FIMA, growing numbers for the 2020 edition
Countdown to the 41st edition of FIMA, the Spanish exhibition dedicated to agricultural technology machinery, which takes place in Zaragoza from 25 to 29 February and which this year presents record numbers. According to the organizers’ forecasts, the 2020 edition should record a 10% growth compared to the previous one, with an increase also as regards exhibitors, which should go from 1,572 in 2018 (representing 39 countries) to 1,650 in the 2020. Overall, the Zaragoza exhibition occupies 11 halls and covers an area of 160 thousand square metres, including the external demo areas. The expected foreign exhibitors, for which there are no official estimates yet, include a large contingent of Italian industries, with 40 participating companies (FederUnacoma data of mid-January); these are mainly companies specialized in the component sector and in the production of agricultural equipment and machinery. FIMA 2020 also presents itself at the starting line with a range of high profile conferences. Numerous workshops, meetings for “insiders” and seminars organized within the event, to compose a rich and diversified calendar of thematic in-depth reviews. Of particular note, the National Congress of Rural Development, the General Meeting of the Spanish Grain and Oilseed Trade Association; these two events have become a true tradition for the Zaragoza festival. But the wait is all for the awarding of the Technical Innovations competition, which in this edition of FIMA has recorded strong growth with 120 products vying for the prestigious recognition. The jury, composed of a panel of experts (university professors, researchers, members of associations) gave awards to 41 technologies made by 30 companies, also considering the mentions. In the category of tractors and self-propelled machines, John Deere received an award for the eAutoPowr and e8WD with Joskin, and SDF for the CVT ActiveSteer system. For the category of mobile and stationary machines and equipment, the Technical Innovation award was assigned to the MultiRate and Smartshift devices, made - respectively - by Kuhn and New Holland. Lastly, the awards for innovations in the field of agronomic technologies went to CNH Industrial, Claas and New Holland for the accessibility of their data multi-platform.
