In the spotlight

With 1,256 exhibitors from 38 countries, 40,103 visitors and nine busy halls, Blechexpo/Schweisstec 2023 was an international showcase for innovation and customer benefits in sheet metal and metal processing. Its central themes revolved around automation; sustainability; energy efficiency; skilled labour shortages; higher productivity; employee protection and customer service. The latest sheet metal, pipe and profile processing; cutting; joining; forming and welding technology developments were showcased at the event.

The trade show, held from 7-10 November 2023 in Stuttgart (Germany), offered practical insights and solutions for more efficient production; better material utilisation and higher part quality as well as reductions in energy consumption and CO₂ emissions. As the international media partner for the event, ISMR had a stand in Hall One and copies of its October issue were given out at the show entrances.

“With the goal of making steel production and sheet-metal processing more sustainable, Blechexpo/Schweisstec 2023 provided significant impetus and demonstrated that even small businesses can successfully embrace automation. The winners of the best-Award 2023 impressively showcased what is possible with technical innovation and inventiveness,” explained show organiser, P. E. Schall GmbH & Co. KG.

An innovation showcase

This key meeting place for global players in sheet metalworking takes place every two years at Messe Stuttgart. It featured a range of new products; world premieres; process expertise and innovation advances.

Around 45 per cent of the exhibitors were from outside Germany. The majority of overseas exhibitors came from Italy; Switzerland; Turkey; China and the Benelux countries. Visitors to the trade fair could see first-hand the steps taken towards achieving the sheet metal industry’s sustainability and environmental goals.

“In individual dialogue between exhibitors and trade fair visitors, many forward-looking production projects were evaluated and value-added investment projects were launched at Blechexpo/Schweisstec 2023,” explained the show organiser. “The trade fair duo presented complete process sequences for modern, future-proof, sheet-metal processing. An impressive supplementary programme included presentation of the ‘best Award 2023’, the ‘Blechexpo Steel Convention 2023’, the ‘futureSteel’ congress and an expert forum.”

To read the rest of this article in ISMR's November 2023 issue, see https://joom.ag/ztnd/p14