From November 5 to 7, 41,152 visitors from a total of 113 countries took advantage of the trade fair duo, which has grown to 108,000 m² of exhibition space, to get up to date on all aspects of sheet metal, tube and profile processing, cutting and joining technologies, forming technology and welding technology.

The Blechexpo/Schweisstec trade fair duo broke several records this year. 1,498 exhibitors (2017: 1,339 exhibitors) from 36 countries were present in Stuttgart. "A foreign share of 45 percent," summarizes Project Manager Georg Knauer with great satisfaction. "Blechexpo/Schweisstec was more international this year than ever before." It was also bigger than ever before: at 108,000 square meters, the stand area sold was around 15 percent larger than in 2017. For the first time, Blechexpo/Schweisstec occupied the new exhibition hall 10, which with its spacious, modern design is an enrichment of the Stuttgart Trade Fair Centre.

© P. E. Schall

"For us, this trade event is a leading trade fair of great importance," said Wolfgang Wiedenmann, Deputy Sales Manager at press manufacturer Andritz Kaiser. Even though the industry is currently having to deal with a noticeable decline in order volumes for various reasons, Blechexpo/Schweisstec was a welcome and important technology and knowledge platform: in terms of the processing of sheet metal, tubes and profiles, their thermal and mechanical treatment and processing, processing machines, systems for punching, bending, folding and forming through to peripherals with control systems, software and solutions for handling and quality assurance, this trade fair is a unique marketplace for the current challenges and future topics of the industry. Accordingly, the topics of digitalization and automation also dominated here. Increasing attention is also being paid to modern separation technologies: 56 exhibitors alone presented laser cutting and a further 25 companies showcased technologies related to high-pressure waterjet cutting.

Process-oriented, practical, future-oriented for the sheet metal working industry

The Blechexpo/Schweisstec trade fair duo, which takes place every two years, was once again able to impress this year with its strictly practice-oriented concept and cover all aspects relating to a world of sheet metal and metal processing that is more digitalized and automated than ever before. The Industrial Association for Sheet Metal Forming (IBU) had organized a joint stand and thus offered its members the opportunity to present themselves in a larger environment. 16 companies took part. This joint presence created attention and an adequate platform for business-related networking.

"The economy is cooling down," said Cornelius Eich, Managing Director of ZVEI (German Electrical and Electronic Manufacturers' Association). "Trade wars don't stop at our industry either". Nevertheless - or precisely because of this - the lively technical discussions and the intensity of interest were pronounced. After all, many dominant topics such as digitalization, sustainability and process efficiency are driving the development of the sheet metal working industry. The trade fair topics revolved around trends, innovations and future-proof solutions in a rapidly changing production world. For example, modern joining and connection technology is becoming increasingly important because many new materials and hybrid materials cannot be joined or separated thermally - the focus here is shifting towards mechanical joining technology in the field of lightweight construction, for example.