INDUSTRY NEWS
Building up to EuroBLECH 2026
The 28th edition of EuroBLECH 2026, organised by RX, will take place from 20-23 October 2026 at the Hanover Exhibition Grounds in Germany. Held every two years, EuroBLECH is the world’ s leading exhibition for sheet metal working technology. EuroBLECH 2024 welcomed 1,317 exhibitors and 38,946 trade visitors from 114 countries, occupying a gross exhibition space of 160,000sqm.
“ For the first time, we introduced at-event rebooking which enabled exhibitors to secure their stand space for 2026 while still at the 2024 show. As a result, a substantial portion of space has already been allocated across the nine halls of the Hanover Exhibition Grounds. The enthusiasm we saw from exhibitors rebooking at EuroBLECH 2024 was a strong signal of confidence in the event,” said Evelyn Warwick, Exhibition Director for EuroBLECH, on behalf of RX.
“ While the broader market remains challenging, EuroBLECH remains the most important global platform for showcasing sheet metal innovation. With new features launching and continued demand for cuttingedge, sustainable, digitalised and AI-enabled solutions, the event is evolving alongside the industry itself,” she continued.
The event’ s theme,‘ For a Stronger Future – Smart & Sustainable Production’, reflects the industry’ s ongoing transformation as it pursues greater efficiency, flexibility and resilience. From AI-enabled workflows and robotics to laser innovations and circular manufacturing, the 2026 edition will spotlight the technologies, tools and strategies shaping a stronger, more sustainable future for sheetmetal working worldwide.
New and enhanced features
New: Innovation Zone. A dedicated space that will spotlight emerging technologies, applied research and system-ready concepts that are shaping the future of sheet metalworking.
New: Job Shop & Subcontractors Market. A dedicated space for fabrication centres and subcontracting manufacturers to connect with visitors from OEMs and other manufacturing sectors to discover flexible, high-quality partners for outsourced production needs.
New: Automotive Guided Tours. Structured routes tailored to the automotive sector, helping automotive OEMs connect with relevant technologies and suppliers. These complement the returning Guided Tours, which support focused, high-value visitor journeys.
Returning: NextGen Technology Stage & EuroBLECH Awards. The NextGen Technology Stage will once again host expert-led sessions on automation, digitalisation, sustainability and AI. The EuroBLECH Awards will return with six categories celebrating standout achievements, with Award Trails guiding visitors to shortlisted exhibitors.
Revived: Visitor App. The app has now been upgraded to help visitors navigate the show, bookmark exhibitors and plan their days more effectively.
Returning: Careers Day. A dedicated day to connect students, apprentices and young professionals with hiring businesses. The initiative supports workforce development and provides insights into careers across the sheetmetal working industry.
“ With 81 % of visitors involved in purchasing decisions and a high proportion actively seeking new suppliers or partners, the exhibition continues to deliver measurable business value for participants,” RX told ISMR.
Companies wishing to exhibit can now explore stand options and packages, including the myEuroBLECH Easy Package and the First-Time Exhibitor Package for newcomers to the show.
Email: euroblech @ rxglobal. com n
www
. euroblech. com
Uncertainty hits European steel market
Unchanged negative conditions – U. S. tariffs and trade disruptions, economic and geopolitical tensions, protracted weak demand and still-high energy prices – continue to weigh on the European steel market, confirmed EUROFER( the European Steel Association) on 2 December 2025.
EUROFER’ s latest‘ Economic and Steel Market Outlook’ confirms( for 2025) another recession in both apparent steel consumption(-0.2 %, unchanged) and steelusing sectors(-0.5 %, revised from-0.7 %). A potential recovery is expected only in 2026 for the Steel Weighted Industrial Production index( SWIP)(+ 1.8 %, stable) and for apparent steel consumption(+ 3 %, slightly revised from + 3.1 %), although consumption volumes“ would still remain well below pre-pandemic levels.” Steel imports retained historically high shares( 27 %), while exports plummeted(-9 %) in the first eight months of 2025.
“ In the second quarter of 2025, apparent steel consumption reversed its short-lived recovery and fell again after two modest consecutive increases(-1.8 %, after + 2.2 % in the first quarter), reaching 34.3 million tonnes. Projections for steel demand remain extremely uncertain, with improvements not expected before the first quarter of 2026, and still dependent upon a more positive industrial outlook and an easing of global tensions( both currently unpredictable),” commented EUROFER.
“ Similarly, domestic deliveries recorded a quarterly decline(-1.6 %), following an increase(+ 1.3 %) in the previous quarter. In the same period, imports contracted as well(-3.3 %) after another marginal decline(-0.3 %). However, over the first eight months of 2025, imports still edged up(+ 0.3 %). The import market share rose again to 27 %( from 25 % in the previous quarter), remaining at historically high levels,” it added.
In the second quarter of 2025, output in steel-using sectors contracted for the sixth consecutive time(-0.9 %, after-3.2 % in the preceding quarter) according to EUROFER.
“ Recession in the automotive sector(-3.8 %), almost flat growth(+ 0.1 %) in construction, overall weak manufacturing, and the disruptive effects of U. S. tariffs and geopolitical turmoil are expected to weigh on SWIP again in 2025, leading to another annual downturn(-0.5 %). Only modest growth is projected to return in 2026(+ 1.8 %),” said the association.
The European steel industry has a turnover of around € 215 billion and directly employs around 298,000 highly skilled people, producing on average 146 million tonnes of steel per year. More than 500 steel production sites across 22 EU Member States provide direct and indirect employment to millions more European citizens. n
www. eurofer. eu
ISMR December 2025 / January 2026 | ismr. net | 17