Sheet metal showcase

The 10th Schweisstec international trade fair for joining technology and 17th Blechexpo international trade fair for sheet metal working welcomed 1190 exhibitors from 41 countries and 40,072 visitors to Stuttgart, Germany, from 21-24 October 2025. 

International specialists in sheet metal working and joining technology presented their latest developments and highlights in nine exhibition halls. 1190 exhibitors from a total of 41 countries included 747 from Germany, Austria and Switzerland; 145 from Italy; 28 from Spain; 20 from France; 53 from Turkey; 87 from China and 37 from the Benelux countries. The trade show organiser reported a total share of 43 per cent of exhibitors from outside Germany.

“Companies specialising in sheet metal working and joining technologies impressively demonstrated the direction in which the industry is heading; process optimisation and increased overall efficiency through the integration of functions and holistic engineering. The fact that 43% of exhibitors were from outside of Germany once again confirmed the international significance of this trade fair duo,” commented trade show organiser, P. E. Schall.

Visitors could also see machinery, artificial intelligence (AI) and software demonstrations on various exhibitor booths. ISMR was an international media partner at the event, with copies of its October issue handed out at the show entrances as well as on the trade press stand and its booth in Hall 1.

The trade show’s “best Award” recognises technological excellence, innovative strength and team performance in the sheet metal working and joining technology industries. First, second and third place prizes were awarded in five separate categories, corresponding to the thematic layout of the exhibition halls. The “best Award’ winners were honoured at an award ceremony on the afternoon of the first day of the trade show. The trade fair promoter, with its media partner Vogel Communications Group (VCG), honoured the innovations and the teams that developed them at a festive ceremony. 

The winners in the category for ‘sheet metal, pipe and profile processing’ were Prima Power, figure it and InspecVision Limited. Solutions from Nidec SYS, Meusburger Georg and REA Elektronik excelled in the ‘stamping technologies’ category. First, second and third place in the ‘cutting, joining and fastening technologies’ category went to Carl Cloos Schweißtechnik, CNC Europe BV-Lasermach and Rivit. The winners in the ‘pressing and forming technologies’ category were Dreistern, Genkinger and Werner Schmid. SHL, SurFunction and Kaltenbach Cutting Systems were honoured in the ‘steel and metal services and surface finishing technologies’ category.

Specialist talks at the presentation forum were also very well attended again this year, P. E. Schall told ISMR.

“The open format invites trade show visitors to participate in accordance with their specific interests and explore a given topic in greater depth,” explained Georg Knauer, project manager for the trade fair duo. “Topics included, for example, future prospects for manufacturing, reduced physical strain at the workplace by using exoskeletons and automated quality control through the integration of AI vision. Automated grinding and holistic engineering inspired by the human body were also popular presentation topics. 

“We welcomed large numbers of expert visitors involved in everyday business operations to the trade show, as well as prominent guests and an anniversary forklift truck from Ireland,” continued the project manager. 

Artificial intelligence (AI), automation, lightweight automotive construction and sustainability were also key topics at the trade show’s opening press conference.

“Career Friday”, held on the last day of the trade show (24 October 2025) was another highlight. It provided pupils, teachers, students, university representatives and young professionals with the opportunity to establish personal contacts in the sheet metal working industry. Under the motto “Shape your dreams, metal your future”, they could see the technologies and future opportunities in the sheet metal processing industry and redesign their personal career paths.

The 18th Blechexpo trade show will be held from 26-29 October 2027 in Stuttgart, Germany.