MILAN - The 2016 Milan Furniture Fair, now in its 55th year, is set to take center stage next week - April 12-17 - as global attention turns to innovative furniture design and accessories.

The week is expected to be full of events, exhibitions and presentations on international furniture design and manufacturing and will showcase the latest developments in the field. This event comes on the heels of a successful 2015 show, which had approximately 310,840 visitors and the 2016 event is expected to be even larger with 2,310 exhibitors ranged over 207,000 square metres, show organizers say.

“The 55th edition will be a huge international draw, with 70% of the operators coming from over 160 countries and a wide range of top commercial offerings from the very best companies on the Italian and foreign markets, combined with culture and product culture through our collateral events," said Roberto Snaidero, president Salone del Mobile Milano (Milan Furniture Fair). "Internationalisation and innovation are the key drivers of this important edition. In particular, companies taking part in the Salone affirm that 63% of revenue is generated by exports, while 67% of them have made substantial investments in innovating machinery, equipment and software; research and development, especially within the companies themselves, and in the design of new products.”

The fair will feature the Salone Internazionale del Mobile along with the International Furnishing Accessories Exhibition, with more than 1,300 exhibitors ranged over more than 150,000 square metres, split into two categories, Classic and Design. New this year is the xLux section in Pavilion 3. Many manufacturers, who started off with classical or design products, have embraced a new classification representing both categories, consisting of linear products embellished with details, finishings and warmer, and softer materials.

The biennial EuroCucina exhibition and its collateral event FTK (Technology For the Kitchen) are back – in Pavilions 9-11 and 13-15 – along with the International Bathroom Exhibition in Pavilions 22-24, responding to the rising demand for quality in both sectors. EuroCucina – 120 exhibitors over 23,000 square metres – will present innovative high-quality kitchen products, responding to the steady rise in demand for functionality from increasingly savvy consumers. Product highlights in this section will feature stainless steel and natural stone. Technological innovation, energy efficiency, ease of use and aesthetic considerations characterise the goods on show at FTK (Technology For the Kitchen) with 40 exhibitors over 12,000 square metres, the collateral exhibition dedicated to built-in electrical appliances and cooker hoods, with cutting edge technology developed for the “cookery” world and for bringing connectivity into  the kitchen.

Also, the International Bathroom Exhibition, with 200 exhibitors covering 19,000 square metres, will showcase innovative solutions for personalising domestic spaces increasingly dedicated to wellness and self-care. And the 19th edition of SaloneSatellite will be held in Pavilions 13-15. This year’s theme is “New Materials, New Design.”