EVENT REPORT
BIEMH drives industry forward
More than 39,000 professionals from nearly 65 countries participated in the BIEMH International Machine Tool Exhibition in Bilbao, Spain( 2-6 March 2026). A total of 1,543 exhibiting companies from 34 countries, in six halls at the BEC, supported BIEMH 2026. ISMR was an international media partner at the trade show and its team attended the event.
BIEMH 2026 was organised by AFM, Machine Tool Manufacturers; AIMHE, Machine Tools Importers and Bilbao Exhibition Centre, with the Provincial Council of Bizkaia and SPRI – Basque Government as institutional partners.
“ BIEMH showcased an innovative and resilient industry in a complex global context. We opened the international calendar with a strong event. Companies have expressed highly positive feedback regarding their participation in BIEMH 2026, where they presented more than 3,350 products across all areas of manufacturing, interacted with visitors from around the world and generated strategic contacts and business opportunities,” commented Carmen Gorostiza, Event Manager, BIEMH.
Regarding visitor origin, the presence of 50 % of professionals from outside the Basque Country was important. Visitors from all Spanish regions attended BIEMH( mainly from Catalonia; Navarra; Castilla y León; Madrid; Cantabria; Valencia and Galicia). International visitors came from Portugal; Germany; France; Italy; India; Mexico; China and Turkey as well as delegations from the U. S.; Colombia; Japan; the UK; the Netherlands; Switzerland; Austria and Argentina.
The main areas of interest were: 27 % machining and forming equipment; 25 % tools, components and accessories; 24 % automation, robotics and digitalisation; 13 % production and business services; and 6 % metrology.
“ The profile of attending professionals included directors or managers, owners, department heads and technicians from industries such as automotive( 26 %); capital goods( 17 %); aeronautics and aerospace( 16 %); steel( 13 %); energy( 9 %); railway( 8 %); oil & gas( 5 %) and shipbuilding( 2 %),” added the show organisers.
BIEMH welcomed a wide representation of institutions including the Basque Government; the Provincial Councils; the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism; ICEX and the city councils of Barakaldo,
BIEMH Opening Ceremony.
Bilbao, Soraluce, Deba and Elgoibar, among others. Media presence was also significant, with 140 journalists conducting nearly 120 interviews.
Hosted buyers’ programme
“ Companies participating in the BIEMH Hosted Buyers’ Programme expressed highly positive feedback, highlighting the event’ s potential as a platform for business and international cooperation. Throughout the week, around 300 international buyers from 26 countries toured the six halls of Bilbao Exhibition Centre to identify competitive
technological solutions, discover the latest market developments and anticipate future industry trends,” confirmed the show organisers.
This year, the international outreach campaign expanded to new sectors and destinations, facilitating the arrival of delegations from India— with 20 companies— as well as from the United States; Mexico; Germany; Turkey; Portugal; Morocco; the United Kingdom; Canada; Switzerland; France; Italy; China; Brazil and the Netherlands.
“ At national level, the presence of buyer companies was equally significant. The event also enjoyed support from 73 national associations and the special participation of international bodies such as ISTMA, the International Special Tooling and Machining Association,” added the BEC.
For the first time in Spain,‘ Taiwan Excellence’ was present at BIEMH 2026 with ten Taiwanese brands. Under the slogan“ Bounce Taiwan Machinery,” the Taiwan Excellence stand highlighted the role of Taiwan’ s smart machinery sector in supporting manufacturers worldwide. The space was divided into three areas— cutting, forming and industrial automation.
Innovation, networking and careers
Innovation workshops enabled exhibiting companies in robotics, automation and digitalisation to showcase their latest developments and outline their real-world industrial applications.
10 | ismr. net | ISMR April 2026