From 22 to 25 October, the international sheet metal working industry will gather at EuroBLECH 2024 in Hanover, Germany. Under the theme, ‘The Power of Productivity,’ some 1,300 exhibitors from 40 countries will showcase the world’s largest selection of sheet metal working technology under one roof, all designed to boost performance and efficiency.

Spanning over 160,000sqm gross space, the event will feature a wealth of live demonstrations, product premieres, and a packed event programme with expert talks, guided visitor tours, the prestigious EuroBLECH Awards, and a dedicated Careers Day to promote young talent.

EuroBLECH is the world’s top destination for sourcing sheet metal working technology. The upcoming 2024 edition will once again offer a unique visitor experience at the core of the industry, kicking off four days of intense product sourcing, networking and learning. A strong line-up of suppliers from around the globe will cover the entire supply chain in 15 different technology sectors, filling nine exhibition halls with thousands of exhibits and live machinery. This year’s event is all about engaging with the latest productivity solutions for higher output and efficiency, reflected in the show motto for 2024, ‘The Power of Productivity’.

“We are currently witnessing rapid developments in automation, robotics, AI and IoT devices”, explains Evelyn Warwick, Event Director of EuroBLECH, on behalf of RX. “Digitalisation, connectivity and big data are playing a crucial role here, allowing more efficiency, precision and real-time adjustments within the production process. This year’s EuroBLECH will be the place to look for guidance on how to use these game-changers in a meaningful way within your own production. Making good, informed choices is key to unlocking the true ‘Power of Productivity’ in terms of output, performance, costs, and sustainability.”

A culture of innovation: Tapping into fresh ideas

As the flagship event of the sector, EuroBLECH has successfully fostered a culture of innovation, pushing progress within the industry. This year’s event will host many young companies and new participants alongside well-known global players, giving visitors exclusive access to an ever broader array of fresh ideas and technologies. One out of five companies in the halls will be a new exhibitor, and a dedicated ‘Young Innovators’ Pavilion in Hall 15 will feature promising start-ups from Germany. Besides Germany, major exhibitor countries for 2024 are Italy, Turkey, China, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Spain, Belgium, Poland, Austria, Portugal, Sweden, India, Finland, France, and the USA. Around 64% of all exhibitors are based outside Germany.

A total of 76 companies are shortlisted for the prestigious EuroBLECH 2024 Award, one of the most renowned industry prizes for outstanding achievements in driving technical excellence and innovation. Six winners will be honoured at the Official Awards Ceremony on the first exhibition day, at 5pm in the Presentation Area in Hall 27. The Award Trails are a new highlight this year, featuring all nominated companies. Six trails filled with cutting-edge innovation are waiting to be explored, one for each of the award categories: Stamping and Forming Technology, Cutting Technology, Joining Technology, Surface Technology, Automation and Handling, and Sustainability.

For visitors wishing to further explore the transformative power of innovation, EuroBLECH offers carefully curated Guided Visitor Tours focusing on productivity solutions by companies such as Amada, Libellula, OTC DAIHEN Europe, Panasonic Connect Europe, RICO-Thomas Castro Silva, SEYI Presses Europe, Voortman Steel Machinery, and Wila. Each stop includes a short presentation and Q&A session with an exhibitor representative. Tours can be booked online.

The popular Speaker Forum will make a return, featuring expert talks and presentations on key topics such as automation, robotics, cobots, IoT, and the industrial metaverse. Sessions run alongside the exhibition in the Presentation Areas in Hall 26 and 27. A special panel discussion will address ‘Automation as a solution to mitigate skilled labour shortage’ on Wednesday, 23 October, at 3pm in Hall 26. More information on speakers and topics will be published closer to the show.

And Friday, 25 October, is Careers Day promoting young talent in the industry. Students and apprentices are invited to visit the exhibition free of charge to help them engage with potential future employers and groundbreaking technologies on the market.

Online tools and information for visitors

The official event website provides extensive information on the exhibition profile and show visit, including a full Exhibitor List with company and product descriptions, and a comprehensive Online Show Preview with search and filter functions to help attendees find the companies and products most relevant to them. With a simple click, users can create a list of favourite suppliers which can be exported and easily accessed on multiple devices. Visitors can also subscribe to the EuroBLECH e-news to keep informed ahead of the show.

Opening times and tickets

EuroBLECH 2024, the 27th International Sheet Metal Working Technology Exhibition, is held from 22 to 25 October 2024 at the Hanover Exhibition Grounds in Germany. The event will occupy halls 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 26, and 27. Visitor access is via entrances West 1, West 2, Nord 1, Ost 3, and Süd 1. Daily opening times are 9am to 6pm. Tickets are €39.00 for a Day Ticket, and €70.00 for a season ticket (valid on all four show days). Additional ticket options include Guided Visitor Tours (€25.00), the Official Show Catalogue (€44.00) and free admission for students and apprentices on Careers Day on Friday (available onsite upon presentation of valid student ID). Ticket Shop, Registration and Press Accreditation are all available online.

Travel and Accommodation

The city of Hanover boasts the world’s largest exhibition grounds and offers excellent travel connections and a wide choice of hotels. Visitors are advised to consult the official EuroBLECH HotelMap for exclusive hotel offers, including special group deals for 9+ rooms. EuroBLECH promotes sustainable travel and has arranged special transport provisions: Deutsche Bahn (DB) offers a fixed-price train ticket for EuroBLECH attendees, from any DB station to Hanover (City Ticket included). EuroBLECH will also provide exclusive airport transfers during the event for EUR 25 each way. To travel within Hanover, local transport provider GHV offers a bespoke EuroBLECH travelcard for their trains and buses. Further information can be found in the Travel Hub on the official show website.

EuroBLECH