I know I gush about Expo SICAM every year, but this time, I have two new converts to back up my enthusiasm: Betsy Natz, CEO of the KCMA, and Eric Marshall, closet industry thought-leader and influencer. Both made the trip to Pordenone, an hour north of Venice, Italy, this year. And both say they found the format, energy and hospitality of the event refreshing, inspiring and unique.  

“It’s easy to understand why this is such an important event for cutting-edge kitchen design and why what’s shown here drives what we’ll be seeing at EuroCucina in Milan next spring,” says Natz.

“What you notice right away is the drop ceiling,” adds Marshall. “It makes you feel more at home instead inside a huge football stadium. The lighting is great, everything’s white, the carpet is light grey instead of black, there’s no black pipe-and-drape ugliness, and you don’t have huge signs and logos taking up so much visual space. The focus is completely on the product.”

If you’ve met Eric you know how enthusiastic he is about innovative products and designs for closets. To save space, I’ll just share a dance-mix of his greatest hits: 

1. Lots of really cool hardware finishes, including gold pull-down rods; 
2. Aluminum extrusions and drawer components, some with veneers or wood-look laminates wrapped around tight radii; 
3. Lots of glass, particularly from Grass; 
4. Thoughtful use of lighting that’s directed inward, not at your face;
5. Closet shelves with underlighting from Elektra that derive their power from one side of the casework, allowing easy repositioning and instant illumination; 
6. Self-leveling shelf pins from Titus; and much, much more. 

“This is a great fair for making all the connections you need,” says Marshall. “The booths are small enough that it’s easy to connect with marketing managers and even GMs and walk away having made a deal. And I have to say, the show’s organizers were always around, out on the floor, chatting and giving the whole thing a very personal touch.”

The photo tour in this article represents a fraction of the products at SICAM, emphasizing companies and materials available in North America.

Intrigued? Learn more about SICAM at www.exposicam.it.

The next edition of the furniture materials and components fair takes place in Pordenone, Italy, October 15-18, 2024.