This sees this important meeting of footwear professionals worldwide return to Europe, and in particular to Spain, after the successful edition in Tunisia in 2005.The Spanish city of Elche, traditionally known for its footwear industry will be hosting the XVI UITIC Congress.
It is hoped that more than 300 representatives from Spain and other foreign countries attend the Conference Centre in order to debate on the advantages of technology for footwear trading and production processes.
Dr César Orgilés, president of UITIC, stated that the Congress will thoroughly assess the advantages of technology in all phases of the footwear industry, taking the consumer as the starting point, focusing on improved comfort and services. The Congress sessions will be categorised into five different subheadings: Consumer, Product Innovation, Technology, Management and Sustainable Development.
With regard to the Consumer session, an unlimited overview will be presented, taking into account that footwear companies are more and more global. Consumer needs will be defined and how to respond to these needs, highlighting the importance of footwear production, without entirely rejecting manufacturing in Europe.
The Product Innovation session will be focused on the use of anti-counterfeiting devices in footwear, due to reduced customs control and the measures being currently taken in different countries.
Although it could be said that dealing with technology is nothing new, the UITIC executive committee members consider that technology should be understood as a tool and not as a target. Technology will be dealt with from a different point of view, from design to commercialisation, because after all, these days, technology is more important than ever.
As regards management, different business models will be presented as case studies of companies, which employ a good management scheme that receives positive feedback. In addition, this session will also focus on the use of Information and Communication Technologies for the exchange of information between the components of the footwear value chain.
Sustainable development is currently in its prime and footwear manufacturers are also willing to cooperate with the environment. But they should know which are the critical substances and possible alternatives for recycling. The recently implemented French ‘eco-tax’ relating to the collection of used shoes is considered as a close example.
The Congress sessions will be scheduled for Friday (full-day) and Saturday morning. Visits to several footwear and shoe components industries will be organised for the day before the official opening (Thursday). In addition, various tourist activities will be offered on Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning, apart from those included in the programme for accompanying people.
The International Union of Shoe Industry Technicians (UITIC) is an organisation with more than 36 years of History, from its first Congress in Evian (France) in 1972. The main objective of the organisation is to develop technical knowledge on the footwear industry and promote the exchange of information among members, especially concerning technology.
UITIC is comprised of members from 24 different countries, mainly national and technical associations, as well as technical centres and technological institutes relating to the footwear sector.
Should you be interested in receiving more information about the forthcoming UITIC Congress in Elche, please contact the General Secretariat by fax (+34.965.38.10.45) or e-mail (uitic@uitic.org)
