EuroBLECH 2024 to Drive Momentum and Productivity as It Opens in Hanover

Hanover, Germany – EuroBLECH, the world’s largest showcase for live machinery and technical breakthroughs in the sheet metal working industry, will hold its 27th edition in Hanover from October 22-25, bringing together international professionals from the sector. Themed ‘The Power of Productivity’, this year’s event features nearly 1,300 exhibitors from 40 nations on 160,000 sq mt gross space across nine halls. An engaging event program of expert talks, guided tours, themed trails, and innovation awards offers extra opportunities for knowledge-building and networking.

EuroBLECH 2024 is once again turn Hanover Exhibition Grounds in Germany into the global innovation hub for the sheet metal working community. The four-day event will feature thousands of exhibits in 15 technology sectors and is expected to attract an even greater number of visitors from international markets.

EuroBLECH’s growing global reach is mirrored in the exhibitor bookings, with 66 percent of suppliers coming from outside Germany. Leading exhibitor countries include Germany, Italy, Turkey, China, Switzerland, Netherlands, Spain, Belgium, Poland, France, and USA. Significant stand space growth has been recorded by companies from Sweden, Austria, Portugal, and major Asian economies, with India’s exhibition space more than doubling since the 2022 edition.

“Our exhibitor line-up is reflecting the current market situation. We see many European innovation drivers leading the sustainability shift amid intense global competition, with rising investments in Southeast Asia, India, and North America,” explains Evelyn Warwick, Event Director, EuroBLECH, on behalf of RX, a global leader in events and exhibitions. “Investing in new, efficient technologies that align with climate change policies will drive long-term profitability and sustainability while addressing today’s challenges in the sheet metal working landscape, like labor shortages, high energy costs, and fluctuating demand.”

Building better information about such investments is key. As the flagship event for the sector, EuroBLECH 2024 will be offering an extended supporting program on ‘The Power of Productivity’, inviting visitors to engage deeper with the latest innovation and insights to boost their output and efficiency.

Speaker Forum, Guided Tours, and Award Trails

There will be two dedicated Presentation Areas in Hall 26 & 27, centered on Automation and Digitalization. Visitors are invited to drop by to hear leading innovation drivers live on stage, including Coherent, Fraunhofer IWU, Klöckner, Schuler, Tata Steel, Trumpf, and many more.

A special Panel Discussion on Wednesday, 3pm in Hall 26, will explore the crucial role of automation in helping overcome skilled labor shortages. Featuring global leader Trumpf, robotics specialist Teqram, blind rivet expert Gesipa (SFS Group), and digitalization provider Cenit, the panel will focus specifically on automation solutions for small- and medium-sized businesses. While large corporations have already made significant strides in automation, many SMEs are still in the early phases of implementation. Panel host Benedikt Hofmann, Editor-in-Chief, MM MaschinenMarkt and BLECHNET, will lead the discussion on innovative approaches and practical first steps to navigate the wide landscape of automation.

A total of 76 companies are shortlisted for the prestigious EuroBLECH 2024 Award for outstanding achievements in driving technical excellence and innovation. The six winners will be honored at the Official Awards Ceremony on the first exhibition day, at 5pm in Hall 27. Visitors are also invited to follow the new Award Trails and explore all innovations that have been shortlisted by their peers. There will be six different trails, one for each of the award categories: Stamping and Forming Technology, Cutting Technology, Joining Technology, Surface Technology, Automation and Handling, and Sustainability.

Launching for the first time at EuroBLECH are the Guided Visitor Tours. They will focus on ground-breaking productivity solutions by companies such as AIDA, AMADA, Eagle, Libellula, OTC DAIHEN Europe, Panasonic Connect Europe, Reis Robotics, RICO-Thomas Castro Silva, SEYI Presses Europe, Voortman Steel Machinery, and Wila. Each tour stop includes a short presentation and Q&A session with an exhibitor representative.

Promoting Young Talent and Fresh Ideas

EuroBLECH has a long history of promoting young talent and pushing progress within the industry. This year’s event will host many new companies alongside established global players—one out of five companies in the halls will be a new exhibitor. The ‘Young Innovators’ Pavilion in Hall 15 will bring fresh faces and perspectives to the show floor, featuring promising start-ups from Germany.

To further support young talent, EuroBLECH offers a bespoke Careers Day on Friday, inviting students and apprentices to visit the exhibition free of charge to help them engage with future employers and technologies on the market. EuroBLECH also offers excellent opportunities for recruiting and career progression. Visitors can look up companies that are hiring by using the ‘Recruiting’ filter on the Online Exhibitor List.

Image Source: RX, EuroBLECH