IMA at Trieste Coffee Expert 2025: Smart Solutions for the Digital Roastery

A key industry event for the coffee sector

At Trieste Coffee Expert 2025, the leading biennial event that brings together all major players of the Italian coffee industry, IMA presented its vision for the digital evolution of coffee processing and packaging. The event provided a strategic platform to discuss how smart technologies are redefining efficiency, quality and sustainability in modern roasteries.

From traditional roasting to data-driven production

During the conference, Andrea Gilli, AfterSales and Project Management Director at IMA Petroncini, outlined the transformation of coffee roasting from historically manual operations to fully automated and connected processes.
“Digital platforms, real-time monitoring and advanced analytics are now essential to control variability, improve repeatability and support scalable production,” Gilli explained during his presentation.

Automation as a driver of efficiency and quality

The presentation highlighted how automation and IoT-enabled systems support consistent product quality while reducing operational costs and downtime. Sensors, programmable controls and machine learning algorithms allow precise management of roasting profiles, grinding, degassing and packaging, ensuring stable sensory results batch after batch.

At the same time, digitalization plays a key role in addressing labor shortages, improving operator ergonomics and enabling roasters to focus on higher value-added activities such as quality evaluation and process optimization.

Smart technologies for sustainable coffee production

Sustainability was a central theme of IMA’s contribution at Trieste Coffee Expert 2025. Smart roasting solutions, such as IMA Petroncini TMR roasters, integrate hybrid gas/electric configurations, AI-based profiling and extensive sensor networks to optimize energy consumption, monitor emissions and improve process efficiency through predictive maintenance and remote assistance.

On the packaging side, solutions such as SYNKRO capsule filling machines combine in-line quality controls, vision systems and real-time performance analytics to increase productivity while minimizing waste and ensuring consistent quality.

IMA Sentinel: turning data into value

A key highlight of the presentation was a case study based on IMA Sentinel, IMA’s digital platform for connected machines and services. Implemented across a complete roasting and packaging line for a leading coffee producer, IMA Sentinel—integrated with IMA Control Room and AI-based tools—enabled a 15% increase in OEE, reduced unplanned downtime and minimized variability between roasting batches.

The project also delivered improved traceability, lower energy consumption and a more sustainable management of materials and processes across the entire coffee value chain.

IMA Digital: Green Soul, Digital Brain

The solutions presented are part of IMA Digital, the Group’s global program designed to connect machines, data and people within a single digital ecosystem. With its “Green Soul, Digital Brain” approach, IMA Digital supports coffee producers in their technological evolution, transforming operational data into actionable insights and long-term competitive advantage.

IMA’s participation in Trieste Coffee Expert 2025 once again confirmed the Group’s commitment to supporting the coffee industry with future-ready, integrated and sustainable solutions.