METEF 2025, the international trade fair for the aluminium supply chain, took place from 5th to 7th March 2025, at BolognaFiere in Bologna, Italy. The event, held concurrently with MECSPE, focused on new solutions for aluminium production, processing, and applications, with a strong emphasis on sustainability and innovation.
The aluminium industry showed signs of recovery, with 67% of companies reporting adequate order backlogs. Sustainability and ecological transition were central themes, addressing challenges in energy efficiency and decarbonization. The event showcased innovative solutions to reduce CO2 footprint throughout the aluminium supply chain.
Presenting RecAL
A key component of METEF 2025 was the third Aluminium Energy Summit, featuring talks by leading industry figures on best practices and innovative solutions. One notable presentation was given by Alberto Vergnano from UniMoRe (University of Modena and Reggio Emilia), who spoke about “Robust design for better use of secondary aluminium alloys in the Horizon Europe RecAL project”.
Alberto Vergnano’s participation highlighted the significant role of the RecAL Project in advancing sustainable practices within the aluminium industry. As UniMoRe is part of the RecAL consortium, Vergnano’s presentation provided valuable insights into the project’s progress and its potential impact on the industry’s future.
The RecAL Project, which began on January 1, 2024, aligns closely with METEF 2025’s themes of sustainability and innovation. The project focuses on developing advanced recycling and digital technologies for a circular aluminium economy, including recycling-tolerant alloys, digitalization and robotics in sorting and dismantling, creating high-purity recyclate streams, and adapting production paradigms for secondary resources.
METEF 2025 served as a crucial platform for the aluminium industry to address challenges and opportunities in sustainability, recycling, and technological innovation. The event featured international buyer delegations from 12 countries and offered one-to-one business meetings and networking activities.
Rossano Bozzi, Sole Director of METEF, emphasized the exhibition’s role in shaping the future of aluminium: “METEF 2025 comes at a crucial time for the sector. The signs of optimism that we are registering are a symptom of an ongoing transformation. The aluminium supply chain is playing an increasingly central role in the transition towards a circular economy, and our exhibition will be the stage where this evolution will take concrete shape”.
Thank You, METEF!
The event also highlighted the importance of the recently approved Transition 5.0 Plan, which provides €6.3 billion for entrepreneurs embracing the green transition. This government support aligns with the industry’s efforts to invest in sustainable solutions and reduce the environmental impact of production activities.
In conclusion, METEF 2025 successfully brought together industry leaders, researchers, and innovators to showcase the latest advancements in aluminium production and recycling. The participation of experts like Alberto Vergnano and the focus on projects such as RecAL underscored the event’s commitment to driving sustainable practices and technological innovation in the aluminium industry.
Tristan Bath (RTDS Group)
Tristan Bath is EU Project & Communication Manager at RTDS Group in Vienna.
