DIARY of EVENTS
Tube and Wire
13-17 April 2026
Düsseldorf, Germany www. tube-tradefair. com /
MACH 2026
20-24 April 2026
Birmingham, UK www. machexhibition. com
HANNOVER MESSE
20-24 April 2026
Hanover, Germany www. hannovermesse. de / en
China CNC Machine Tool Fair( CCMT)
21-25 April 2026
Shanghai, China www. ccmtshow. com / en /
CBM Annual Dinner and Awards
23 April 2026
Birmingham, UK https:// thecbm. co. uk
FABTECH Mexico
12-14 May 2026
Mexico City, Mexico https:// mexico. fabtechexpo. com /
ITM Industry Europe
26-29 May 2026
Poznań, Poland https:// itm-europe. com / en /
ECCA Spring Meeting
27-29 May 2026
Alicante, Spain www. prepaintedmetal. eu / en
SMART Manufacturing Week
3-4 June 2026
Birmingham, UK www. smartmanufacturingweek. com /
Subcon
3-4 June 2026
Birmingham, UK www. subconshow. co. uk /
Manufacturing Expo
17-20 June 2026
Bangkok, Thailand www. manufacturing-expo. com /
Automate
22-25 June 2026
Chicago, USA www. automateshow. com /
Manufacturing World Tokyo
1-3 July 2026
Tokyo, Japan www. manufacturing-world. jp / tokyo / en-gb. html
WeldTech Welding Fair
1-3 September 2026
Warsaw, Poland https:// weldexpopoland. com / en /
IMTS 2026
14-19 September 2026
Chicago, USA www. imts. com /
AMB 2026
15-19 September 2026
Stuttgart, Germany www. messe-stuttgart. de / amb / en /
Metalexpo 2026
16-18 September 2026
Istanbul, Turkey www. metalexpo. com. tr /
The Green Steel World Conference 2026
23-24 September 2026
Düsseldorf, Germany https:// greensteelworld. com
MAKTEK Eurasia 2026
28 September- 3 October 2026
Istanbul, Turkey www. maktekfuari. com / en
ALUMINIUM
6-8 October 2026
Düsseldorf, Germany www. aluminium-exhibition. com
BI-MU 2026
13-16 October 2026
Milan, Italy www. bimu. it / en /
EuroBLECH 2026
20-23 October 2026
Hanover, Germany www. euroblech. com
Sara Waddington
Editor International Sheet Metal Review sara @ in2publishing. co. uk
J
WELCOME
FROM THE EDITOR
The U. S.– Israel – Iran war is heightening global recession and inflation risks through energy and shipping shocks. The resilience of the global economy is being tested by the evolving conflict in the Middle East which has generated new inflationary pressures while creating significant uncertainty, according to the OECD.
The energy supply shock following the onset of the conflict is expected to significantly weigh on global growth, while putting new upward pressure on inflation. As a result of these developments, the OECD Outlook projects global growth of 2.9 % in 2026 and 3.0 % in 2027( although more long-lasting disruption from the conflict, with energy prices remaining elevated beyond mid-2026, would further reduce growth prospects). See our news report on page 6 of this issue for further details.
In the April issue of ISMR, we preview three trade shows: Smart Manufacturing Week( UK), Subcon( UK) and ITM Industry Europe( Poland). We also review ISMR’ s visit to the recent BIEMH International Machine Tool Exhibition in Bilbao, Spain( see page 10).
We highlight a selection of trends and forecasts for the global consumer electronics market on page 20. Trends, challenges and growth prospects in the UK market for manufacturers are also examined on page 32.
Press brake and tube / sheet laser cutting operations for a furniture manufacturer come under the spotlight on page 24. Discover the benefits of metal bonding technologies for a wide range of applications on page 40. Coil processing, punch presses and robotics also feature in this issue of ISMR.
The ISMR team will be at the MACH 2026 trade show in the UK( 20-24 April 2026) as an international media partner. We hope to meet you there!
Please send us your machine process or technology video links for the ISMR website at ismr. net and its YouTube channel, LinkedIn and X accounts. Email me at sara @ in2publishing. co. uk with your thoughts.
If you would like your event to appear in the diary, with your logo, please email Bobby Bagha at: bobby @ in2publishing. co. uk
ISMR April 2026 | ismr. net | 3