ANIE AssoAscensori celebrates
its 30th anniversary in Pavia
On 28 April 2026, the world of vertical transport met in Pavia for a day of discussion, celebration and looking ahead. To mark the 30th anniversary of ANIE AssoAscensori, the association organised the conference ‘Le Macchine per il Trasporto Verticale’ (Vertical Transport Machinery), hosted at the Museum of Electrical Engineering at the University of Pavia, a symbolic venue for technological innovation and Italian industrial culture.
The event, organised in collaboration with the Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture (DICAr) at the University of Pavia, represented an important opportunity to highlight the strategic role of lifts and vertical transport systems, not only within buildings but also in the contemporary urban landscape.
From left: professor Tomaso Vecchi, professor Alessandro Greco, Bruno Forzinetti (President of ANIE AssoAscensori).
A sector at the forefront of the evolution of the built environment
Over the course of the afternoon, academics, researchers, engineers and entrepreneurs discussed the historical, technological and social evolution of the lift: a machine that has radically transformed the way we live, work and design cities.
The proceedings opened with an institutional welcome address by Prof. Tomaso Vecchi, Vice-Rector for Institutional Affairs at the University of Pavia. The session was moderated by Prof. Alessandro Greco, Vice-Rector for Architectural and Cultural Heritage.
This was followed by high-profile academic presentations focusing on key issues for the sector:
- the evolution of vertical transport systems and their impact on 20th-century architecture – Prof. Massimiliano Savorra (DICAr);
- technological and typological developments in building construction following the introduction of lifts in both residential and commercial buildings – Prof. Raffaella Lione and Prof. Fabio Minutoli (University of Messina);
- presentation of the initial findings of ongoing research at the University of Pavia aimed at improving the structural stability of metal ‘scaffolding’ – Prof. Giammaria Gabbianelli (DICAr).
The audience.
Thirty years of representation and development
The conference also provided an opportunity to celebrate the 30th anniversary of ANIE AssoAscensori, with a special tribute to the successive Presidents and long-standing members who have contributed to the growth of the association and the sector.
Three decades during which AssoAscensori has accompanied the regulatory, technological and cultural evolution of the sector, promoting quality, safety and dialogue with the institutions.
The ‘Piano Pavia’ award for inclusive and sustainable housing
During the day, the award ceremony for the PIANO PAVIA project (Proposals for Inclusive and Sustainable Housing) was held, born from the collaboration between the University of Pavia, ANIE AssoAscensori and ALER Pavia-Lodi.
The competition involved students from the Technical Architecture 1 course, who were asked to develop design solutions to improve the accessibility and usability of public housing located in various parts of the city. This practical initiative underscores how the issue of vertical mobility is now increasingly linked to the quality of living and social inclusion.
The round table discussion among companies in the sector
A round table discussion with some of the leading companies in the history of the Italian lift industry was held during the event: a comparison of industrial experience and future scenarios, from which challenges and opportunities will emerge for a strategic sector of Italian manufacturing, including technological innovation, energy efficiency, safety, digitalisation and advanced maintenance.
Towards an exhibition dedicated to vertical mobility
28 April also saw the launch of a new cultural initiative: an exhibition on the theme of vertical mobility, scheduled to take place this autumn at the University of Pavia and subsequently in Santiago, Chile. This project, currently in the planning stages, demonstrates how the lift is today not only an indispensable piece of technical infrastructure, but also a symbol of social progress, accessibility and urban transformation.
The programme
Tuesday 28 April 2026
Museum of Electrical Engineering – University of Pavia
Via Ferrata 3, Pavia
- 14:00 Guided tour of the Museum
- 15:00 Conference: “Vertical Transport Machinery”
- 15:20 PIANO PAVIA project awards ceremony
- 15:40 Scheduled presentations
- 16:20 Round table discussion with companies in the sector
- 17:00 Celebration of AssoAscensori’s 30th anniversary
- 17:30 Debate and conclusions
- 18:00 Networking cocktail reception
The museum
During the afternoon, attendees were able to visit the Museum of Electrical Technology (MTE), the venue for the event organised by ANIE AssoAscensori. The tour surprised and fascinated everyone present, as this museum traces the history of the most significant scientific discoveries and inventions related to the study of electricity, from its origins to the present day, and houses a wealth of inventions and artefacts illustrating the evolution of technology over time.
The Museum of Electrical Technology forms part of the University of Pavia’s Museum System, which encompasses all the university’s museum collections open to the public: Kosmos, the Natural History Museum (recently refurbished), the Botanical Garden (founded in 1773) and the University History Museum (which houses Alessandro Volta’s Scientific Cabinet).
Spanning an area of 5,000 square metres, the museum displays more than 7,000 objects, including unique and original pieces from some of Italy’s most important industrial and scientific-educational collections (Enel, Sirti and the University of Pavia).
The exhibition features large-scale objects of particular significance in the history of electrical science and the changes it has brought about in everyday life.
Among other things, the museum houses an alternator from the Paderno d’Adda power station, a Milan tram, a particle accelerator, a wind turbine and Eta Beta, a nuclear fusion generator resulting from a major Italian scientific project.
The exhibition also features an original Enigma machine, which, although designed to protect patents and designs from industrial espionage, became an encrypted communication system used by the military high commands of the major powers of the twentieth century, including those of Germany, Japan and the United States. Enigma is best known for the contribution made by the mathematician Alan Turing in deciphering Nazi communications during the Second World War.
Inside the Museum, visitors can experiment with how certain objects work and examine their details up close, thereby discovering the principles underlying the first arc lamps, telegraphs and telephones, devices supporting medical science, the evolution of domestic appliances, right up to the digital revolution.
From 2021, the storage facility will also be open to the public, who will be able to explore a collection of hundreds of everyday objects that have shaped the evolution of electrical technology as applied to photography, music and computing, as well as in-depth sections dedicated to hydraulic turbines, electric vehicles, telephone exchanges and military equipment.
