With three fully occupied halls, the trade fair is thus on a par with the event in 2024 - a clear signal in times of sustained pressure for innovation and efficiency. "The high level of exhibitor participation is a strong signal for GrindingHub. It shows that the industry is looking to exchange ideas, drive forward solutions and look to the future. This should encourage the entire industry," explains Dr. Markus Heering, Executive Director of the organizer VDW (German Machine Tool Builders' Association).

New forum focuses on practice

For the first time, GrindingHub is placing a clear focus on practical knowledge transfer with the newly designed Grinding Solution Forum. The format aims to link specific industrial challenges with directly applicable solutions. The structure follows the principle of challenge - solution - insight.

The forum covers a wide range of topics: from process stability and quality assurance to automation, data, digitalization and AI, as well as issues relating to economic efficiency and the future development of grinding technology. In addition to compact presentations, the focus will be on interactive co-creation workshops in which exhibitors will develop solutions together with the specialist audience.

The participating companies and organizations include Anca, Cemecon, FDPW, GMN, Hirt-Line, Dr. Kaiser, Meister Abrasives, Neuron Soundware, NPiTec, Rimon Technologies, Quaker Houghton, Vibrocut and Wirth. "We want to create a forum that deliberately works differently to traditional lecture programs - closer to the challenges faced by users and with real added value for everyone involved," says Heering.

Joint stands promote exchange and technology transfer

The trade fair concept is complemented by several themed joint stands that bring together industry, research and start-ups in a targeted manner. These include the Startup Hub, the Grinding Solution Park Industry and Science and the Grinding Pavilion Switzerland - all of which have been fully booked for weeks.

The Grinding Solution Park Industry focuses on specific industrial applications, while five research institutions present current developments and transfer potential in the science area. One example of practical implementation is the umati (universal machine technology interface) connectivity initiative, which uses live demonstrations to show how cross-manufacturer machine and production data communication based on OPC UA can be implemented - for example in standardized energy monitoring or the networking of machines and equipment.

Startup Hub: platform for young companies

The Startup Hub offers seven young companies from Germany, the Czech Republic and Switzerland a platform to present their technologies to a specialized audience of experts. Under the motto "Meet the Founders. Innovation starts with Conversation.", the focus is on direct exchange. "We see this as an excellent opportunity to present our technology to a highly specialized audience of experts from the field of grinding technology and to demonstrate concrete solutions for existing challenges," says Dr. Oliver Georgi, Managing Director of the start-up Vibrocut. German start-ups also benefit from funding from the BMWE as part of the "Young Innovators" program.

The Grinding Pavilion Switzerland adds an international component to the range: five Swiss companies will be presenting their solutions there together, underlining the innovative strength and global networking of the machine tool industry.

Clear positioning as a leading platform

With fully booked exhibition spaces, new dialog-oriented formats and targeted platforms for innovation and technology transfer, GrindingHub 2026 underlines its claim to be a leading international platform for grinding technology - and at the same time sends a strong signal for the future viability of the industry.