 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 saw the presence of 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 was 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.
Innovations in 2026 included 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.
“SaMoTer 2026 comes forward yet again as a system platform for networking, products, innovation, skills and international relationships accompanying the construction supply chain towards increasingly modern and competitive production models,” Veronafiere president Federico Bricolo said.
“The show also has strategic value as a venue for institutional discussion between companies, trade associations, and policy-makers over key issues for the sector, such as regulations, sustainability, and digitalisation.
“This year, we are also focusing on preventing hydro-geological risks, an area where construction machinery is a vital tool in terms of responding to a key challenge for Italy.”
MB Crusher
Crushing and screening bucket manufacturer MB Crusher marked its 25th anniversary by unveiling new products in addition to live demonstrations at SaMoTer 2026.
The company’s dedicated exhibition areas featured live working environments where visitors were able to see, touch and understand how a streamlined jobsite actually performs. MB Crusher’s heavy-duty solutions were exhibited, with equipment engineered for large excavators and high-output operations. The manufacturer gave the world premiere of its new MB-G940 sorting grapple, which combines precision, power and control in a next-generation attachment, in addition to the new secondary crushing kit for the MB-P160 model.
Also on show were MB Crusher’s modular versatility kits. From the iron shear kit to primary and secondary crushing kits, the new demolition pulverisers deliver multiple applications with a single carrier.
The company says its attachments are designed not to strain the heavy machine they’re working with, even on the toughest jobsites.
Triangle Tyre
Triangle Tyre again partnered with OTR-TBR (off-the road/truck and bus radial) Italian market distributor Sunebo at Samoter 2026. At the booth, they showcased products from the Triangle OTR range, including Loader L5 and ADT E4 products and the latest TBR patterns.
Triangle and Sunebo also focused on the newest Triangle TPMS (Tire Pressure Monitoring System), highlighting the dedication of Triangle to safety and efficiency in off-road applications.
This innovative system has been specifically engineered for OTR tires, delivering real-time tire tracking and monitoring to enhance site safety and minimise unplanned downtime.
As tire pressure plays a critical role in optimising performance and profitability in quarry and mining operations, the Triangle TPMS will set a new industry benchmark for tire management solutions.
This year at SaMoTer Triangle exhibited the TL538S+ in the size 29.5R25 L5, an aggressive and innovative tread design featuring a super deep rock-traction with good riding comfort.
Simex
Italian manufacturer Simex exhibited six new crushing and screening bucket models at SaMoTer which can be converted for quarrying.
This year has marked a particularly significant year for Simex, which is celebrating 35 years of activity, reaffirming its position as a benchmark in the manufacturing sector of equipment for earthmoving machines and further strengthening its presence in international markets. Founded in 1991, over the past three decades, Simex has achieved steady growth, technological innovation, and a strong focus on customer needs, earning recognition for its quality solutions and for its commitment to innovation.
Simex said SaMoTer 2026 served as a key event to reinforce ties with the European and Italian markets, sharing vision, expertise, and new solutions with customers and industry professionals.
The company presented its new VSE TORNADO screening buckets, which will complement the historic and well-established VSE range, offering a complete portfolio of solutions for on-site material selection, cleaning, and recovery, suitable for excavators from 1.5 to 50 tonnes.
“Celebrating 35 years of activity means looking back with pride at the journey we have undertaken, but above all continuing to invest in innovation, people, and relationships to face future challenges,” Simex chief executive officer Mirco Risi said,
Maestro
Maestro exhibited its Q-Connect mobile app (iOS and Android), built to track and digitise daily operations on the factory floor.
Designed for the people who keep plant running every day, it empowers company teams to log tasks, access live machine data via QR codes and NFC tags, and stay connected with other departments in real time.
The main features include intuitive, user-friendly, and ready to use from day one.
Digital daily workflows: Check maintenance schedules at a glance. Log downtime and report issues as they happen for highly accurate daily reporting.
Scan & Go (NFC/QR): Simply scan a machine’s tag to instantly access its full technical data, user manuals, and complete service history.
Smarter ticketing: Manage all routine and corrective maintenance in one place. Operators can easily report faults from the field by attaching photos, videos and notes.
Dashboard mirroring: Take your Q-Portal dashboards on the go.
TecnoIdea
TecnoIdea, which provides filter presses for water recycling, exhibited its redesigned FPTL800P filter press, which aligns its design and construction with Tecnoidea’s philosophy applied to larger machines.
Two frames are available, to meet different plant requirements: FPTL800P_N: up to eight plates with 45mm chambers or 10 plates with 30mm chambers; and FPTL800P_L: up to 16 plates with 45mm chambers or 22 plates with 30mm chambers.
TecnoIdea said the redesigned machines offer structural reliability, simplified maintenance and full modularity: washing system, drip tray and guards can be installed at purchase or added later.
“A compact machine, engineered to last, with accessories that can be integrated at later stages,” TecnoIdea said. AB
