At Hannover Messe 2026, Autodesk will show how this change can be shaped. At stand E40 in hall 17, visitors will experience concrete use cases to see how Autodesk is preparing the step towards Physical AI with its Design & Make platform, the industry cloud Fusion, Autodesk AI, solutions such as FlexSim and Tandem as well as digital twins and the Autodesk Assistant.

Fusion as an industrial cloud: the bridge between today and tomorrow

With Fusion, Autodesk is building the backbone of an industrial cloud for manufacturing. Fusion networks CAD, CAM, CAE, PCB development, data management (PLM, PDM), MES functions, automation and Autodesk AI functionalities in a common environment.

What is particularly important for the DACH region is that Fusion is not an island, but complements established tools such as Inventor and Vault. Customers can continue to use existing desktop workflows and gradually add cloud and AI functions. In addition, Fusion and Inventor act as a coordinated ecosystem and therefore also score points in terms of investment security and trust.

At the Hannover Messe, Autodesk will be making tangible how the Autodesk Product Design & Manufacturing Collection as a complete package creates added value from design and simulation to connection to production and operating processes.

From unmanned drones to the largest optical telescope

Autodesk brings key future topics out of theory and into everyday life with concrete practical examples. The exhibits include a model of the Autodesk Technology Center in Birmingham, UK, unmanned aerial vehicles from Swiss manufacturer SwissDrones and the ESO Extremely Large Telescope (ELT) - the world's largest optical telescope, according to the company.

Autodesk Technology Center: Blueprint for Factory Operations

One of the focal points at the Autodesk stand this year is the model of the Autodesk Technology Center in Birmingham. It shows how production environments can now be digitally mapped, monitored and controlled in real time. What's more, the example shows how digital twins are evolving from pure visualization tools to training environments for AI in production. This makes it clear how a digital factory model is developing into an operational control center. And how this logic can be transferred to DACH plants, where companies want to gradually build up their own, repeatable evidence of the benefits of digital twins. Autodesk provides the basis for this from geometry, simulation and operational context.

At the trade fair, Autodesk experts will be demonstrating how the digital twin:

• bundles data from CNC machines, sensors, SCADA systems and facility platforms,
• makes machine availability and utilization transparent and
• supports process control, maintenance and compliance during operation.

SwissDrones: Unmanned aerial vehicles for inspections and rescue operations

Another highlight at the Autodesk stand is SwissDrones. A drone model from the Swiss company will demonstrate how a complex aviation system can be developed with Autodesk solutions - from the initial concept sketches to detailed simulations and preparation for certification.

ESO ELT: The world's largest optical telescope in the Chilean Atacama Desert

The model of the ESO Extremely Large Telescope (ELT) - the largest optical telescope in the world - shows how precise 3D geometry, consistent data and simulation-based planning work together in one of the most challenging engineering projects. For over ten years, the European Southern Observatory (ESO) has been relying on Autodesk technologies for construction in the Chilean Atacama Desert.

Further application examples and topics of conversation

In addition to the exhibits on show, the following application examples will be presented at the Autodesk stand E40 in Hall 17:

• A compact five-axis CNC machine from LBR Manufacturing that fits through a standard door and exemplifies new manufacturing concepts. The team uses Autodesk Fusion throughout, from design to production integration and control.
• The digital production and logistics processes of the GEBHARDT Intralogistics Group.
• How BioDapt is developing the next generation of sports prostheses.
• The digital commissioning of the BMW Group plant in Irlbach-Straßkirchen.

The Autodesk experts will also be discussing the strategic direction in the field of artificial intelligence. One focus is on the further development of Autodesk AI, which is driven by the strategic investment in World Labs and focuses on so-called Physical AI. In addition, the Autodesk Assistant shows how AI can be directly integrated into Design and Make workflows: It helps teams to complete tasks efficiently, review results and increase productivity - without having to leave their familiar Autodesk tools.

Digital Factory Summit 2026: Exchange on the next generation of the factory

Autodesk is setting an additional accent with the Digital Factory Summit 2026 on April 22 in Hanover. For the third time in a row, the event will bring together managers and experts from industry, technology and consulting to discuss strategies for digital and AI-supported factories.

Hannover Messe 2026, Hall 17, Stand E40