The president of the Organizing Committee of Maderalia analyzes the outlook for the FIMMA + Maderalia biennial, which will be held from November 10 to 13 at Feria Valencia.
Alejandro Bermejo
València, February 23, 2026.- The next edition of FIMMA + Maderalia is moving forward with its preparations and is already shaping up to be a successful edition. Nine months before its opening, Alejandro Bermejo, president of the Organizing Committee of Maderalia—the international event for suppliers to the wood, furniture, interior design, and contract project sectors and one of the “pillars” of the biennial—notes exponential growth in the Spanish trade fair, in contrast to the stagnation or decline of other European events.
Bermejo is an authoritative voice within the sector, as he is president of the regional employers’ association for the furniture and wood sector in the Valencian Community, FEVAMA, as well as of the carpentry association, ASEMAD. In addition, he is vice president of the Board of Directors of Feria Valencia.
Why does Maderalia not show signs of weakness, like other European trade fairs in the sector?
Industrial trade fairs are the most reliable thermometer of industrial strength. While some events in Central Europe are showing signs of fatigue, the Mediterranean axis demonstrates a capacity to attract that challenges continental hegemony.
We are witnessing a shift in leadership. Maderalia is emerging as the benchmark international event for the wood and furniture industries. We are facing the strongest edition of the last decade, backed by a volume of registrations and a level of interest we have not seen in a long time.
What are the pillars underpinning this shift of industrial weight toward the Mediterranean?
The south is gaining the upper hand due to a combination of structural factors that the north can no longer guarantee. We are a manufacturing country with four solid pillars: renewable energy and water resources, availability of industrial land at competitive prices, top-tier industrial park infrastructures, and a highly qualified workforce. While other areas of Europe have run aground due to energy costs or lack of markets, we are prepared to absorb a great deal of production and commercial activity.
What is the main driving force behind Maderalia 2026?
Without a doubt, the commitment of the exhibitors. Not only is there total loyalty from long-standing firms, but they are also doubling down on their commitment. Indeed, the prevailing trend is the booking of significantly larger stands, seeking greater visual and operational impact.
In addition, new players are coming in; there is a constant flow of applications from companies making their debut at the event, which demonstrates the shift of industrial interest toward Spain.
Will we once again see foreign professionals flocking to Feria Valencia?
Certainly. In the new scenario I have described, Maderalia positions itself as the strategic gateway to key markets:
• Latin America: We are a natural bridge for import and export operations.
• Morocco: An economy that is gaining exceptional momentum and where customers are actively seeking suppliers from Southern Europe.
• Portugal and Italy: Together with Spain, they consolidate a Mediterranean industrial bloc that dominates activity in today’s market.
The fact that we have tripled the budget allocation for attracting foreign visitors is not an expense; it is a maneuver of commercial intelligence. This investment ensures that local companies have direct access to high-potential buyers, internationalizing their business without having to leave home.
What is your assessment of the situation in the wood and derived materials market?
The market is in good health, but its engine has changed capacity. While new-build construction is progressing slowly, the renovation and refurbishment segment has become the main support for industrialized carpentry.
For companies in the sector, renovation is not merely a complementary niche; it is the bunker for the next fiscal cycle. At a time of uncertainty in new construction, specializing in refurbishment solutions—where wood adds value in terms of aesthetics and efficiency—is the way to secure operating margins and protect market share.
This adjustment is precisely the fuel driving Maderalia’s record growth.
Will wood construction move forward at Maderalia 2026?
For the wood construction industry, Maderalia is not just a date on the calendar; it is the moment to open the door to industrialized construction, in a market that demands immediate responses to the challenges of housing, sustainability, and construction efficiency.
Is wood experiencing a revival in carpentry and interior design?
As president of ASEMAD, the Association of Carpentry and Related Businesses of the Valencian Community, and of FEVAMA, the Valencian Wood Federation, I can assure you that industrial carpentry has ceased to be a static and traditional activity and has become a driver of design and innovation.
Guild collaboration has created an exhibition space at Maderalia that is moving toward a “living ecosystem.” What began as a small collaborative initiative has scaled up to the point of occupying, due to the volume of participating companies, almost half a pavilion of the fair. The value lies not only in the space but in the conditions of visibility and synergy. For example, a parquet manufacturer is strategically located next to a board manufacturer, or a door manufacturer next to a technical carpentry company… It is a model designed to make “things happen.”
By grouping complementary products, the ASEMAD space transforms the classic trade fair from a passive display of products and catalogs into an interactive environment for generating cross-business opportunities. It represents the shift from exhibition to networking, where physical proximity between suppliers accelerates the creation of comprehensive solutions for the professional visitor.
How is wood influencing specification in hotel and restaurant projects?
Wood has ceased to be a traditional material and has become the cutting-edge vector in sustainable architecture and luxury contract projects. It is the dominant material in decoration; architects and interior designers choose it not only for aesthetics but for the warmth, well-being, and luxury it conveys. It is a renewable material that adapts to any application, from wall panels to technical profiles and high-resistance flooring.
But there is a determining factor that guarantees its future: its alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Wood is not a passing trend; it represents a regulatory and ethical requirement. In the new construction paradigm, it is the essential material for meeting sustainability standards and the requirements of specifiers leading the most ambitious international projects.
Why is it vital to maintain the integration between FIMMA machinery and Maderalia materials?
An industry that does not innovate is doomed to irrelevance. Therefore, the union between machinery (FIMMA) and materials (Maderalia) is the foundation of our success as a trade fair and of our competitiveness as manufacturers.
The visitor to FIMMA + Maderalia seeks a productive solution, not just a component. Those who come to see new materials at Maderalia need FIMMA’s technology to transform them efficiently.
In this regard, collaboration with technological institutes such as AIDIMME is our guarantee for the future. Thanks to them, we are developing new uses, applications, and materials that keep our industry at the forefront.
Likewise, state-of-the-art machinery is what enables Spain to act as a high-level manufacturing country. Technological innovation is the tool that allows Southern Europe to absorb the production that other markets are losing due to lack of competitiveness or markets.
What strategy is the fair following to connect with new generations of professionals?
Industrial growth risks slowing down if we are unable to attract and train the next generation. The sector must present itself as a technological and vibrant future option. FIMMA + Maderalia is preparing a program of seminars, technical talks, and product presentations specifically aimed at training centers, engineering schools, architecture faculties, and official associations of decorators and interior designers. We want to bring the latest innovations within reach of new specifiers, facilitate technical knowledge about processes and new materials, and position the wood industry as a technological, dynamic sector with real professional prospects.
From your business position—you are CEO of Valenciana de Molduras Alto Turia—how is the value of Maderalia reflected in the corporate strategy of a company in the sector?
The case of Valenciana de Molduras Alto Turia exemplifies the leadership mindset needed to navigate this new global scenario. For us, Maderalia is an unmissable event. This year we are going to double the surface area of our stand compared to the previous edition; our commitment to the fair is total and is based on three pillars: strategic visibility, brand positioning, and, fundamentally, business return. Maderalia is the national benchmark fair, and this year it will definitively reaffirm its international status. We cannot afford not to be there.
