Progetto Fuoco 2012 will provide definitive confirmation of the development of the market for heating that is fuelled by wood and wood products, such as the biomass which is so popular in the field of renewable energy.
This positive trend is being driven by economic and ecological factors, but the emotional side also plays an important role. The new wellbeing indices based on “Gross National Happiness”, which has been the focus of numerous research projects, show that at difficult times like the present, Italians feel content in their own homes. After all, the home is the quintessential refuge. This has led to greater interest in stoves and fireplaces, which are not only highly innovative and technological but are also making a return as a central decorative element. The famous “hearth” at the centre of the home is now visually appealing as well as being useful and practical. New solutions with a high design content will be more prominent than ever before at the next Progetto Fuoco. There will be fireplaces with unusual forms that use traditional materials such as stone, glass and steel in unconventional pairings, while the technological and ecological core of the systems can be found in shells that have often been reinvented with basic but original shapes.
Stylish stoves and fireplaces
Cutting edge stoves and fireplaces have now become fashionable furnishing elements. This is largely because there is a huge range of both the classic wood versions and the more recent pellet-fired models. Now anybody can enjoy maximum comfort while complying with the strictest energy efficiency parameters, with systems whose design, lines and materials can satisfy any furnishing requirements.
All of this and much more will be on show at Progetto Fuoco from 22 to 26 February 2012 in the pavilions of Verona Exhibition Centre. It is the only show in Europe that is devoted to systems, products and equipment for wood burning. There has already been a significant increase in the number of European exhibitors signing up for the 2012 event, where it will be possible to see products from 20 different countries.
Progetto Fuoco will feature all of the different components on offer in the field. As always, it will focus on new technology which is eagerly awaited by the market and a combination of design and the search for maximum functionality. Thousands of visitors are expected at the trade event in Verona, which will be open from 9.00 am to 6.00 pm. In 2010 there were 67,000 people in attendance from all over the world. The exhibition will also be open to the public on Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 February.
The eighth Progetto Fuoco will encompass five pavilions instead of the four seen at past events, giving a total exhibition area of approximately 72,000 m². The larger amount of space gives early proof of the success of the show, thanks to the growing interest shown by the market in stoves, fireplaces, boilers, range-based heating and associated products which are safe, environmentally friendly and offer energy savings. They are increasingly in demand both as new systems and as replacements for old systems that are now obsolete.
Working stoves and fireplaces on show
The larger surface area occupied by the biennial event in February (+15% compared to previous shows) will be used by increasing to four the number of pavilions with smoke extraction systems, thus making it possible to show many more working products than in the past.
The fifth pavilion will host PF – Technologies, which will feature boilers for large systems and preparation technology for fuels such as wood chips and pellets. Piemmeti SpA, the organizers of the international event in Verona, expect to see a considerable increase in the number of systems present that are certified in accordance with the strictest European regulations and requirements for checked wood biomass (meaning that they meet environmental safety criteria). Complying with international parameters has become essential, as will be explained during the scheduled talks and seminars at the show in Verona.
Working with the Te.S.A.F. (Land, Environment, Agriculture and Forestry) department at the University of Padua and AIEL (the Italian Agro-forestry Energy Association), Progetto Fuoco’s objective has always been the development and diffusion of applied research, emphasizing the results and prospects for optimum use of wood fuels. All of this will be expressed in a packed schedule of talks and seminars.
As part of PF Technologies, Aiel will be organizing a number of conferences and workshops on topics including biomass from short supply chains, emissions from domestic equipment and boilers, and the new framework of incentives for biomass heating.
The 3rd International Pellet Forum will outline the global situation and present details of consumption and certified production. Some distant countries with lots of forests and woods are now among the producers, while Italy is the biggest consumer of the ecological fuel in Europe, with 1.7 million tonnes expected to be used in 2011. 1.1 million tonnes of this will be imported, making the country the biggest importer of pellets in the world.
The topics that will be examined closely during the convention programme include: “Emissions from household wood-fired systems: The state of the art and reduction strategies” (22 February); “Wood biomass from short supply chains: Principles and conditions for the introduction and quantification of the socio-economic benefits” (23 February); “The use of wood biomass for energy purposes” (24 February); and “Biomass heating: The new framework implementing Italian decree 28/2011” (25 February), which will look into the economic aspects and the incentives for the sector. In addition to the conventions and workshops, there will be seminars for technical experts from the fields of installation, stove setting, and the construction of majolica stoves, which have been promoted by professional associations such as Anfus, Assocosma and Assofumi.
