From 14th to 16th May, the Rho exhibition center will host Made in Steel, the most important event dedicated to the southern European steel industry. For over 10 years, a veritable point of reference for the steel industry, Made in Steel has reached its eighth edition. The first point of discontinuity is in the period of the week: now it goes from Tuesday to Thursday, to better meet the demands of the operators of the steel chain. All the major Italian, European and world steel players have already confirmed their presence, laying the foundations for a new improvement in the performance of the event. To make the exhibition more relevant, the numbers are: in just one month, just under 5 thousand square meters of net exhibition space were sold, equal to 35% of the total available space. A trend that has done nothing but reflect the general climate of moderate optimism that has characterized the steel sector in recent months, at least until the close of 2018. In the year of the eighth edition of Made in Steel, in the European Union and in Italy the prospects for the steel sector will remain positive, even if with lower numbers than in the recent past, influenced by the negative effect of the last part of 2018. In Italy, according to estimates by the siderweb Research Department, in 2019 apparent consumption (deliveries + import-export) should increase by 1% (+ 2.9% in 2017; + 2% in 2018), aligning to the European data. In detail, in 2019 the automotive sector should brake (-0.5% compared to 2018), while construction will remain at growth rates of around 1%. There are 25 countries represented: not only the European giants of the sector, such as Germany, France and Spain, but also world heavyweights like India and Turkey. The approximately 123,000 square meters are already higher than those of the previous edition, and 80% of the exhibitors reconfirmed the presence also for 2019. The role of qualified buyers, also more numerous, is also fundamental: over 40 from 20 foreign countries , also accelerating and facilitating the process of sales, the true heart of the event. The double strength of Made in Steel lies in its very structure: on the one hand, it is business, an opportunity to meet steelworkers from all over the world, to confront the decision makers of the steel industry. On the other hand, it is also a conference: conferences, meetings, focus, organized by siderweb and exhibitors in the special speakers ’corner. The main themes of this year will be innovation and sustainability, as the title of the event states: STEEL HUMAN – Sustainability and innovation. The idea intercepts the two great priorities of today’s global steel industry, grappling with the need to reduce their environmental impact and to renew products and processes in order not to lose competitiveness.