With 184 exhibitors and around 1,400 trade visitors, the event deliberately focused not on size but on quality and targeted networking. It is precisely this approach that has been well received by the association’s member companies. In particular, the clear focus on make-to-order manufacturing facilitated dialogue between manufacturers and potential customers.

“Many visitors came with specific projects, drawings, or sample parts and were specifically looking to connect with suitable manufacturing partners,” reports Stefan W. Schauerte, managing director of Wilhelm Schauerte GmbH & Co. KG. His company was among the approximately 40 member companies of the association that exhibited at the MTO Days.

Other manufacturers associated with the association also viewed the trade show positively. The companies received inquiries from various industries, including toolmaking, the automotive sector, mechanical engineering, medical technology, and electrical engineering. In addition, some exhibitors reported high demand for small-batch production.

The participating companies rated the quality of the technical discussions as particularly valuable. The discussions focused on current challenges facing the industry. In addition to ongoing price pressure, the main topics of discussion were delivery times, the availability of materials, appropriate batch sizes, and the long-term security of supply and reliability of suppliers. New requirements for materials are also increasingly coming into focus. For example, low-lead brass alloys are gaining in importance.

For the Association of the German Turned Parts Industry, the successful debut of the MTO Days confirms that specialized trade show formats with clearly defined target audiences can offer added value for contract manufacturing.

“In addition to helping establish new business relationships, the trade show has also proven to be an important industry gathering that showcases the capabilities of the German and European turned parts industry,” says Werner Liebmann, the association’s executive director.

For buyers in particular, the strength of this format lies in its ability to bring supply and demand together in a targeted way: This focused approach makes it possible to get to know numerous qualified suppliers with a manageable amount of effort.