Driving momentum and productivity: EuroBLECH 2024 opens in Hanover
15.10.2024
From 22 to 25 October, the international sheet metal working industry will meet in Hanover for the 27th edition of EuroBLECH – the world’s largest showcase for live machinery and technical breakthroughs in this sector. Themed ‘The Power of Productivity’, this year’s event features nearly 1,300 exhibitors from 40 nations on 160,000sqm gross space across nine halls. An engaging event programme of expert talks, guided tours, themed trails and innovation awards offers extra opportunities for knowledge-building and networking.
Photo: EuroBLECH 2022
Next week, EuroBLECH 2024 will once again turn Hanover Exhibition Grounds in Germany into the global innovation hub for the sheet metal working community. The four-day event will feature thousands of exhibits in 15 technology sectors and is expected to attract an even greater number of visitors from international markets.
EuroBLECH’s growing global reach is mirrored in the exhibitor bookings, with 66% of suppliers coming from outside Germany. Leading exhibitor countries include Germany, Italy, Turkey, China, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Spain, Belgium, Poland, France, and the USA. Significant stand space growth has been recorded by companies from Sweden, Austria, Portugal, and major Asian economies, with India's exhibition space more than doubling since the 2022 edition.
“Our exhibitor line-up is reflecting the current market situation. We see many European innovation drivers leading the sustainability shift amid intense global competition, with rising investments in Southeast Asia, India, and North America”, explains Evelyn Warwick, Event Director of EuroBLECH, on behalf of RX. “Investing in new, efficient technologies that align with climate change policies will drive long-term profitability and sustainability while addressing today’s challenges in the sheet metal working landscape, like labour shortages, high energy costs, and fluctuating demand.”
Building better information about such investments is key: As the flagship event for the sector, EuroBLECH 2024 will be offering an extended supporting programme on ‘The Power of Productivity’, inviting visitors to engage deeper with the latest innovation and insights to boost their output and efficiency.
Speaker Forum, Guided Tours and Award Trails
There will be two dedicated Presentation Areas in Hall 26 & 27, centred on Automation and Digitalisation. Visitors are invited to drop by to hear leading innovation drivers live on stage, including Coherent, Fraunhofer IWU, Klöckner, Schuler, Tata Steel, Trumpf, and many more.
A special Panel Discussion on Wednesday, 3pm in Hall 26, will explore the crucial role of automation in helping overcome skilled labour shortage. Featuring global leader Trumpf, robotics specialist Teqram, blind rivet expert Gesipa (SFS Group), and digitalization provider Cenit, the panel will focus specifically on automation solutions for small and medium-sized businesses. While large corporations have already made significant strides in automation, many SMEs are still in the early phases of implementation. Panel host Benedikt Hofmann, Editor-in-Chief of MM MaschinenMarkt and BLECHNET, will lead the discussion on innovative approaches and practical first steps to navigate the wide landscape of automation.
A total of 76 companies are shortlisted for the prestigious EuroBLECH 2024 Award for outstanding achievements in driving technical excellence and innovation. The six winners will be honoured at the Official Awards Ceremony on the first exhibition day, at 5pm in Hall 27. Visitors are also invited to follow the new Award Trails and explore all innovations that have been shortlisted by their peers. There will be six different trails, one for each of the award categories: Stamping and Forming Technology, Cutting Technology, Joining Technology, Surface Technology, Automation and Handling, and Sustainability.
Launching for the first time at EuroBLECH are the Guided Visitor Tours. They will focus on ground-breaking productivity solutions by companies such as AIDA, AMADA, Eagle, Libellula, OTC DAIHEN Europe, Panasonic Connect Europe, Reis Robotics, RICO-Thomas Castro Silva, SEYI Presses Europe, Voortman Steel Machinery, and Wila. Each tour stop includes a short presentation and Q&A session with an exhibitor representative.
Promoting young talent and fresh ideas
EuroBLECH has a long history of promoting young talent, pushing progress within the industry. This year’s event will host many new companies alongside established global players – one out of five companies in the halls will be a new exhibitor. The ‘Young Innovators’ Pavilion in Hall 15 will bring fresh faces and perspectives to the show floor, featuring promising start-ups from Germany.
To further support young talent, EuroBLECH offers a bespoke Careers Day on Friday, inviting students and apprentices to visit the exhibition free of charge to help them engage with future employers and technologies on the market. EuroBLECH also offers excellent opportunities for recruiting and career progression: Visitors can look up companies that are hiring by using the ‘Recruiting’ filter on the Online Exhibitor List.
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’ and ‘Online Show Preview’ to search for companies, products and services. The new ‘What’s On’ page offers a concise overview of the full event programme. A one-click ‘Planning Tool’ allows visitors to add companies, products and sessions to their personal agenda for downloading, printing or sharing.
Opening times and tickets
EuroBLECH 2024 is held from 22 to 25 October 2024 at Hanover Exhibition Grounds in Germany, occupying 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. Ticket Shop, Registration and Press Accreditation are all available online. On-site registration is possible but will incur higher entry fees. Additional ticket options include the Guided Visitor Tours, the Official Show Catalogue, and free admission for students and apprentices on Careers Day (available onsite only upon presentation of valid student ID).
Travel and accommodation
EuroBLECH promotes sustainable travel and has arranged special transport provisions: Deutsche Bahn (DB) offers a fixed-price train ticket, allowing nationwide travel from any DB station to Hanover (City Ticket included). To travel within Hanover, local carrier GHV offers a bespoke EuroBLECH Travelcard, giving attendees unlimited travel on their trains and buses on the day before and during the event. EuroBLECH will also provide an exclusive shuttle service from Hanover Airport to the exhibition grounds and back. Buses run as required, for EUR 25 per route and person. Visitors looking for last-minute accommodation are advised to consult the EuroBLECH HotelMap on the official show website.