APIAS, the Associazione dei Produttori e Importatori Attrezzature per lo Spettacolo (Association of Manufacturers and Importers of Equipment for the Entertainment Industry) was founded in 1983. It brings together major Italian manufacturers of equipment for the entertainment industry. For the last years, it has also included companies that provide goods, services and technology to the Italian entertainment market as affiliate members.

Ordinary APIAS members offer products and equipment in different sectors: furnishing and structures for stages, structures, and sound, lighting and video equipment. They supply accessories, components and expert design and assistance services. This young agile industry, which is always attentive to the needs of its customers, has drawn new ideas from the more traditional world of discotheques, and applied them in theatres, audio and visual production studios, trade shows and exhibitions, shopping centres, museums, show rooms, on cruise ships and in the architectural market, even reaching the world of information technology.

It is estimated that there are 240 Italian manufacturers in the sector that distribute throughout the whole nation and employ about 2,650 people. The total production is worth € 520 million, 62% of which is destined for export. Exports even reach faraway traditionally difficult markets, such as the Far East, and hold highly prestigious positions in Europe, the United States, South America and Australia.

APIASrepresents over 40 of the biggest and most distinguished companies, which employ about 1,100 people.

APIASmembers are small-medium Italian industrial concerns, which have always proved skilful at producing increasingly up-to-date equipment and at understanding market requirements, even setting trends themselves. Today, therefore, Italian products in this sector are not just characterized by an excellent quality/price ratio, but also by innovative “superior” technology and a constantly cutting-edge design.

Today more than ever, APIAS aims to be a reference point for all trade dealers and to help its members distinguish and promote their products and services in Italy and abroad.

Consequently the association creates conditions so that this aim may be achieved and offers its member companies a wide range of marketing, promotion, financial, legal, publishing and communication services. Our agreement with the magazine Backstage, which has become the association's official organ, is part of a plan to investigate new forms of communication. The aim is to extend the association's capacity to develop relations and increase its visibility to the benefit of all member companies.

APIASconstantly works to coordinate mutual trade interests and organizes technical update meetings in order to gather commercial information. For this purpose it maintains constant relations with similar trade associations that work abroad and is a member of the WORLD-ETF (World Entertainment Technology Federation).

APIASattends foreign trade fairs with institutional stands, publishes a catalogue of its member companies regularly (also available from this web site), and is the trade spokesperson in the eyes of other associations and bodies interested in the sector.

APIASis highly aware of the importance of fair shows as an occasion to promote the industry  and promotes and organizes the SHOW-WAY Professional Entertainment Technology Exhibition. The third edition will be held from 5th to 7th May 2012.      

APIAShas always been attentive towards trade training needs, and sponsors and supports two postgraduate initiatives with trainers and organizational and financial grants: in 2009 in particular, it contributed towards the third edition of the Lighting Design for Shows Course held at the Design Faculty of the Politecnico di Milano (Milan Polytechnic), and the first edition of a “Master for Experts in Architectural and Artistic Lighting Engineering” held at the Venice University of Architecture (IUAV). Extension of similar initiatives to the audio sector is one of the future development projects.